UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 15, 2026

 

 

EagleRock Land, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Texas   001-43288   41-3142321

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

9655 Katy Freeway, Suite 375

Houston, Texas 77024

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 280-7002

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Class A shares representing limited liability company interests   EROK   New York Stock Exchange and NYSE Texas, Inc.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 
 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information set forth in Item 2.03 relating to the Joinder Agreement (as defined below) under the heading “Predecessor Credit Facility” is hereby incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Item 2.03

Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

Predecessor Credit Facility

On May 15, 2026, in connection with the closing of the initial public offering (the “Offering”) of EagleRock Land, LLC (the “Company”), and pursuant to the terms of that certain Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2026, by and among Lea & Eddy Holdings, LLC, the predecessor for accounting purposes of the Company (the “Predecessor”), and certain of its subsidiaries, the other loan parties party thereto, TCW Asset Management Company LLC (“TCW”), as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders party thereto (the “Sixth Amendment”), as modified by that certain Joinder Agreement to the Financing Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2026, by and among EagleRock Land Operating, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company (“OpCo”), the borrowers and other loan parties party thereto and TCW (such joinder, the “Joinder Agreement” and such credit facility, as amended and modified, the “Predecessor Credit Facility”), OpCo became “Parent” and “Guarantor” under the Predecessor Credit Facility in exchange for the Predecessor’s contribution of certain of its subsidiaries to OpCo.

As of May 4, 2026, there was approximately $263.3 million of outstanding borrowings under the Predecessor Credit Facility and the payoff balance was approximately $270.0 million. Borrowings under the Predecessor Credit Facility bear interest at the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”), plus the applicable margin or certain reference rate, plus the applicable margin, which is set at 8.0%–8.5% depending on the applicable leverage ratio for the most recent four consecutive quarters. Principal amounts borrowed under the revolving credit facility that forms a part of the Predecessor Credit Facility may be repaid from time to time without penalty. Any principal amounts outstanding on the maturity date, July 3, 2027, become due and payable on such date. The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Offering to repay in full and terminate the Predecessor Credit Facility. OpCo provides a limited recourse guaranty for the Predecessor Credit Facility limited to Parent Collateral (as defined in the Predecessor Credit Facility).

The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Sixth Amendment and the Joinder Agreement, which are attached as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 2.03 by reference.

EagleRock Credit Facility

In connection with the Offering, OpCo, as borrower, entered into a credit agreement providing a $200.0 million revolving credit facility, which will mature five years after the effective date (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility is administered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and is secured by a first-priority lien on substantially all of the assets of OpCo and the Guarantors (as defined in the Credit Facility), including equity interests in OpCo’s subsidiaries, subject to customary exceptions and exclusions, and is guaranteed by all material existing and future direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries of OpCo. The Credit Facility includes an accordion feature providing for up to $100.0 million of additional commitments, a letter of credit sublimit of $10.0 million and customary conditions to borrowing. The Credit Facility will become effective upon full repayment and termination of the Predecessor Credit Facility.

Outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility accrue interest at a rate based on SOFR, plus an applicable margin. Borrowings under the Credit Facility accrue interest based on a four-tiered pricing grid tied to OpCo’s net total leverage ratio as follows:

 

   

if the net total leverage ratio is greater than or equal to 3.00x, the applicable margin will be 3.00% and the commitment fee on undrawn amounts will be 0.50%;

 

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if the net total leverage ratio is less than 3.00x but greater than or equal to 2.50x, the applicable margin will be 2.75% and the commitment fee on undrawn amounts will be 0.50%;

 

   

if the net total leverage ratio is less than 2.50x but greater than or equal to 2.00x, the applicable margin will be 2.50% and the commitment fee on undrawn amounts will be 0.375%; and

 

   

if the net total leverage ratio is less than 2.00x, the applicable margin will be 2.25% and the commitment fee on undrawn amounts will be 0.375%.

