364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of September 16, 2025 among LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC., as the Borrower, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as...
Exhibit 10.3
Execution Version
Published CUSIP Numbers:
Deal: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Revolver: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of September 16, 2025
among
▇▇▇▇’▇ COMPANIES, INC.,
as the Borrower,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent
▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Co-Administrative Agent,
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Syndication Agent,
BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
CITIBANK, N.A.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BANK USA,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and
as Co-Documentation Agents,
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,
BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
CITIBANK, N.A.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BANK USA,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and
▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section |
Page | |||||
ARTICLE I. |
| |||||
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS |
| |||||
1.01 |
Defined Terms | 1 | ||||
1.02 |
Other Interpretive Provisions | 21 | ||||
1.03 |
Accounting Terms | 22 | ||||
1.04 |
Rounding | 22 | ||||
1.05 |
[Reserved] | 22 | ||||
1.06 |
[Reserved] | 22 | ||||
1.08 |
Times of Day | 22 | ||||
1.09 |
[Reserved] | 23 | ||||
1.10 |
Interest Rates | 23 | ||||
1.11 |
References to Agreements and Laws | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE II. |
| |||||
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS |
| |||||
2.01 |
Committed Loans | 23 | ||||
2.02 |
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans | 23 | ||||
2.03 |
[Reserved] | 25 | ||||
2.04 |
[Reserved] | 25 | ||||
2.05 |
[Reserved] | 25 | ||||
2.06 |
Prepayments | 25 | ||||
2.07 |
Termination or Reduction of Commitments | 26 | ||||
2.08 |
Repayment of Loans | 26 | ||||
2.09 |
Interest | 26 | ||||
2.10 |
Fees | 27 | ||||
2.11 |
Computation of Interest and Fees | 27 | ||||
2.12 |
Evidence of Debt | 27 | ||||
2.13 |
Payments Generally; Administrative Processing Agent’s Clawback | 28 | ||||
2.14 |
Sharing of Payments by Lenders | 30 | ||||
2.15 |
[Reserved] | 30 | ||||
2.16 |
[Reserved] | 30 | ||||
2.17 |
Defaulting Lenders | 30 | ||||
2.18 |
[Reserved] | 31 | ||||
2.19 |
Term Loan Conversion; Repayment of Converted Term Loans | 31 | ||||
ARTICLE III. |
| |||||
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY |
| |||||
3.01 |
Taxes | 32 | ||||
3.02 |
Illegality | 36 | ||||
3.03 |
Inability to Determine Rates | 37 | ||||
3.04 |
Increased Costs and Return | 39 | ||||
3.05 |
Compensation for Losses | 40 | ||||
3.06 |
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 41 | ||||
3.07 |
Survival | 41 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section |
Page | |||||
ARTICLE IV. |
| |||||
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS |
| |||||
4.01 |
Conditions of Effectiveness | 41 | ||||
4.02 |
Conditions to all Credit Extensions | 43 | ||||
ARTICLE V. |
| |||||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
| |||||
5.01 |
Existence, Qualification and Power | 43 | ||||
5.02 |
Authorization; No Contravention | 43 | ||||
5.03 |
Governmental Authorization; Other Consents | 44 | ||||
5.04 |
Binding Effect | 44 | ||||
5.05 |
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect | 44 | ||||
5.06 |
Litigation | 44 | ||||
5.07 |
No Default | 44 | ||||
5.08 |
Ownership of Property; Liens | 44 | ||||
5.09 |
Beneficial Ownership | 45 | ||||
5.10 |
Taxes | 45 | ||||
5.11 |
ERISA Compliance | 45 | ||||
5.12 |
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act | 45 | ||||
5.13 |
Disclosure | 46 | ||||
5.14 |
Compliance with Laws | 46 | ||||
5.15 |
Senior Debt Designation | 46 | ||||
5.16 |
OFAC | 46 | ||||
5.17 |
Affected Financial Institutions | 46 | ||||
5.18 |
Anti-Corruption Laws | 46 | ||||
5.19 |
Covered Entity | 46 | ||||
ARTICLE VI. |
| |||||
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
| |||||
6.01 |
Financial Statements | 46 | ||||
6.02 |
Certificates; Other Information | 47 | ||||
6.03 |
Notices | 48 | ||||
6.04 |
Payment of Taxes | 49 | ||||
6.05 |
Preservation of Existence, Etc. | 49 | ||||
6.06 |
Maintenance of Properties | 49 | ||||
6.07 |
Maintenance of Insurance | 49 | ||||
6.08 |
Compliance with Laws | 49 | ||||
6.09 |
Inspection Rights | 49 | ||||
6.10 |
Use of Proceeds | 50 | ||||
6.11 |
Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions | 50 | ||||
ARTICLE VII. |
| |||||
NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
| |||||
7.01 |
Liens | 50 | ||||
7.02 |
Anti-Corruption Laws | 51 | ||||
7.03 |
Indebtedness | 52 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section |
Page | |||||
7.04 |
Fundamental Changes | 52 | ||||
7.05 |
Transactions with Affiliates | 52 | ||||
7.06 |
Use of Proceeds | 52 | ||||
7.07 |
Ratio of Consolidated Adjusted Funded Debt to Consolidated EBITDAR | 53 | ||||
7.08 |
Sanctions | 53 | ||||
7.09 |
Anti-Corruption Laws | 53 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII. |
| |||||
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
| |||||
8.01 |
Events of Default | 53 | ||||
8.02 |
Remedies Upon Event of Default | 54 | ||||
8.03 |
Application of Funds | 55 | ||||
ARTICLE IX. |
| |||||
ADMINISTRATIVE Processing AGENT |
| |||||
9.01 |
Appointment and Authority | 56 | ||||
9.02 |
Rights as a Lender | 56 | ||||
9.03 |
Exculpatory Provisions | 56 | ||||
9.04 |
Reliance by Administrative Processing Agent | 57 | ||||
9.05 |
Delegation of Duties | 58 | ||||
9.06 |
Resignation of Administrative Processing Agent | 58 | ||||
9.07 |
Non-Reliance on the Administrative Processing Agent, the Arrangers and the Other Lenders | 59 | ||||
9.08 |
No Other Duties, Etc. | 59 | ||||
9.09 |
Administrative Processing Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 59 | ||||
9.10 |
No Lender is an Employee Benefit Plan | 60 | ||||
9.11 |
Recovery of Erroneous Payments | 61 | ||||
ARTICLE X. |
| |||||
MISCELLANEOUS |
| |||||
10.01 |
Amendments, Etc. | 61 | ||||
10.02 |
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication | 63 | ||||
10.03 |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement | 64 | ||||
10.04 |
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 65 | ||||
10.05 |
Payments Set Aside | 67 | ||||
10.06 |
Successors and Assigns | 67 | ||||
10.07 |
Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality | 72 | ||||
10.08 |
Right of Setoff | 73 | ||||
10.09 |
Interest Rate Limitation | 73 | ||||
10.10 |
Integration; Effectiveness | 73 | ||||
10.11 |
Survival of Representations and Warranties | 74 | ||||
10.12 |
Severability | 74 | ||||
10.13 |
Replacement of Lenders | 74 | ||||
10.14 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. | 75 | ||||
10.15 |
Waiver of Jury Trial | 76 | ||||
10.16 |
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 76 | ||||
10.17 |
Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts | 76 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section |
Page | |||||
10.18 |
USA PATRIOT Act Notice | 77 | ||||
10.19 |
No Lenders Will Be “Public Side” Lenders | 78 | ||||
10.20 |
Judgment Currency | 78 | ||||
10.21 |
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 78 | ||||
10.22 |
Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs | 79 | ||||
SIGNATURES |
S-1 |
SCHEDULES
2.01 | Commitments and Applicable Percentages | |
7.03 | Existing Subsidiary Indebtedness | |
10.02 | Administrative Processing Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices |
EXHIBITS | Form of | |
A | Committed Loan Notice | |
B | [Reserved] | |
C | Note | |
D | Compliance Certificate | |
E | Assignment and Assumption | |
F | [Reserved] | |
G | U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates | |
H | Notice of Loan Prepayment |
364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of September 16, 2025 (this “Agreement”), is made by and among ▇▇▇▇’▇ COMPANIES, INC., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent and ▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Administrative Agent.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrower a revolving credit facility in an original amount of up to $1,000,000,000 and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Processing Agent hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Acquisition” means the acquisition of all of the outstanding equity interests of the Target pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement.
“Acquisition Agreement” means the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2025, by and among the Borrower, the Target and ASP Flag Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (together with the appendices, exhibits and schedules thereto), as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance therewith and herewith.
“Act” means USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).
“Administrative Processing Agent’s Office” means, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Processing Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as the Administrative Processing Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Processing Agent” means Bank of America (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates) in its capacity as administrative processing agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative processing agent.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Processing Agent.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
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“Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c).
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.
“Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 8.03.
“Applicable Law” means, as to any Person, all applicable Laws binding upon such Person or to which such a Person is subject.