The Credit Facility includes customary affirmative and negative covenants, which, among other things and subject to certain exceptions, restrict the ability of OpCo and its restricted subsidiaries to incur debt, grant liens, make restricted payments and investments, issue equity, sell or lease assets, dissolve or merge with another entity, enter into transactions with affiliates or restrictive agreements, change their business, prepay debt and amend their organizational documents and material agreements.

The Credit Facility permits OpCo and its restricted subsidiaries to make certain restricted payments, so long as (i) no default or event of default exists or would result therefrom, (ii) the pro forma net total leverage ratio is less than 3.00x and (iii) pro forma liquidity (defined as cash plus availability under the Credit Facility) is equal to or greater than $50.0 million.

In addition, OpCo is required to comply with the following financial maintenance covenants: (i) a maximum net total leverage ratio of no greater than 3.50x (with maximum cash netting of up to $25.0 million if any loans are outstanding or, if no loans are outstanding, all unrestricted cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet of OpCo and its restricted subsidiaries, and with a step up to 4.00x for a certain period after a material permitted acquisition); and (ii) a minimum interest coverage ratio of at least 2.75x.

The Credit Facility contains customary events of default, including for the failure of OpCo and the other loan parties to comply with the various financial, negative and affirmative covenants under the Credit Facility (subject to the cure provisions set forth therein). During the existence of an event of default (as defined in the Credit Facility), the administrative agent, with the consent of or at the direction of the required lenders thereunder, has the right to, among other available remedies, terminate the commitments and/or declare all outstanding loans and accrued interest and fees under the Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable.

The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Facility, which is attached as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 2.03 by reference.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
  

Description

10.1#    Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2026, by and among Lea  & Eddy Holdings, LLC, Hydrosource Logistics, LLC, Desert Ram Holdings, LLC, Accelerated Water Resources, LLC, the other Loan Parties party thereto, TCW Asset Management Company LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Lenders, and the Lenders party thereto.
10.2    Joinder Agreement, dated as of May  15, 2026, by and among EagleRock Land Operating, LLC, the Borrowers, the Guarantors and TCW Asset Management Company LLC, as collateral agent and administrative agent for the Lenders.
10.3#    Credit Agreement, dated as of May  4, 2026, by and among EagleRock Land Operating, LLC, as Borrower, the other Loan Parties party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
 
#

Certain portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally an unredacted copy of the exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

EAGLEROCK LAND, LLC
By:  

/s/ Greg Pipkin Jr.

  Name: Greg Pipkin Jr.
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 21, 2026

 

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Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND REPLACED WITH “[***]”. SUCH IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS BOTH (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT EAGLEROCK LAND, LLC TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL.

SIXTH AMENDMENT TO FINANCING AGREEMENT

This SIXTH AMENDMENT TO FINANCING AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated as of May 4, 2026, is entered into by and among LEA & EDDY HOLDINGS, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Lea & Eddy Holdings”), HYDROSOURCE LOGISTICS, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Hydrosource”), DESERT RAM HOLDINGS, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Desert Ram”), ACCELERATED WATER RESOURCES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“AWR”, and together with Hydrosource and Desert Ram in such capacity, the “Borrowers” and each, a “Borrower”), the other Loan Parties party hereto, TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Lenders (in such capacities, the “Agent”), and the Lenders party hereto.

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, Lea & Eddy Holdings, each Borrower, the Lenders, and the Agent are parties to that certain Financing Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2024 (as in effect on the date hereof immediately before giving effect to the amendments contemplated hereby on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, the “Existing Financing Agreement” and as amended by this Amendment on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, the “Financing Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, the Loan Parties intend to undertake certain reorganization transactions following the date hereof pursuant to which, among other things, (a) EagleRock Land Operating, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“New Parent”), shall directly acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in Desert Ram and AWR (the “Remaining Borrowers”), (b) Lea & Eddy Holdings’ Equity Interests in Hydrosource shall be transferred to an Affiliate of Lea & Eddy Holdings, Hydrosource shall cease to be a “Borrower” hereunder and the Fifth Amendment Term Loans shall be deemed to have been borrowed under the Hydrosource Credit Agreement (as defined below) and (c) EagleRock Land, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“PubCo”), shall consummate the EagleRock IPO (as defined below);

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Defined Terms. All initially capitalized terms used herein (including the preamble and recitals hereof) without definition shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Financing Agreement.

2. Limited Consent– EagleRock IPO. In reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Amendment, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and confessed, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5 hereof, the Lenders party hereto hereby consent to the EagleRock IPO (the “Limited Consent”) so long as:

 

  (a)

the EagleRock IPO is consummated in accordance with the terms hereof on or prior to June 30, 2026 (the “EagleRock IPO Outside Date”); and


  (b)

immediately after giving effect to the EagleRock IPO, the Limited Consent and the amendments contemplated herein, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

3. Conditions Precedent to Sixth Amendment Signing Date. The effectiveness of this Amendment (but not including the Limited Consent, the Limited Waiver of Defaults, the Limited Waiver of Covenants or the amendments set forth in Section 4 hereof, the effectiveness of which shall be subject to the occurrence of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date) is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent (such date being the “Sixth Amendment Signing Date”):

(a) Executed Amendment. The Agent shall have received this Amendment, executed and delivered by each applicable Loan Party or other Person party thereto.

(b) Representations and Warranties. Both before and after giving effect to this Amendment on the Sixth Amendment Signing Date, the following statements shall be true and correct: (i) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI of the Existing Financing Agreement and in each other Loan Document, certificate or other writing delivered to any Secured Party pursuant hereto or thereto on or prior to the Sixth Amendment Signing Date are true and correct on and as of the Sixth Amendment Signing Date as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date (in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date) and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the Sixth Amendment Signing Date or would result from this Amendment under the Existing Financing Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

(c) No Material Adverse Effect. The Agent shall have determined, in its sole judgment, that no event or development shall have occurred which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

4. Amendments to Financing Agreement. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in writing by the Agent) of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5 hereof, the Existing Financing Agreement (including the Exhibits thereto and Schedule 1.01(A) but excluding all other Schedules thereto, which shall be amended pursuant to Section 9 hereof) shall be amended as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date in accordance with Exhibit A hereto by deleting the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and by inserting the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double underlined text), in each case in the place where such text appears therein, such that immediately after giving effect to the Sixth Amendment Effective Date the Financing Agreement will read as set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

5. Conditions Precedent to Sixth Amendment Effective Date. The satisfaction (or waiver in writing by each Lender) of each of the following shall constitute conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the Limited Consent, the Limited Waiver of Defaults, the Limited Waiver of Covenants and the amendments set forth in Section 4 hereof (such date being the “Sixth Amendment Effective Date”):

(a) Loan Documents. The Agent shall have received each of the following Loan Documents, executed and delivered by each applicable Loan Party or other Person party thereto, as applicable:

 

  (i)

such amendments and/or supplements to the Security Agreement, each Mortgage and each other Loan Document that the Agent deems reasonably necessary or advisable to effect (A) the release of Hydrosource and Lea & Eddy Holdings, as set forth in Section 18 hereof, (B) the consummation of

 

2


 

the Hydrosource Credit Agreement and the transfer of Hydrosource’s obligations and Liens in connection therewith, (C) the joinder of EagleRock Land Operating, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “New Parent”) as “Parent” under the Financing Agreement and (D) New Parent’s grant of Liens on the Equity Interests of the Remaining Borrowers to secure the Obligations, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; and

 

  (ii)

a Control Agreement with respect to the Sixth Amendment Account (as defined below), executed by the Collateral Agent, the financial institution at which such account is maintained and the applicable Loan Party.