“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17. If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
“Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:
Applicable Rate
Pricing Level |
Debt Ratings S&P/▇▇▇▇▇’▇ |
Facility Fee |
Term SOFR Loans |
Base Rate Loans |
||||||||||
1 |
≥ A / A2 | 0.040 | % | 0.710 | % | 0.000 | % | |||||||
2 |
A- / A3 | 0.060 | % | 0.815 | % | 0.000 | % | |||||||
3 |
BBB+ / Baa1 | 0.070 | % | 0.930 | % | 0.000 | % | |||||||
4 |
BBB / Baa2 | 0.090 | % | 1.035 | % | 0.035 | % | |||||||
5 |
≤ BBB- / Baa3 | 0.125 | % | 1.125 | % | 0.125 | % |
Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the Borrower’s Debt Rating on the Effective Date. Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of Moody’s or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Arrangers” means, collectively, BAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC, each in its capacity as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner.
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“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Processing Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Processing Agent.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date (without duplication), (a) in respect of any Capital Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a Capital Lease and (c) in respect of any Securitization Transaction, the outstanding principal amount of such financing, after taking into account reserve accounts and making appropriate adjustments, determined by the Administrative Processing Agent in its reasonable judgment.
“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.07, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans pursuant to Section 8.02.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“BAS” means BofA Securities, Inc. and its successors.
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate,” (c) Term SOFR plus 1.00% and (d) 1.00%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a), (b) and (d) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.
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“Base Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.
“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”.
“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Processing Agent’s Office is located.
“Capital Lease” means each lease that has been or is required to be, in accordance with GAAP, classified and accounted for as a capital lease or financing lease.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:
(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, including but not limited to the ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc. 401K Plan, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities
4
Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or
(b) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body.
“CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.
“Co-Administrative Agent” means Bank of America and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, each in its capacity as co-administrative agent.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Committed Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type, in the same currency and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Term SOFR pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Processing Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Processing Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
“Communication” means this Agreement, any Loan Document and any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to any Loan Document.
“Competitor” means any competitor of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.
5
“Conforming Changes” means, with respect to the use, administration of or any conventions associated with SOFR, Term SOFR, or any proposed Successor Rate for Dollars, as applicable, any conforming changes to the definitions of “Base Rate”, “SOFR”, “Term SOFR” and “Interest Period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definitions of “Business Day” and “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Processing Agent, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such applicable rate(s) and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Processing Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice for Dollars (or, if the Administrative Processing 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 rate for Dollars exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Processing Agent determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Document).
“Consolidated Adjusted Funded Debt” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the total amount of Consolidated Funded Debt, plus (b) the Debt Equivalent of Operating Leases.
“Consolidated EBITDAR” means, for any Measurement Period, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income for such Measurement Period plus, to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) income tax provision, (ii) interest net, (iii) depreciation, (iv) amortization, (v) any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual non-cash charges or losses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred or charged in such Measurement Period, (vi) non-cash charges of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred or charged in such Measurement Period, (vii) non-cash losses arising from the sale of assets other than in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred or charged in such Measurement Period, (viii) any actual transaction expenses or related costs paid in cash in such Measurement Period in connection with (1) permitted acquisitions or investments and (2) store closings so long as the Borrower provides the Administrative Processing Agent with a detailed summary of such actual costs and expenses within 120 days of closing such acquisition, investment, or store closing, (ix) any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual cash charges or losses of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries incurred during such Measurement Period, (x) any cash losses arising from the sale of assets other than in the ordinary course of business, (xi) stock based compensation expense (applied consistently with the application set forth in the Audited Financial Statements), (xii) rental payments made or required to be made during such Measurement Period, and (xiii) cash and non-cash charges or losses associated with extinguishment of Indebtedness or other non-recurring financing activity of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in such Measurement Period and (b) minus, to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, (i) all extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual non-cash income or gains and (ii) non-cash gains arising from the sale of assets other than in the ordinary course of business increasing Consolidated Net Income (in each case of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period).
For the purpose of calculating Consolidated EBITDAR for any Measurement Period, if during such period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made an acquisition, investment or a Disposition permitted hereunder, Consolidated EBITDAR for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such acquisition, investment or Disposition, as the case may be, occurred on the first day of such period.
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“Consolidated Funded Debt” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations to reimburse amounts paid under standby letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding commercial letters of credit and commitments related to certain marketing and information technology programs and purchases of merchandise inventory (as set forth in the financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries)), (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital or financing leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and Securitization Transactions, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Borrower or such Subsidiary.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income, in accordance with GAAP, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses) for that period.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as set forth or reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Converted Term Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19.
“Converted Term Loan Maturity Date” means September 14, 2027, which date is the first anniversary of the Maturity Date.
“Covered Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 10.22(b).
“Credit Extension” means a Borrowing.
“Daily Simple SOFR” with respect to any applicable determination date means the SOFR published on such date on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source).
“Debt Equivalent of Operating Leases” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the higher of (a) the product of (i) rental payments made or required to be made for the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending on such date multiplied by (ii) six (6) and (b) GAAP Operating Lease Liability. For purposes of this definition “GAAP Operating Lease Liability” means the operating lease liability on the balance sheet in accordance with GAAP and FASB accounting standards (ASC 842) then in effect as of the last date on each fiscal quarter end of the Borrower.
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“Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest), (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply; (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means when used with respect to Obligations an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum;.
“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.17(b), any Lender that, as determined by the Administrative Processing Agent, (a) has failed to (i) perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in respect of its Loans, within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Processing Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Processing Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder or under other agreements generally in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within one Business Day after request by the Administrative Processing Agent, to confirm in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Processing Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations (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 Processing Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it, (iii) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment, or (iv) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such governmental authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.
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“Designated Jurisdiction” means any country, region or territory to the extent that such country, region or territory itself is the subject of any comprehensive Sanction.
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, liquidation, lease or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise) of any property by any Person (including any sale and leaseback transaction of any property), long lived asset, or line of business, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith; provided that “Disposition” shall not include any Dispositions relating to activities under the Borrower’s credit card program.
“Disqualified Institutions” means:
(a) (i) any Person identified by legal name as such in writing to the Arrangers on or prior to the date hereof by way of list from the Borrower (or its attorneys on such date), (ii) any Affiliate of any Person described in clause (i) above that is clearly identifiable as an Affiliate of such Person solely on the basis of such Affiliate’s name and (iii) any other Affiliate of any Person described in clause (i) above that is identified by legal name by the Borrower in a written notice to the Arrangers (if prior to the date hereof) or upon three Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Processing Agent (if after the date hereof) (each such person described in clauses (i) through (iii) above, a “Disqualified Lending Institution”); and
(b) (i) any Person that is or becomes a Competitor and is identified by legal name to the Borrower (or its attorneys) as such in writing to the Arrangers (if prior to the date hereof) or upon three Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Processing Agent (if after the date hereof), (ii) any Affiliate of any Person described in clause (i) above that (x) is clearly identifiable as an Affiliate of such person solely on the basis of such Affiliate’s name and (y) is not a bona fide debt investment fund that is an Affiliate of such Competitor and (iii) any other Affiliate of any Person described in clause (i) above that is identified by legal name by the Borrower in a written notice to the Arrangers (if prior to the date hereof) or upon three Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Processing Agent (if after the date hereof);
provided that no assignee or participant shall be retroactively disqualified from becoming a Lender or participant with respect to any assignment or participation acquired (or committed to be acquired) prior to the receipt of any such notice.
“Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Division.”
“Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
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“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Effective Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.
“Electronic Copy” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.17.
“Electronic Record” and “Electronic Signature” shall have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, by 15 USC §7006, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Administrative Processing Agent and (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
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“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower 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 that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent or in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC (or an event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA) to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) 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; or (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 ERISA Affiliate.
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the Laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a Law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 10.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii), (a)(iii) or (c), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.
“FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the Effective Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, and any intergovernmental agreement (and related fiscal or regulatory legislation, or related rules or practices) implementing the foregoing.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
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“Fee Letters” means each of (x) that certain fee letter agreement, dated August 19, 2025, among the Borrower, Bank of America, BAS and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and (y) that certain fee letter agreement, dated August 19, 2025, among the Borrower, Bank of America and BAS.
“Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
“▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇” means ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Bank USA and its successors.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). 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. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
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“Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c)(i).
“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:
(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;
(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under standby letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;
(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;
(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);
(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;
(f) Capital Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;
(g) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and
(h) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.
For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capital Lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Term SOFR Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan, the Maturity Date and the Converted Term Loan Maturity Date, as applicable; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Term SOFR Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date, the Maturity Date and the Converted Term Loan Maturity Date, as applicable.
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“Interest Period” means, as to each Term SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Loan, as applicable, is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability for the interest rate applicable to the relevant currency), as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:
(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Term SOFR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Term SOFR Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date, unless the Loans are converted into Converted Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.19, in which case the Borrower may not select an Interest Period that would extend beyond the Converted Term Loan Maturity Date.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“ISP” means the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).
“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.20.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.
“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Lender Parties” and “Lender Recipient Parties” mean, collectively, the Lenders.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest 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 financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
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“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, including schedules and exhibits hereto, each Note, the Fee Letters, and any other agreement, instrument or document designated by its terms as a “Loan Document”.
“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any event, act, condition or occurrence of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding), whether singly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts, condition or conditions, occurrence or occurrences, whether or not related, a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon any of (a) the financial condition, operations, business or properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Processing Agent or the Lenders under the Loan Documents or the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document; or (c) the legality, validity, or enforceability of any Loan Document.
“Material Subsidiary” means, at any time of determination, any Subsidiary having at such time 5% or more of the consolidated total (gross) revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the preceding four fiscal quarter period, in each case, based upon the Borrower’s most recent annual or quarterly financial statements delivered to the Lenders under Section 6.01.