(b) Closing Certificate. The Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the New Parent and the Remaining Borrowers certifying that (i) the New Parent and the Remaining Borrowers have consummated (or concurrently with the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, will consummate) the “Corporate Reorganization” (as defined in the Registration Statement (as defined below)), and after giving effect thereto New Parent owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Remaining Borrowers, and (ii) PubCo has consummated (or concurrently with the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, will consummate) an initial registered public offering of its Class A common stock pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Form S-1 Registration Statement as filed with the SEC on or before the Sixth Amendment Signing Date (the “Registration Statement”), which results in the Class A common stock of PubCo being traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “EagleRock IPO”).

(c) Hydrosource Credit Agreement. The Agent shall have received a financing agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, executed by Hydrosource, its parent entity, and each of the lenders party thereto, pursuant to which the Fifth Amendment Term Loans shall be deemed to have been issued in accordance with Section 18 hereof (such agreement, the “Hydrosource Credit Agreement”), and each of the conditions precedent to the Hydrosource Credit Agreement shall have been satisfied (or concurrently with the Sixth Amendment Effective Date will be satisfied).

(d) Representations and Warranties. Both before and after giving effect to the amendments set forth in Section 4 on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, the following statements shall be true and correct: (i) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI of the Financing Agreement and in each other Loan Document, certificate or other writing delivered to any Secured Party pursuant hereto or thereto on or prior to the Sixth Amendment Effective Date are true and correct on and as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date (in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date) and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date or would result from this Amendment, the Financing Agreement or the other Loan Documents before and after giving effect to the Sixth Amendment Effective Date.

(e) EagleRock Sixth Amendment Account. The Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that, as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, one of the Remaining Borrowers or the New Parent shall have established a segregated account subject to a Control Agreement and deposited (or will deposit concurrently with the Sixth Amendment Effective Date and the EagleRock IPO) an amount no less than $270,000,000 (such amount, the “Sixth Amendment Account Required Balance”, and such account, the “Sixth Amendment Account”).

 

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(f) Prepayment by Lea & Eddy Holdings. No later than the date that is three (3) Business Days prior to the expected Sixth Amendment Effective Date, Lea & Eddy Holdings shall make a prepayment on the outstanding Tranche A Term Loans on account of the Borrowers so that, after giving effect to such prepayment and on the expected Sixth Amendment Effective Date, the aggregate principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans, together with any accrued and unpaid interest on the Tranche A Term Loans as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date and any Applicable Premium that would be due and payable if the Tranche A Term Loans were being prepaid on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date is no greater than $270,000,000.

(g) Secretary’s Certificate and Attachments. The Agent shall have received a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the New Parent certifying (i) as to copies of the Governing Documents of the New Parent, together with all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, a true and complete copy of the charter, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or other publicly filed organizational document of the New Parent certified as of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the Sixth Amendment Effective Date by an appropriate official of the jurisdiction of organization of the New Parent, which shall set forth the same complete name of the New Parent as is set forth herein and the organizational number of the New Parent, if an organizational number is issued in such jurisdiction), (ii) that none of the Governing Documents of the New Parent has been amended, restated or otherwise modified except such amendments or modifications that have been provided to the Agent and copies of which are attached to such certificate, (iii) as to a copy of the resolutions or written consents of the New Parent authorizing (A) the transactions contemplated by this Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which the New Parent is or will be a party and (B) the execution, delivery and performance by the New Parent of each Loan Document to which the New Parent is or will be a party and the execution and delivery of the other documents to be delivered by such Person in connection herewith and therewith and (iv) the names and true signatures of the representatives of the New Parent authorized to sign this Amendment and each other Loan Document to which the New Parent is or will be a party and the other documents to be executed and delivered by the New Parent in connection herewith and therewith, together with evidence of the incumbency of such authorized officers.

(h) Good Standing Certificates. The Agent shall have received a certificate of the appropriate official(s) of the jurisdiction of organization of the New Parent certifying as of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the Sixth Amendment Effective Date as to the subsistence in good standing of, and the payment of taxes by, the New Parent in such jurisdiction.

(i) Opinion of Counsel to Loan Parties. The Agent and its counsel shall have received an executed copy of a written opinion of Vinson & Elkins LLP, as counsel for the New Parent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and covering the New Parent and certain related actions of the New Parent, dated as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date (and the Loan Parties hereby instruct such counsel to deliver such opinion to the Agent and the Lenders).

(j) Lien Searches. The Agent shall have received Uniform Commercial Code, intellectual property, tax, judgment, bankruptcy and other related search results requested by the Agent in the appropriate jurisdictions, together with copies of all such filings disclosed by such search, in each case related to the New Parent.

(k) “Know-Your-Customer”, Etc. The Agent shall have received at least three days prior to the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, all documentation and other information with respect to the New Parent required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act, requested at least five days prior to the Sixth Amendment Effective Date.

 

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(l) Fees and Expenses. The Borrowers shall have paid to the Agent and the Lenders all fees and expenses owing to such Persons, including the payment of fees and expenses of legal counsel to the Agent.

6. Limited Waiver of Defaults – Sixth Amendment Effective Date. In reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Amendment, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and confessed, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5 hereof, the Lenders party hereto hereby waive any Default or Event of Default that exists as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date (such waiver, the “Limited Waiver of Defaults”), in each case so long as, at all times from and after the Sixth Amendment Effective Date:

 

  (a)

the balance of cash in the Sixth Amendment Account is not less than the Sixth Amendment Account Required Balance; and

 

  (b)

the Control Agreement with respect to the Sixth Amendment Account is in full force effect and creates a valid and perfected first-priority Lien on the Sixth Amendment Account in favor of the Collateral Agent (the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), the “Limited Waiver Conditions”).

7. Limited Waiver of Covenants – Sixth Amendment Effective Date. In reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Amendment, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and confessed, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5 hereof, solely during the period beginning on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date and ending on the date that is thirty-one (31) days after the Sixth Amendment Effective Date (such period, the “Sixth Amendment Waiver Period”), and only so long as at all times during the Sixth Amendment Waiver Period, the Limited Waiver Conditions are satisfied, the Lenders party hereto hereby waive compliance by the Loan Parties and the Subsidiaries with Sections 7.01, 7.02, 8.01 and 9.01 of the Financing Agreement and with all covenants in any other Loan Document, other than the following:

 

  (a)

in the Financing Agreement, Sections 7.01(a)(viii), 7.01(a)(xvii), 7.01(c), 7.01(d), 7.01(e), 7.01(h) (which shall only apply to the Legacy Loan Parties (as defined below)), 7.01(j), 7.01(n) and 7.01(r)), 7.02(c)(i), 7.02(i), 7.02(k) (solely as it relates to payment or prepayment of the Obligations), 7.02(l), 7.02(m)(iii) (except changes in connection with the EagleRock IPO), 7.02(n), 7.02(o), 7.02(p) and 7.02(r), 8.01(e), 9.01(a), 9.01(c) (to the extent such covenants are in effect), 9.01(d) (to the extent such covenants are in effect), 9.01(f), 9.01(g), 9.01(h), 9.01(i), 9.01(m) and 9.01(o);

 

  (b)

in the Security Agreement, Sections 6(e)(ii), 6(e)(iii), 6(e)(iv), 6(j)(ii), 6(k)(i), 6(k)(iii), 6(k)(iv) and 6(k)(v); and

 

  (c)

in each Mortgage, Sections 3.10 and 3.11.

provided that for the avoidance of doubt, (i) any references to the Loan Parties and its Subsidiaries in the Loan Documents shall only apply to the New Parent, the Remaining Borrowers and any Subsidiaries of the Remaining Borrowers and shall not apply to any other Subsidiaries of the New Parent and (ii) this waiver shall not apply to the Control Agreement with respect to the Sixth Amendment. As used herein, “Legacy Loan Parties” shall mean all “Loan Parties” under and as defined in the Existing Financing Agreement other than Lea & Eddy Holdings and Hydrosource.