“Maturity Date” means the earlier of (a) September 15, 2026 and (b) the date of termination of the Acquisition Agreement in accordance with its terms, without the Acquisition being closed (which notice the Borrower agrees to provide to the Administrative Processing Agent promptly upon such termination), provided, however, that, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.
“Measurement Period” means a period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower.
“▇▇▇▇▇’▇” means ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.
“Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders (and, in the case of amendments that require the approval of all or all affected Lenders of a particular class, Lenders with a majority of the loans and commitments in such class).
“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
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“Notice of Loan Prepayment” means a notice of prepayment with respect to a Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit H or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Processing Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Processing Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer.
“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Related Credit Arrangement, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.
“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the charter or certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating or limited liability agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising 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, 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 or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar Taxes arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.06).
“Outstanding Amount” means with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Committed Loans occurring on such date.
“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any amount, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Processing Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation,.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
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“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Pension Act” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
“Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.
“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“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.
“Recipient” means the Administrative Processing Agent and any Lender.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
“Related Credit Arrangements” means, collectively, Related Swap Contracts and Related Treasury Management Arrangements.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Related Swap Contract” means a Swap Contract which is entered into or maintained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.
“Related Treasury Management Arrangement” means an arrangement for the delivery of treasury management services to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which is entered into or maintained with a Lender or Affiliate of a Lender and which is not prohibited by the express terms of the Loan Documents.
“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than an event for which the notice requirement under Section 4043(a) of ERISA has been waived by regulation.
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“Request for Credit Extension” means with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, or Loans have been converted to Converted Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.19, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings; provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Rescindable Amount” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.13(b)(ii).
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Responsible Officer” means any of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Vice President (including without limitation Vice President Tax), General Counsel, Secretary, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of the Borrower and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Processing Agent or any other officer or employee of the Borrower designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower.
“Restatement” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.
“Same Day Funds” means with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds.
“Sanction(s)” means any published international economic sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant sanctions authority, applicable to the respective Lenders or the Borrower.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securitization Transaction” means, with respect to any Person, any financing transaction or series of financing transactions (including factoring arrangements) pursuant to which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person may sell, convey or otherwise transfer, or grant a security interest in, accounts, payments, receivables, rights to future lease payments or residuals or similar rights to payment to a special purpose subsidiary or affiliate of such Person.
“SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator).
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“SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c).
“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).
“Target” means ASP Flag Parent Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“Term SOFR” means:
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(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto; and
(b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such date with a term of one month commencing that day; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto;
provided that if the Term SOFR determined in accordance with either of the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) of this definition would otherwise be less than zero percent, the Term SOFR shall be deemed zero percent for purposes of this Agreement.
“Term SOFR Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Term SOFR. All Term SOFR Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.
“Term SOFR Screen Rate” means the forward-looking SOFR term rate administered by CME (or any successor administrator satisfactory to the Administrative Processing Agent) and published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Processing Agent from time to time).
“Threshold Amount” means $200,000,000.
“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.
“Type” means, with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Term SOFR Loan.
“UCP” means the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).
“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person subject to IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c)(i).
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any Business Day, except any Business Day on which any of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the New York Stock Exchange or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not open for business because such day is a legal holiday under the federal laws of the United States or the laws of the State of New York, as applicable.
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“U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law, rule or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
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(d) Any reference herein to a merger, 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, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).
1.03 Accounting Terms.
(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements (except for changes concurred in by the Borrower’s independent public accountants or otherwise required by a change in GAAP). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.
(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower, the Administrative Processing Agent or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Processing Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Processing Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Any amendment of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, at any time, solely in connection with and covering only such change in GAAP shall be effected without, in connection therewith, (a) the Borrower being obligated to pay any fee, (b) any increase in the Applicable Rate or (c) any other increase in the consideration then payable by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(c) Pro Forma Basis. All defined terms used in the calculation of the financial covenants set forth herein, if applicable, shall be calculated on an historical pro forma basis giving effect (by inclusion or exclusion, as applicable), during any period of measurement that includes the merger or any acquisition permitted hereunder, as applicable, to the actual historical results of the Person so acquired.
1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 [Reserved].
1.06 [Reserved].
1.08 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
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1.09 [Reserved].
1.10 Interest Rates. The Administrative Processing Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Processing Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to any reference rate referred to herein or with respect to any rate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the selection of such rate and any related spread or other adjustment) that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any such rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Processing Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions or other activities that affect any reference rate referred to herein, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or any related spread or other adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Processing Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any reference rate referred to herein or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing), in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or other action or omission related to or affecting the selection, determination, or calculation of any rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
1.11 References to Agreements and Laws. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Committed Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans in Dollars (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.06, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as further provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.
(a) Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Processing Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Committed Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Processing Agent of a Committed Loan Notice. Each such Committed Loan Notice must be received by
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the Administrative Processing Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) two Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans or of any conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.04(c) and 2.05(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, and (vi) the currency of the Committed Loans to be borrowed. If the Borrower fails to specify a currency in a Committed Loan Notice requesting a Borrowing, then the Committed Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term SOFR Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Except as provided pursuant to Sections 2.13(a) and 3.03, no Committed Loan may be converted into or continued as a Committed Loan denominated in a different currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original currency of such Committed Loan and reborrowed in the other currency.
(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Processing Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount (and currency) of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Processing Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation of Term SOFR Loans as described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Processing Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Processing Agent’s Office for the applicable currency not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Processing Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Processing Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Processing Agent by the Borrower.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, Term SOFR Loans may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Term SOFR Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Committed Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Term SOFR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.
(d) The Administrative Processing Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term SOFR Loans upon determination of such interest rate.
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(e) After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all or any portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Borrower, the Administrative Processing Agent and such Lender.
(g) The Administrative Processing Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Processing Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
2.03 [Reserved].
2.04 [Reserved].
2.05 [Reserved].
2.06 Prepayments.
(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Processing Agent pursuant to delivery to the Administrative Processing Agent of a Notice of Loan Prepayment, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Processing Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) two Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term SOFR Loans and(B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date, amount and currency of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Term SOFR Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Processing Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of any Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.17, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages. Voluntary prepayments of Converted Term Loans may not be reborrowed.
(b) [reserved].
(c) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.
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2.07 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Processing Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Processing Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Processing Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitments of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
2.08 Repayment of Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date unless Loans are converted into Converted Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.19, in which case the Borrower shall repay all outstanding Converted Term Loans of a Lender on the Converted Term Loan Maturity Date.
2.09 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Term SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate;.
Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any Term SOFR or any Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than zero percent, such interest rate will be deemed to be zero percent for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
(iii) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
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(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
2.10 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i) of Section 2.04:
(a) Facility Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Processing Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a facility fee (the “Facility Fee”), in Dollars, equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments (or, if the Aggregate Commitments have terminated, on the Outstanding Amount of all Committed Loans), regardless of usage, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17. The Facility Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period (and thereafter so long as any Committed Loans remain outstanding), including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date, and on the Maturity Date (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand). The Facility Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(b) Other Fees. (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arrangers and the Administrative Processing Agent for their own respective accounts, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letters or otherwise separately agreed in writing. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
2.11 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to Term SOFR) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.13(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Processing Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
2.12 Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in the ordinary course of business. The Administrative Processing Agent shall maintain the Register in accordance with Section 10.06(c). The accounts or records maintained by each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register, the Register shall control in the absence of manifest
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error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Processing Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Processing Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
2.13 Payments Generally; Administrative Processing Agent’s Clawback.
(a) General. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 3.01, all payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Processing Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Processing Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Processing Agent may require that any payments due under this Agreement be made in the United States. The Administrative Processing Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Processing Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; Presumption by Administrative Processing Agent. Unless the Administrative Processing Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Processing Agent such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Processing Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Processing Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Processing Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Processing Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the applicable Overnight Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Processing Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Processing Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Processing Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Processing Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Processing Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Processing Agent.
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(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Processing Agent. Unless the Administrative Processing Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Processing Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Processing Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders, as the case may be, the amount due.
With respect to any payment that the Administrative Processing Agent makes for the account of the Lenders hereunder as to which the Administrative Processing Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (1) the Borrower has not in fact made such payment; (2) the Administrative Processing Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by the Borrower (whether or not then owed); or (3) the Administrative Processing Agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment; then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Processing Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender, in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Processing Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Processing Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Processing Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Processing Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Processing Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Processing Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest to the extent returned on the same Business Day and thereafter at the Federal Funds Rate.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
(f) Insufficient Funds. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Processing Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, toward payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, toward payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.
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2.14 Sharing of Payments by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it resulting in such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Processing Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section 2.14 shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.14 shall apply).
The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under Applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff 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.
2.15 [Reserved].
2.16 [Reserved].
2.17 Defaulting Lenders.
(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law:
(i) Waivers and Amendments. That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 10.01.
(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Processing Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Processing Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Processing Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Processing Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Processing Agent; third, if so determined by the Administrative Processing Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under
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this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of that Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Section 2.17(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(iii) Certain Fees. That Defaulting Lender (x) shall be entitled to receive any facility fee pursuant to Section 2.10(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to extent allocable to the sum of the Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans funded by it.
(iv) [Reserved].
(v) [Reserved].
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent, agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Processing Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Processing Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Committed Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
2.18 [Reserved].
2.19 Term Loan Conversion; Repayment of Converted Term Loans.
(a) Upon ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇’s five Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Processing Agent and in the event that there are any Loans outstanding on the Maturity Date, at the option of the Borrower, all or a portion of such Loans may be converted to term loans (each, a “Converted Term Loan”) on such date and the Commitments shall automatically terminate. Upon the conversion of such Loans to Converted Term Loans, (i) each Borrower’s obligations in respect of such Loans shall remain in effect except as otherwise expressly provided for herein and (ii) each Lender shall be deemed to hold its Applicable Percentage (determined immediately prior to giving effect to the Maturity Date) of each of the Converted Term Loans; provided (A) that immediately before and after giving effect to such conversion,
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each of the representations and warranties made by the Borrower in or pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date of conversion as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties relate to an earlier, in which case, such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date), (B) that immediately before and after giving effect to such conversion, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (C) Administrative Processing Agent shall have received a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the conditions specified in clauses (A) and (B) of this proviso have been satisfied, and (D) on or prior to such date of conversion, the Borrower shall have paid a fee to the Administrative Processing Agent, for the account of each Lender holding Converted Term Loans, in an amount equal to 1.00% of aggregate principal amount of such Converted Term Loans held by such Lender.
(b) Each Converted Term Loan shall continue to bear interest at the same rate as, and contain such other terms that are identical to, the Loan from which such Converted Term Loan was converted (including, in the case of a Converted Term Loan that was converted from a Loan that was a Term SOFR Loan at the time of conversion, the same Interest Period applicable to such Loan at the time of conversion) and each reference herein to “Loans” shall be deemed to be a reference to “Converted Term Loans” as appropriate; provided, however that amounts paid or prepaid in respect of Converted Term Loans may not be reborrowed. To the extent not previously paid, all Converted Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Converted Term Loan Maturity Date.
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes.
(i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Laws. If any Applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Administrative Processing Agent or Borrower, as applicable) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Processing Agent or the Borrower, then the Administrative Processing Agent or the Borrower shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.
(ii) If the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding Taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Processing Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Processing Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Administrative Processing Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.
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(iii) If the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent shall be required by any Applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Processing Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of any Other Taxes.
(c) Indemnification by the Borrower. (i) The Borrower shall indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Processing Agent), or by the Administrative Processing Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Processing Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after written demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Processing Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii) below.
(ii) Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Processing Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Processing Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (y) the Administrative Processing Agent and the Borrower, as applicable, against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (z) the Administrative Processing Agent and the Borrower, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender that are payable or paid by the Administrative Processing Agent or the Borrower in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Processing Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Processing 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 to the Administrative Processing Agent under this clause (ii).
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(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Processing Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Processing Agent or the Administrative Processing Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent, as the case may be.
(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.
(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Processing Agent), at the time or times prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by Applicable Law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person:
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Processing 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 Processing Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding Tax;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Processing 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 request of the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(I) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor form) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor form) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
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(II) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI (or any successor form);
(III) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor form); or
(IV) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor form), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Processing 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 Processing Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent such documentation prescribed by Applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. For avoidance of doubt, solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement. To the extent that the relevant documentation provided pursuant to this Section
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3.01(e)(ii)(D) is rendered obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect as a result of changes in circumstances with respect to the status of a Lender, such Lender shall, to the extent permitted by Laws, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent revised and/or updated documentation sufficient for the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent to confirm such Lender’s compliance with its respective obligations under FATCA.
(iii) Each Lender shall promptly (A) update any previously delivered form or certification that expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of Applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent make any withholding or deduction for Taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by Applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Processing Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender. If any Recipient determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to the Borrower pursuant to this subsection the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This subsection shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
(g) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Processing Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
(h) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 3.01, the term “Applicable Law” includes FATCA.
3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to a Term SOFR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon a Term SOFR, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower (through the Administrative Processing Agent), (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or maintain Term SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Term SOFR Loans, shall be, in each case,
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suspended, and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Processing Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Processing Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Processing Agent), prepay all Term SOFR Loans or, if applicable, convert all such Term SOFR Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Processing Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate), in each case, immediately, or, in the case of Term SOFR Loans on the last day of the Interest Period therefor if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR to such day and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon Term SOFR, the Administrative Processing Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof until the Administrative Processing 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 Term SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.
(a) If in connection with any request for a Term SOFR Loan or a conversion of Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans or a continuation of any of such Loans, as applicable, (i) the Administrative Processing Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (A) no Successor Rate for Term SOFR has been determined in accordance with Section 3.03(b) or Section 3.03(c) and the circumstances under clause (i) of Section 3.03(b) or the SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred with respect to such Term SOFR (as applicable), or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not otherwise exist for determining the Term SOFR for any determination date(s) or requested Interest Period, as applicable, with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (ii) the Administrative Processing Agent or the Required Lenders determine that, for any reason, the Term SOFR with respect to a proposed Loan for any requested Interest Period or determination date(s) does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Processing Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender.
Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Loans in the affected currencies, as applicable, or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans, shall be suspended (in each case to the extent of the affected Interest Period or determination date(s), as applicable), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Term SOFR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Processing Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (ii) of this Section 3.03(a), until the Administrative Processing Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.
Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, continuation of, or conversion to Term SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans, or Interest Period or determination date(s)), as applicable or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (ii) any outstanding Term SOFR Loans shall be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans immediately.
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(b) Replacement of Term SOFR or Successor Rate with respect to Dollar Denominated Loans. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Processing Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Processing 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 one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR, including, without limitation, because the Term SOFR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or
(ii) CME or any successor administrator of the Term SOFR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Processing Agent or such administrator with respect to its publication of Term SOFR, in each case acting in such capacity, has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which each of one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate shall or will no longer be made available, or permitted to be used for determining the interest rate of U.S. dollar denominated syndicated loans, or shall or will otherwise cease; provided that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Processing Agent that will continue to provide such interest periods of Term SOFR after such specific date (the latest date on which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate are no longer available permanently or indefinitely, the “SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date”);
or if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(b)(i) or (ii) have occurred with respect to the SOFR Successor Rate then in effect, then, on a date and time determined by the Administrative Processing Agent (any such date, the “Term SOFR Replacement Date”), which date shall be at the end of an Interest Period or on the relevant interest payment date, as applicable, for interest calculated and, solely with respect to clause (ii) above, no later than the SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date, Term SOFR will be replaced hereunder and under any Loan Document with Daily Simple SOFR, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (the “SOFR Successor Rate”).
If the Successor Rate is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a monthly basis.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) if the Administrative Processing Agent determines that Daily Simple SOFR is not available on or prior to the Term SOFR Replacement Date, or (ii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(b)(i) or (ii) have occurred with respect to the Successor Rate then in effect, then in each case, the Administrative Processing Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing Term SOFR or any then current Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 3.03 at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, as applicable, with an alternative benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such alternative benchmark. 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 credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such benchmark. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments shall constitute a “Successor Rate”. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Processing Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Processing Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.
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(c) [Reserved].
(d) Successor Rate. The Administrative Processing Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Borrower and each Lender of the implementation of any Successor Rate.
Any 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 Processing Agent, such Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Processing Agent.
Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than zero percent, the Successor Rate will be deemed to be zero percent for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
In connection with the implementation of a Successor Rate, the Administrative Processing Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such 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 Processing Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
3.04 Increased Costs and Return.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender;
(ii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes and (B) Excluded Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Lender or any applicable interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Term SOFR Loans made by such Lender or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
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(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s policies and the policies of such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 3.04, together with reasonable supporting calculations, and containing an officer’s certification that such costs have not been imposed on the Borrower disproportionately from other similarly situated borrowers under comparable credit facilities, and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months 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 (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Processing Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period, as applicable, for such Loan, if applicable (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower;
(c) [reserved]; or
(d) any assignment of a Term SOFR on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;
including any loss of anticipated profits, any foreign exchange losses, and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
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For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Term SOFR Loan made by it at the applicable Term SOFR for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank market for such currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to the Borrower through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.
3.07 Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Processing Agent.
ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS
4.01 Conditions of Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective on the date that each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.01):
(a) The Administrative Processing Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer, each dated the Effective Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Effective Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Processing Agent and each of the Lenders:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Processing Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;
(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
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(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers as the Administrative Processing Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Processing Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized, and that the Borrower is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(v) a favorable opinion of (i) Freshfields US LLP, in its capacity as special New York counsel to the Borrower and (ii) ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, PLLC, in its capacity as special North Carolina counsel to the Borrower, in each case addressed to the Administrative Processing Agent and each Lender;
(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by and the validity against the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;
(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied; (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) the current Debt Ratings;
(viii) (A) upon the reasonable request of any Lender made at least ten days prior to the Effective Date, the Borrower shall have provided to such Lender the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the Act, in each case at least five days prior to the Effective Date; and
(B) at least five days prior to the Effective Date, if the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, the Borrower shall deliver a Beneficial Ownership Certification; and
(ix) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Processing Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.
(b) Any and all fees required to be paid on or before the Effective Date shall have been paid.
(c) Unless waived by the Administrative Processing Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Processing Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Processing Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Effective Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent).
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Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Processing Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.
4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V (other than in Sections 5.05(c), 5.06, 5.10, 5.11 and 5.14) or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to include the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.
(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.
(c) The Administrative Processing Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.
(d) In Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Processing Agent and the Lenders on the Effective Date and on each date of a Credit Extension:
5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. The Borrower (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of North Carolina, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license, except, in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents (i) are within Borrower’s corporate powers, (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, or (iii) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of Applicable Law or regulation or of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Borrower, or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon Borrower or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
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5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of this Agreement.