 

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8. Acknowledgment of Obligations. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that as of the Sixth Amendment Signing Date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of outstanding Tranche A Loans is $256,343,113.69 and the aggregate outstanding principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans is $7,000,000.00. Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Existing Financing Agreement to the contrary, from and after the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, the Remaining Borrowers shall not be permitted to borrow any additional Revolving Loans.

9. Post-Closing Covenant. On or before the date that is forty-five (45) days immediately following the Sixth Amendment Effective Date (or such later date as determined by the Agent in its sole discretion), the Remaining Borrowers shall deliver to the Agent restated Schedules to the Financing Agreement (other than Schedule 1.01(A) thereto) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, which amended Schedules shall amend and restate in their respective entireties the corresponding Schedules to the Existing Financing Agreement as if such Schedules were amended pursuant to Section 4 hereof.

10. GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS REGARDING GOVERNING LAW, CONSENT TO JURISDICTION, AND WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL SET FORTH IN SECTION 12.09, SECTION 12.10, AND SECTION 12.11 OF THE FINANCING AGREEMENT, AND SUCH PROVISIONS ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY THIS REFERENCE, MUTATIS MUTANDIS.

11. Amendments. This Amendment cannot be altered, amended, changed or modified in any respect except in accordance with Section 12.02 of the Existing Financing Agreement (or the Financing Agreement, as applicable).

12. Counterpart Execution; Electronic Execution. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment by telecopier or electronic mail shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Amendment. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Amendment, the Financing Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or electronic records each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signature in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

13. Effect on Loan Documents.

(a) Except as specifically set forth in this Amendment, the Existing Financing Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms and hereby are ratified and confirmed in all respects. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Amendment shall not operate, except as expressly set forth herein, as a modification or waiver of any right, power, or remedy of the Agent or any Lender under the Existing Financing Agreement, the Financing Agreement or any other Loan Document. Except for the modifications to the Existing Financing Agreement expressly set forth herein, the Financing Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect. The modifications set forth herein are limited to the specifics hereof (including facts or occurrences on which the same are based), shall not apply with respect to any facts or occurrences other than those on which the same are based, shall neither excuse any future non-compliance with the Loan Documents nor operate as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, shall not operate as a consent to any further waiver, consent or amendment or other matter under

 

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the Loan Documents, and shall not be construed as an indication that any future waiver or amendment of covenants or any other provision of the Financing Agreement will be agreed to, it being understood that the granting or denying of any waiver or amendment which may hereafter be requested by the Borrowers remains in the sole and absolute discretion of the Agent and Lenders. To the extent that any terms or provisions of this Amendment conflict with those of the Financing Agreement or the other Loan Documents, the terms and provisions of this Amendment shall control.

(b) Upon and after the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the Existing Financing Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “herein”, “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Financing Agreement, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to “the Financing Agreement”, “thereunder”, “therein”, “thereof” or words of like import referring to the Financing Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Financing Agreement as modified and amended hereby.

(c) Upon and after the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, to the extent that any of the terms and conditions in any of the Loan Documents shall contradict or be in conflict with any of the terms or conditions of the Financing Agreement, after giving effect to this Amendment, such terms and conditions are hereby deemed modified or amended accordingly to reflect the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement as modified or amended hereby.

(d) This Amendment is a Loan Document.

(e) Unless the context of this Amendment clearly requires otherwise, references to the plural include the singular, references to the singular include the plural, the terms “includes” and “including” are not limiting, and the term “or” has, except where otherwise indicated, the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or”. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and similar terms in this Amendment refer to this Amendment as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Amendment. Section, subsection, clause, schedule, and exhibit references herein are to this Amendment unless otherwise specified. Any reference in this Amendment to any agreement, instrument, or document shall include all alterations, amendments, changes, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements, thereto and thereof, as applicable (subject to any restrictions on such alterations, amendments, changes, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements set forth herein). 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. Any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns. Any requirement of a writing contained herein shall be satisfied by the transmission of a Record.