5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms; provided that the enforceability hereof is subject to general principles of equity and to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.
5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.
(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated August 1, 2025 and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.
(c) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that (a) purport to call into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.07 No Default. (a) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligations that, either individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) No Default has occurred and is continuing under this Agreement.
5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has title to and/or a leasehold interest in its properties sufficient for the conduct of its business, and none of such property is subject to any Lien except as permitted in Section 7.01.
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5.09 Beneficial Ownership. As of the Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification, if applicable, is true and correct in all respects.
5.10 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.
5.11 ERISA Compliance.
(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have fulfilled their obligations under the Pension Funding Rules and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained with respect to each Pension Plan and are in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, and have not incurred any liability to the PBGC or to a Pension Plan under Title IV of ERISA.
(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA or to the PBGC or to any Multiemployer Plan with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA; and (iv) except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability for the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, no Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.
(d) The Borrower represents and warrants as of the Effective Date that the Borrower is not and will not be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments.
5.12 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.
(b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
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5.13 Disclosure. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.
5.14 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including Environmental Laws) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.15 Senior Debt Designation. No indenture or other loan documentation to which the Borrower is a party contains a requirement that the Obligations be designated as “senior debt” in order to be treated as such under such indenture or other loan documentation.
5.16 OFAC. Neither the Borrower, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individuals or entities that are (a) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions or (b) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction or (c) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Sanctions and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Sanctions.
5.17 Affected Financial Institutions. The Borrower is not an Affected Financial Institution.
5.18 Anti-Corruption Laws. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other applicable anti-corruption laws in jurisdictions where the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries does business. The Borrower has instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.
5.19 Covered Entity. The Borrower is not a Covered Entity.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligations shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:
6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Processing Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Processing Agent and the Required Lenders:
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(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 15 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC)), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; and
(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 15 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC)), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.
6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Processing Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Processing Agent and the Required Lenders:
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a certificate of its independent certified public accountants certifying such financial statements and stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default or, if any such Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event;
(b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;
(c) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Processing Agent pursuant hereto;
(d) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any default or event of default under such indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;
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(e) promptly, and in any event within ten Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation (excluding routine comment letters) by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof;
(f) promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” requirements under the Act, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation or other applicable anti-money laundering laws; and
(g) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(c) or (d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Processing Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Processing Agent); provided that, upon the request of the Administrative Processing Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Processing Agent or such Lender. Notwithstanding anything contained herein (but subject to the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence), in every instance the obligation of the Borrower to deliver documents required pursuant to Sections 6.02(a), (b), (e) and (f) to the Administrative Processing Agent and each Lender shall be deemed satisfied by the Borrower providing to the Administrative Processing Agent either paper copies of such documents or if the Borrower otherwise elects (provided that the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender has not asked the Borrower to deliver paper copies thereof), electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. The Administrative Processing Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the Administrative Processing Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, SyndTrak, ClearPar, or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”).
6.03 Notices. Promptly notify the Administrative Processing Agent and each Lender:
(a) of the occurrence of any Default;
(b) of any matter that has resulted or is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including but not limited to (i) any dispute, litigation, investigation, or proceeding between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (ii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;
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(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event, or if the Borrower and/or any ERISA Affiliate commences participation in one or more Multiemployer Plans which will provide retirement benefits to an aggregate of more than 500 employees of Borrower or the ERISA Affiliates; and
(d) of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification.
Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the obligation of the Borrower to deliver documents required pursuant to Section 6.03 to the Administrative Processing Agent and each Lender shall be deemed satisfied by the Borrower providing to the Administrative Processing Agent either paper copies of such documents or if the Borrower otherwise elects, electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.
6.04 Payment of Taxes. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable all federal, state and other material Taxes, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary.
6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect the Borrower’s legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) maintain the legal existence and good standing of each Subsidiary under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, except to the extent that failure to do so is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; (b) make all necessary and desirable repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof, except in the case of both (a) and (b) above, where the failure to do so is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain insurance (including self-insurance) with respect to its properties and business as necessary and appropriate in the good faith business judgment of the Borrower.
6.08 Compliance with Laws . Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; or (b) the failure to comply therewith is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.09 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Processing Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss
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its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.
6.10 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.
6.11 Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions. Conduct its businesses in compliance in all material respects with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other applicable anti-corruption legislation in jurisdictions where the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries does business and with all applicable Sanctions, and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and Sanctions.
ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligations shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied the Borrower shall not, nor (except with respect to Section 7.04) shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:
(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;
(b) Liens securing Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not exceeding $10 million;
(c) Liens existing on any asset of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;
(d) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring, improving or constructing an asset, provided that such Lien attaches to such asset, concurrently with or within twelve months after the acquisition or completion of construction or improvement thereof and such Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the asset so acquired, improved or constructed;
(e) Liens on an asset of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;
(f) Liens existing on an asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such acquisition;
(g) Liens securing Indebtedness owing by any Subsidiary to the Borrower;
(h) Liens arising out of the refinancing, renewal or refunding of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section 7.01; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is not secured by any additional assets, and (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness secured by any such Lien is not increased;
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(i) Liens for taxes not yet delinquent or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;
(j) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;
(k) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;
(l) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(m) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;
(n) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(g) or securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments;
(o) Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or ownership of its property that (i) do not secure Indebtedness and (ii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its property or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;
(p) Liens on margin stock;
(q) any Lien on the accounts and accounts receivable of the Borrower arising out of the securitization of such accounts and accounts receivable or a secured borrowing of money that requires the pledge of or a security interest on such accounts and accounts receivable provided that: (i) such Lien encumbers only the accounts and accounts receivable subject to the securitization, and (ii) in the case of a secured borrowing of money any such Lien shall at all times be confined solely to such accounts and accounts receivable that are required to secure such borrowing; and
(r) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section 7.01 which secure Indebtedness, that, when aggregated with all other Indebtedness secured by ▇▇▇▇▇ permitted by clause (q) above, does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets.
7.02 Anti-Corruption Laws. Directly or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practice Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, or other applicable anti-corruption laws in jurisdictions where the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries does business.
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7.03 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, in each case, of a Subsidiary, except:
(a) Current accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business;
(b) Indebtedness outstanding on the Effective Date and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder;
(c) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or another Subsidiary;
(d) Guarantees by any Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or of another Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder;
(e) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view;” and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;
(f) Indebtedness in respect of capital or financing leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(d); and
(g) Other secured or unsecured Indebtedness not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section 7.03, so long as the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets.
7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person (including, in each case, pursuant to a Division), provided, that so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower may merge with another Person if (i) such Person is organized under the laws of the United States of America or one of its states, and (ii) the Borrower is the surviving Person.
7.05 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to transactions between or among the Borrower and any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries or between and among any wholly-owned Subsidiaries.
7.06 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.
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7.07 Ratio of Consolidated Adjusted Funded Debt to Consolidated EBITDAR. As of the end of each fiscal quarter, permit the ratio of Consolidated Adjusted Funded Debt on such date to Consolidated EBITDAR for the Measurement Period ending on such date to exceed 4.00 to 1.00.
7.08 Sanctions. Directly or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Processing Agent or otherwise) of Sanctions.
7.09 Anti-Corruption Laws. Directly or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.
ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an event of default (each an “Event of Default”):
(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein and in the currency required hereunder, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within three days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03 (to the extent that, other than with respect to subsection (a) thereof, the event for which notice was not given is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect), 6.05(a), 6.09, 7.01, 7.03, 7.04, 7.06, 7.07, 7.08, or 7.09; or
(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above or otherwise in this Section 8.01, but including Section 6.03 to the extent that, other than with respect to subsection (a) thereof, the event for which notice was not given is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days from the earlier of (i) the first day on which the Borrower has knowledge of such failure and (ii) written notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Processing Agent at the request of any Lender; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by the Borrower herein, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be false, incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or
(e) Cross-Default. (i) The Borrower or any Material Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to
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any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded, if the amount of such Indebtedness or Guarantee is more than the Threshold Amount; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary (i) a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or is reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 10 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or
(h) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or is reasonably likely to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or
(i) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Processing Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;
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(c) [reserved]; and
(d) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable without further act of the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds.
(a) After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.16 and 2.17, be applied by the Administrative Processing Agent in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Processing Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Processing Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
Fifth, [reserved];
Sixth, to payment of Obligations consisting of liabilities under any Related Credit Arrangement with any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender party to a Related Credit Arrangement and as to which the Administrative Processing Agent has received notice of the amounts owed thereunder from the applicable Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender party to a Related Credit Arrangement, such payments under this clause Sixth to be allocated on a pro rata basis according to such amounts owed as to which the Administrative Processing Agent has received such notice; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
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(b) [reserved].
(c) The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any such application in a currency (the “Application Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following the date of any such application by the Administrative Processing Agent of any such amount in the Application Currency, the Administrative Processing Agent, may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase the Agreement Currency with the Application Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the Obligations originally due to the Administrative Processing Agent or any applicable Lender from the Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower acknowledges that the applicable Obligations shall remain outstanding to the extent of such difference. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Processing Agent or any applicable Lender in such currency, the Administrative Processing Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under Applicable Law).
ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Processing Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Processing Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Processing Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Processing Agent, the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Processing Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any Applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.
9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Processing 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 Processing Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Processing Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial, advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Processing Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or to provide notice or consent of the Lenders with respect thereto.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Processing Agent or the Arrangers, as applicable, shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Processing Agent or the Arrangers, as applicable, and its Related Parties:
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(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Processing Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Processing Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Processing Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or Applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law;
(c) shall
not have any duty or responsibility to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender, any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other
condition or creditworthiness of any of the Borrower or any of their Affiliates, that is communicated to, obtained by or in the possession of, the Administrative Processing Agent, the Arrangers or any of their Related Parties in any capacity, except
for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Processing Agent herein;
(d) shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Processing Agent under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Processing Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Processing Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Processing Agent by the Borrower, a Lender; and
(e) shall not be responsible for or have any duty or obligation to any Lender or participant or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Processing Agent.
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Processing Agent. The Administrative Processing Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Processing 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
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condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Processing Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Processing Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Processing 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.
9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Processing Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Processing Agent. The Administrative Processing Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article IX shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Processing Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Processing Agent. The Administrative Processing Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Processing Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Processing Agent. Each of the Administrative Processing Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower so long as no Event of Default exists, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Processing Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Processing Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Processing Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Processing Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Processing 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 Processing Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Processing Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Processing Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Processing Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Processing Agent as provided for above in this Section 9.06. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Processing Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Processing Agent, and the retiring Administrative Processing Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 9.06). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Processing Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Processing Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Processing Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring Administrative Processing Agent was acting as Administrative Processing Agent and (ii) after such resignation for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Processing Agent.
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9.07 Non-Reliance on the Administrative Processing Agent, the Arrangers and the Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that none of the Administrative Processing Agent nor any Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Processing Agent or any Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of the Borrower of any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Processing Agent, or any Arranger to any Lender as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Processing Agent or any Arranger have disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Processing Agent and the Arrangers that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Processing Agent, the Arrangers, 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 of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Processing Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower. Each Lender represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Bookrunners, Arrangers, Syndication Agent, Co-Administrative Agent or Co-Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Processing Agent or a Lender hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Processing Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Processing Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Processing Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
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(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations 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 Processing Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Processing Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Processing Agent under Sections 2.04(h) and (i), 2.10 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Processing Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Processing Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Processing Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Processing Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Processing Agent under Sections 2.10 and 10.04.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Processing 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 Processing Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
9.10 No Lender is an Employee Benefit Plan.
(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 Processing Agent, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement,
(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,
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(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Processing Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b) In addition, unless either (1) clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Processing Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that the Administrative Processing Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Processing Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
9.11 Recovery of Erroneous Payments.
Without limitation of any other provision in this Agreement, if at any time the Administrative Processing Agent makes a payment hereunder in error to any Lender Recipient Party, whether or not in respect of an Obligation due and owing by any Borrower at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each Lender Recipient Party receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Processing Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Lender Recipient Party in Same Day Funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount is received by it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Processing Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Processing Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. Each Lender Recipient Party irrevocably waives any and all defenses, including any “discharge for value” (under which a creditor might otherwise claim a right to retain funds mistakenly paid by a third party in respect of a debt owed by another) or similar defense to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount. The Administrative Processing Agent shall inform each Lender Recipient Party promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Lender Recipient Party comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount.
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc. Subject to Section 2.19, Section 3.03, and the last paragraph of this Section 10.01, or otherwise expressly provided herein, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower and acknowledged by the Administrative Processing Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
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(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;
(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;
(e) modify Section 2.14, Section 8.03 or any other provision hereof in a manner that would have the effect of altering the ratable reduction of Commitments, order of payments or the pro rata sharing of payments otherwise required hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;
(f) [reserved]; or
(g) change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Applicable Percentage,” “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;
and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Processing Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Processing Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letters may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely (and disproportionately) than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated, such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement.
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Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Administrative Processing Agent and the Borrower acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the schedules and exhibits thereto), then the Administrative Processing Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided that the Administrative Processing Agent shall provide each such amendment implementing such changes to the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or electronic mail as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FpML messaging and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Processing Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has notified the Administrative Processing Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Processing Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Processing Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
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(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Processing Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Processing Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent. In addition, each ▇▇▇▇▇▇ agrees to notify the Administrative Processing Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Processing Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.
(e) Reliance by Administrative Processing Agent and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. The Administrative Processing Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic notices and Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Processing Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Processing Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Processing Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Processing Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Borrower shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Processing Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Processing Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Processing Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.14), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to the Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Processing Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Processing Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.14, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Processing Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Processing Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Processing Agent, any Lender (including the fees, computed on an hourly basis, and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 10.04, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Processing Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Arranger, each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, computed on an hourly basis, and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party (other than such Indemnitee and its Related Parties) or by the Borrower arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without limitation, the Indemnitee’s reliance on any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature, or in the form of an Electronic Record), the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or, in the case of the Administrative Processing Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) [reserved], (iv) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any
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way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (v) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the comparative, contributory or sole negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) result from a claim not involving an act or omission of the Borrower and that is brought by an Indemnitee against another Indemnitee (other than against an Arranger or the Administrative Processing Agent in their capacities as such). Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(b), this Section 10.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.
(c) Reimbursement by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 10.04 to be paid by it to the Administrative Processing Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Processing Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Processing Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Processing Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.13(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. The Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except in the event of gross negligence or willful misconduct by such Indemnitee, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and nonappealable judgment.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section 10.04 and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Processing Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
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10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Processing Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Processing Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Processing Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Processing Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 10.06, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 10.06, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section 10.06 (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section 10.06 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Processing Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned, and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section 10.06, with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Processing Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Processing Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.
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(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned.
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section 10.06 and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment (other than any such assignment to a Disqualified Institution) unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Processing Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof except where such consent to any such assignment would cause the Borrower to incur additional costs under Section 3.01(a); and
(B) the consent of the Administrative Processing Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender;
provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, withhold its consent to any assignment to any Person that is not expressly a Disqualified Institution but is known by the Borrower to be an Affiliate of a Disqualified Institution without regard as to whether such Person is identifiable as an Affiliate of a Disqualified Institution on the basis of such Affiliate’s legal name;
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Processing Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Processing Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The Eligible Assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Processing Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), (C) to a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural persons), or (D) to any Disqualified Institution.
(vi) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Processing Agent in an aggregate amount
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sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (A) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Processing Agent, any Lender or the Borrower hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (B) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under Applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Processing Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 10.06, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section 10.06.
(c) Register. The Administrative Processing Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Processing Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Processing 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. In addition, the Administrative Processing Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by each of the Borrower and each Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In addition, at any time that a request for a consent for a material or substantive change to the Loan Documents is pending, any Lender wishing to consult with other Lenders in connection therewith may request and receive from the Administrative Processing Agent a copy of the Register.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Processing Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural Persons, a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or any Disqualified Institution) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s
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rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Processing Agent, the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section 10.06, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 10.06 (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.
Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Processing Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Processing Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable 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. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (other than to any Disqualified Institution), including under its Note, if any, to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
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(g)
(i) To the extent any assignment or participation is made by a Lender to any Disqualified Institution without the Borrower’s consent, to the extent the Borrower’s consent is required under this Section 10.06, then such assignment shall not be null and void, but (x) such Disqualified Institution shall not be entitled to the benefit of any expense reimbursement or indemnification provisions of the Loan Documents (including without limitation Section 10.04 hereof) and (y) the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Processing Agent, (A) terminate any Commitment of such Disqualified Institution and repay all obligations of the Borrower owing to such Disqualified Institution, (B) in the case of any outstanding Loans held by such Disqualified Institution, purchase such Loans by paying the lesser of (x) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such Loans and (y) par, plus accrued interest thereon, but excluding any premium, penalty, prepayment fee or breakage costs and/or (C) require that such Disqualified Institution assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Assignees; provided that in the case of clause (C), the relevant assignment shall otherwise comply with this Section 10.06 (except that no registration and processing fee required under this Section 10.06 shall be required with any assignment pursuant to this paragraph; provided, further, that in the case of the foregoing clauses (A)-(C), the Borrower shall not be liable to any Person for breakage costs. Further, any Disqualified Institution identified by the Borrower to the Administrative Processing Agent (A) shall not be permitted to (x) receive information or reporting provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender and/or (y) attend and/or participate in conference calls or meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the Administrative Processing Agent and (B)(x) shall not for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders 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 the Borrower therefrom, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document or (iii) directed or required any Agent Party 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 any Agent Party or any Lender to take (or refrain from taking) any such action; it being understood that all Loans held by any Disqualified Institution shall be deemed to be not outstanding for all purposes of calculating whether the Required Lenders or all Lenders have taken any action and (y) shall be deemed to vote in the same proportion as Lenders that are not Disqualified Institutions in any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law commenced by or against the Borrower. The rights and remedies available to any Borrower pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.06(g) shall be in addition to injunctive relief (without posting a bond or presenting evidence of irreparable harm) or any other remedies available to the Borrower at law or in equity. Nothing in this Section 10.06(g) shall be deemed to prejudice any right or remedy that the Borrower may otherwise have at law or equity.
(ii) The Administrative Processing Agent shall have the right, and the Borrower hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Processing Agent to, (A) post the list of Disqualified Institutions provided by the Borrower and any updates thereto from time to time to the Lenders and/or (B) provide such list to any potential Lender. The Administrative Processing Agent shall promptly post the list of Disqualified Institutions provided by the Borrower and any updates thereto from time to time to the Lenders (provided that the Borrower has provided the same to the Administrative Processing Agent in accordance with the definition of “Disqualified Institution”) and any such Lender may provide the list to any potential assignee for the purpose of verifying whether such Person is a Disqualified Institution, in each case so long as such Lender and such potential assignee agree to keep the list of Disqualified Institutions confidential in accordance with the terms hereof. The Administrative Processing Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the
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provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Processing Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or participant or prospective Lender or participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, by any other Person to any Disqualified Institution.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Processing Agent, the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by Applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.07, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder (g) with the consent of the Borrower, (h) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (i) to any actual or prospective credit insurance provider (or its Related Parties) relating to the Company and its obligations hereunder or (j) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.07 or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Processing Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. In addition, the Administrative Processing Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Processing Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments. Each of the Lenders agrees to use its best efforts to insure that no material non-public information provided to it by or on behalf of the Borrower will be utilized by any of its affiliates, agents, advisors or representatives to trade in securities of the Borrower.
For purposes of this Section 10.07, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Processing Agent, any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.07 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
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For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein prohibits any individual from communicating or disclosing information regarding suspected violations of laws, rules, or regulations to a governmental, regulatory, or self-regulatory authority without notification to any person.
10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Processing Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Processing Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Processing Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section 10.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by Applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Processing Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
10.10 Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Processing Agent and when the Administrative Processing Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
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10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Processing Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.
10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Processing Agent then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Processing Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee procured by the Borrower that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Processing Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(d) such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Laws; and
(e) in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
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Each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 10.13 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Processing Agent and the assignee and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided, further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.13 to the contrary, the Lender that acts as the Administrative Processing Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.06.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR OTHER PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING AGENT, ANY LENDER, OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN (OR IF SUCH COURT LACKS SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN), AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR OTHER PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH FEDERAL (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW) OR NEW YORK STATE COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR OTHER PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING AGENT, ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR
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ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION 10.14. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.15.
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Processing Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower, on the one hand, and the Administrative Processing Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Processing Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Processing Agent, nor any Lender, nor any Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and (iii) the Administrative Processing Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, and neither the Administrative Processing Agent, nor any Lender, nor any Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Processing Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
10.17 Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts. This Agreement, any Loan Document and any other Communication, including Communications required to be in writing, may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures. The Borrower and each of the Administrative Processing Agent and each Lender Party agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature, will
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constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered. Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and electronic counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Administrative Processing Agent and each of the Lender Parties may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (“Electronic Copy”), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document. All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Processing Agent is not under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Processing Agent has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Processing Agent and each of the Lender Parties shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower and/or any Lender Party without further verification and (b) upon the request of the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender Party, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.
The Administrative Processing Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Processing Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means). The Administrative Processing Agent shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any Communication (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution or signed using an Electronic Signature) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
The Borrower and each Lender Party hereby waives (i) any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document, and (ii) any claim against the Administrative Processing Agent, each Lender Party and each Related Party for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Processing Agent’s and/or any Lender Party’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.
10.18 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act and the Administrative Processing Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Processing Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Processing Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.
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10.19 No Lenders Will Be “Public Side” Lenders. The Borrower acknowledges and the Administrative Processing Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders agree that none of the Lenders will be “public side” Lenders (i.e. Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each a “Public Lender”). The Borrower, the Administrative Processing Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders hereby agree that (x) all Borrower Materials shall be treated as private and may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws and (y) the Administrative Processing Agent and the Arrangers shall treat all Borrower Materials as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Lender” or “Public Investor”. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”.
10.20 Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Processing Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the Agreement Currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Processing Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Processing Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender from the Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Processing Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Processing Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Processing Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under Applicable Law).
10.21 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
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(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.
10.22 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
(b) As used in this Section 10.22, the following terms have the following meanings:
“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).
[Remainder of page left blank intentionally; signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
▇▇▇▇’▇ COMPANIES, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ | |
Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as | ||
Administrative Processing Agent | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: | ▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Title: | Vice President |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Vice President |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Administrative Agent and as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Executive Director |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
BARCLAYS BANK, PLC, as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Director |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
CITIBANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Vice President |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BANK USA, as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇’▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇’▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Vice President |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Vice President |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
MIZUHO BANK, LTD., as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Managing Director |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-Mondo | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
TRUIST BANK, as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Director |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
Bank of China, New York Branch, as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Executive Vice President |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
Bank of Montreal, as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: Vice President |
▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc.
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
Signature Page
Schedule 2.01
Commitments and Applicable Percentages
Lender |
Commitment | Applicable Percentage |
||||||
Bank of America, N.A. |
$ | 108,750,000.00 | 10.875000000 | % | ||||
▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association |
$ | 107,500,000.00 | 10.750000000 | % | ||||
Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 107,500,000.00 | 10.750000000 | % | ||||
Citibank, N.A. |
$ | 107,500,000.00 | 10.750000000 | % | ||||
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Bank USA |
$ | 107,500,000.00 | 10.750000000 | % | ||||
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
$ | 107,500,000.00 | 10.750000000 | % | ||||
U.S. Bank National Association |
$ | 107,500,000.00 | 10.750000000 | % | ||||
Mizuho Bank, Ltd. |
$ | 62,500,000.00 | 6.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | % | ||||
Royal Bank of Canada |
$ | 62,500,000.00 | 6.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | % | ||||
Truist Bank |
$ | 62,500,000.00 | 6.250000000 | % | ||||
Bank of China, New York Branch |
$ | 29,375,000.00 | 2.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | % | ||||
Bank of Montreal |
$ | 29,375,000.00 | 2.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | % | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
$ | 1,000,000,000.00 | 100.000000000 | % | ||||
|
|
|
|
Schedule 7.03
Existing Subsidiary Indebtedness
Type of Indebtedness |
Location |
Subsidiary |
Amount as of August 1, 2025 ($ in Thousands) |
|||||
Mortgage Note |
South Meridian, ID | ▇▇▇▇’▇ HIW, Inc. | $ | 1,052 | ||||
Letter of Credit |
Various | Various | $ | 422,538 | ||||
Surety Bond |
Various | Various | $ | 446,846 | ||||
Guarantee |
Canada | ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies Canada, ULC | $ | 11,648 | ||||
Equity Interest Obligation |
Netherlands | LHIC Netherlands II, B.V. NLBV | — | |||||
|
|
|||||||
$ | 882,084 | |||||||
|
|
Schedule 10.02
Administrative Processing Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
BORROWER
▇▇▇▇’▇ COMPANIES, INC.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇’▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Mooresville, NC 28117
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President, Investor Relations & Treasurer
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopier: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
E- Mail: ▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
Website Address: ▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number: ▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Administrative Agent’s Office
(for payments and Requests for Credit Extensions):
Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
TX1-160-06-02
Dallas, TX 75207
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Email: ▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
Remittance Instructions-
US Dollars:
Bank of America, N.A.
New York, NY
ABA# ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Account No.:
Account Name: Wire Clearing Acct for Syn Loans-LIQ
Ref: Lowes Companies Inc.
CAD:
Beneficiary Bank: Bank of America Canada (BOFACATT)
Beneficiary Account Number:
Beneficiary: Bank of America NA
GBP:
Beneficiary Bank: Bank of America NT and SA (BOFAGB22)
Beneficiary Account Number:
Beneficiary: Bank of America NA
EUR:
Beneficiary Bank: Bank of America NT and SA (BOFAGB22)
Beneficiary Account Number:
Beneficiary: Bank of America NA
Other Notices as Administrative Agent:
Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
NC1-026-06-03
Charlotte, NC 28255
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Email: ▇▇▇▇.▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF COMMITTED LOAN NOTICE
Date: ,
To: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September [__], 2025 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among, among others, ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Administrative Agent.
The undersigned hereby requests (select one):
☐ | A Borrowing of Committed Loans |
☐ | A conversion or continuation of [Term SOFR Loans] |
1. On (a Business Day).
2. In the amount of $ .
3. Comprised of .
[Type of Committed Loan requested]
4. In the following currency: .
5. For Term SOFR Loans: with an Interest Period of months.
The Committed Borrowing, if any, requested herein complies with the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.01 of the Agreement.
▇▇▇▇’▇ COMPANIES, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
A-1
Form of Committed Loan Notice
EXHIBIT B
[RESERVED]
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF NOTE
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to or registered assigns (the “Lender”), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of each Loan from time to time made by the Lender to the Borrower under that certain 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September [__], 2025 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among, among others, the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Administrative Agent.
The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan from the date of such Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Agreement. All payments of principal and interest shall be made to the Administrative Processing Agent for the account of the Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Processing Agent’s Office. If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.
This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided therein. Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement. Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.
THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
▇▇▇▇’▇ COMPANIES, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
C-2
Form of Compliance Certificate
LOANS AND PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO
Date |
Type of Loan Made |
Amount of Loan Made |
End of Interest Period |
Amount of Principal or |
Outstanding |
Notation Made By | ||||||
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C-3
Form of Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
☐ Check for distribution to PUBLIC and Private side Lenders.1
Financial Statement Date: ,
To: | Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September [__], 2025 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among, among others, ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Administrative Agent.
The undersigned Responsible Officer hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is the of the Borrower, and that, as such, he/she is authorized to execute and deliver this Compliance Certificate to the Administrative Processing Agent on the behalf of the Borrower, and that:
[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal year-end financial statements]
1. Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the year-end audited financial statements required by Section 6.01(a) of the Agreement for the fiscal year of the Borrower ended as of the above date, together with the report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant required by such section.
[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter-end financial statements]
1. Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the unaudited financial statements required by Section 6.01(b) of the Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended as of the above date. Such financial statements fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP as at such date and for such period, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
2. The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the Agreement and has made, or has caused to be made under his/her supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements.
3. A review of the activities of the Borrower during such fiscal period has been made under the supervision of the undersigned with a view to determining whether during such fiscal period the Borrower performed and observed all its Obligations under the Loan Documents, and
[select one:]
[to the best knowledge of the undersigned during such fiscal period, the Borrower performed and observed each covenant and condition of the Loan Documents applicable to it, and no Default has occurred and is continuing.]
—or—
[to the best knowledge of the undersigned during such fiscal period, the following covenants or conditions have not been performed or observed and the following is a list of each such Default and its nature and status:]
4. The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V (other than in Sections 5.05(c), 5.06, 5.10, 5.11 and 5.14) of the Agreement, and any representations and warranties of the Borrower that are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection with the Loan Documents, are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of
1 | If this is not checked, this certificate will only be posted to Private side Lenders. |
such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Compliance Certificate, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 of the Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 of the Agreement, including the statements in connection with which this Compliance Certificate is delivered.
5.[Since the date of the most recently delivered Compliance Certificate, there have been no changes in GAAP that affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement contained in the Agreement.] [Since the date of the most recently delivered Compliance Certificate, there have occurred the following changes in GAAP, which affect the computation of a financial ratio or requirement of the Agreement in the following manner: .]
6.The financial covenant analysis and information set forth on Schedule 2 attached hereto are true and accurate on and as of the date of this Compliance Certificate.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Compliance Certificate as of , .
▇▇▇▇’▇ COMPANIES, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
D-2
Form of Compliance Certificate
For the Measurement Period beginning , and ended ,
SCHEDULE 2
to the Compliance Certificate
($ in 000’s)
I. Section 7.07 – Consolidated Adjusted Funded Debt to Consolidated EBITDAR |
||||
A. Consolidated Adjusted Funded Debt as of the end of the applicable Measurement Period: |
$ | |||
|
|
|||
(i) Consolidated Funded Debt |
$ | |||
|
|
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(ii) Debt Equivalent of Operating Leases |
$ | |||
|
|
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B. Consolidated EBITDAR for the applicable Measurement Period (sum of I.B(i) through I.B(xiii) less I.B(xiv) less I.B (xv)) |
$ | |||
|
|
|||
(i) Consolidated Net Income |
$ | |||
|
|
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(ii) Provision for income taxes |
$ | |||
|
|
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(iii) Interest net |
$ | |||
|
|
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(iv) Depreciation and Amortization expenses |
$ | |||
|
|
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(v) Extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual non-cash charges or losses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred or charged |
$ | |||
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|
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(vi) Non-cash charges of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred or charged |
$ | |||
|
|
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(vii) Non-cash losses arising from the sale of assets other than in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred or charged |
$ | |||
|
|
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(viii) Actual transaction expenses or related costs paid in cash in connection with (1) permitted acquisitions or investments and (2) store closings (subject to the limitations set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDAR” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement”) |
$ | |||
|
|
|||
(ix) Extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual cash charges or losses of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (subject to the limitations set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDAR” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement”) |
$ | |||
|
|
|||
(x) Cash losses arising from the sale of assets other than in the ordinary course of business (subject to the limitations set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDAR” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement”) |
$ | |||
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|
|||
(xi) Stock based compensation expense |
$ | |||
|
|
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(xii) Rental payments made or required to be made |
$ | |||
|
|
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(xiii) Cash and non-cash charges or losses associated with extinguishment of Indebtedness or other non-recurring financing activity of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries |
$ | |||
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|
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(xiv) Extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual non-cash income or gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income) |
$ | |||
|
|
D-3
Form of Compliance Certificate
(xv) Non-cash gains arising from the sale of assets other than in the ordinary course of business increasing Consolidated Net Income of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income) |
$ | |||
|
|
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C. Ratio of Consolidated Adjusted Funded Debt to Consolidated EBITDAR |
to 1 |
D-4
Form of Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (this “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the][each]2 Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] “Assignor”) and [the][each]3 Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an] “Assignee”). [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignor][the Assignors][the Assignee][the Assignees]4 hereunder are several and not joint.]5 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement identified below (the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, [the][each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to [the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Processing Agent as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignor’s][the respective Assignors’] rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities as Lenders] under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of [the Assignor][the respective Assignors] under the respective facilities identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of [the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)][the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)] against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the][any] Assignor to [the][any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as [the][an] “Assigned Interest”). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to [the][any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the][any] Assignor.
1. | Assignor[s]: |
2. | Assignee[s]: |
[for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate][Approved Fund] of [identify Lender]]
3. | Borrower[s]: ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc. |
4. | Administrative Processing Agent: Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative processing agent under the Credit Agreement |
5. | Credit Agreement: 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September [__], 2025, among, among others, ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc., the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Administrative Agent. |
2 | For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language. |
3 | For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language. |
4 | Select as appropriate. |
5 | Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees. |
E-1
Form of Assignment and Assumption
6. | Assigned Interest[s]: |
Assignor[s]6 |
Assignee[s]7 | Aggregate Amount of Commitment for all Lenders8 |
Amount of Commitment Assigned |
Percentage Assigned of Commitment9 |
CUSIP Number |
|||||||||||||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
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$ | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
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$ | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
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7. | Not an Employee Benefit Plan. [The][Each] Assignee represents and warrants as of the Effective Date to the Administrative Processing Agent, [the][each] Assignor and the respective Affiliates of each, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, for the benefit of the Borrower, that [the][such] Assignee is not and will not be (1) an employee benefit plan subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”); (2) a plan or account subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”); (3) an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” of any such plans or accounts for purposes of ERISA or the Code; or (4) a “governmental plan” within the meaning of ERISA. |
8. | [Trade Date: ]10 |
Effective Date: , 20 [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR | ||
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR] | ||
By: | ||
Title: | ||
ASSIGNEE | ||
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE] | ||
By: | ||
Title: |
[Consented to and]11 Accepted:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent | ||
By: | ||
Title: |
6 | List each Assignor, as appropriate. |
7 | List each Assignee, as appropriate. |
8 | Amounts in this column and in the column immediately to the right to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date. |
9 | Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment of all Lenders thereunder. |
10 | To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date. |
11 | To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Processing Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement. |
E-2
Form of Assignment and Assumption
[Consented to:]
[▇▇▇▇’▇ COMPANIES, INC.] | ||
By: | ||
Title: |
E-3
Form of Assignment and Assumption
ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1.Representations and Warranties.
1.1.Assignor. [The][Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the][[the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2.Assignee. [The][Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an Eligible Assignee (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by [the][such] Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire [the][such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Processing Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Processing Agent, [the][any] Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2.Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Processing Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the][each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to [the][the relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the][the relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.
3.General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
E-4
Form of Assignment and Assumption
EXHIBIT F
[RESERVED]
EXHIBIT G-1
FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships
For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September [__], 2025 (as extended, renewed, amended or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among, among others, ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Administrative Agent.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Processing Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or any successor form. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF ▇▇▇▇▇▇] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Date: , |
G-1
Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT G-2
FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships
For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September [__], 2025 (as extended, renewed, amended or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among, among others, ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Administrative Agent.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or any successor form. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Date: , |
G-2
Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT G-3
FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships
For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September [__], 2025 (as extended, renewed, amended or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among, among others, ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Administrative Agent.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect to such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or any successor form or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or any successor form from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Date: , |
G-3
Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT G-4
FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships
For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September [__], 2025 (as extended, renewed, amended or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among, among others, ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent and Co-Administrative Agent, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Administrative Agent.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Processing Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or any successor form or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or any successor form from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Processing Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF ▇▇▇▇▇▇] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Date: , |
G-4
Form of Notice of Loan Prepayment
EXHIBIT H
FORM OF NOTICE OF LOAN PREPAYMENT
TO: | Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent (the “Administrative Processing Agent”) | |
RE: | Reference is made to that certain 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September [__], 2025 (as extended, renewed, amended or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among, among others, ▇▇▇▇’▇ Companies, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Processing Agent, and Co-Administrative Agent, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Administrative Agent. | |
DATE: | [Date] |
The Borrower hereby provides notice to the Administrative Processing Agent that it shall repay the following Loans as more specifically set forth below:
The Loan(s) to be prepaid consist of: [check each applicable box]
☐ Optional prepayment of Loans in the amount of $ 12 [with an Interest Period of months]13
The Borrower shall repay the above-referenced Loans on the following Business Day: _______________. (Complete with a date no earlier than (i) the same Business Day as the date of this Notice of Prepayment with respect to any Base Rate Loan and (ii) two (2) Business Days subsequent to the date of this Notice of Prepayment with respect to Term SOFR Loans.
Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this notice by fax transmission or other electronic mail transmission (e.g. “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this notice.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
12 | Complete with an amount in accordance with Section 2.06 of the Credit Agreement. |
13 | For Term SOFR Loans only. |
H-1
Form of Notice of Loan Prepayment
BORROWER:
▇▇▇▇’▇ COMPANIES, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
H-2
Form of Notice of Loan Prepayment