14. Entire Agreement. This Amendment, the Financing Agreement and the other Loan Documents embody the entire agreement among the parties hereto and supersede all prior commitments, agreements, representations, and understandings, whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof, and may not be contradicted or varied by evidence of prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent oral agreements or discussions of the parties hereto.

15. Reaffirmation of Obligations. Each Loan Party hereby (a) acknowledges and reaffirms its obligations owing to the Agent and each Lender, under each Loan Document to which it is a party, and (b) agrees that each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party is and shall remain in full force and effect except as specifically set forth in Section 18 hereof. Each Loan Party hereby (i) further ratifies and reaffirms the validity and enforceability of all of the Liens and security interests heretofore granted, pursuant to and in connection with the Security Agreement or any other Loan Document to the Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of each Lender, as collateral security for the obligations under the Loan Documents in accordance with their respective terms, and (ii) acknowledges that all of such Liens and security interests, and all Collateral heretofore pledged as security for such obligations, continue to be and remain collateral for such obligations from and after the date hereof (including, without limitation, from after giving effect to this Amendment) except as specifically set forth in Section 18 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Remaining Borrowers hereby agree to (and agree to cause the New Parent to) pay the fees set forth in the Fee Letter from and after the Sixth Amendment Effective Date.

 

7


16. Ratification. Each Loan Party hereby restates, ratifies and reaffirms each and every term and condition set forth in the Existing Financing Agreement and the Loan Documents effective as of the date hereof.

17. Severability. Any provision of this Amendment which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

18. Release of Hydrosource and Lea & Eddy Holdings. If the Sixth Amendment Effective Date has occurred, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Amendment, the Financing Agreement or any other Loan Document:

 

  (a)

Hydrosource shall cease to be a Borrower and Hydrosource shall cease to be party to the Financing Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, and accordingly shall cease to have any continuing rights, benefits, liabilities, responsibilities or obligations under each such Loan Document, immediately upon the occurrence of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date without any further action on the part of any Person; provided, however, that upon the consummation of the Hydrosource Credit Agreement, the Fifth Amendment Term Loans and all obligations and Liens on Hydrosource’s Properties in respect thereof shall be deemed to have been borrowed and/or incurred thereunder, as applicable, it being acknowledged and agreed by the parties hereto that the Fifth Amendment Term Loans shall cease to be outstanding under the Financing Agreement, but shall not be deemed repaid, forgiven, or otherwise terminated, it being the intention of the parties that an amount equal to the Fifth Amendment Term Loans shall continue to be outstanding and payable to the Lenders under the Hydrosource Credit Agreement, in all cases subject to and in accordance with the terms thereof;

 

  (b)

Lea & Eddy Holdings, in its capacity as the “Parent” under the Existing Financing Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall cease to be a Guarantor and shall cease to be party to the Financing Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, and accordingly shall cease to have any continuing rights, benefits, liabilities, responsibilities or obligations under each such Loan Document, immediately upon the occurrence of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date without any further action on the part of any Person; and

 

  (c)

the Agent shall, at the cost and expense of the Loan Parties, execute and deliver all such documentation and instruments as are necessary and reasonably requested by the Loan Parties to effect or evidence the foregoing clauses (a) and (b); provided, however, that the foregoing shall in no event (i) discharge or release any liabilities, obligations or responsibilities incurred by Hydrosource prior to the occurrence of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date (and for the avoidance of doubt, all liabilities, obligations or responsibilities in respect of the Fifth Amendment Term Loans shall be deemed to have been incurred under the Hydrosource Credit Agreement as set forth in clause (a) above), (ii) affect the Agent’s Lien on all Properties of the Loan Parties created by the Security Agreement, the Mortgages and the other Loan Documents, in each case as amended or otherwise modified


 

on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, or (iii) diminish or otherwise affect the New Parent’s and the Remaining Borrowers’ obligations under the Financing Agreement or the other Loan Documents, including to (1) make representations and warranties under the Financing Agreement, including Article VI thereto, and the other Loan Documents in respect of the New Parent and the Remaining Borrowers or (2) cause (directly or indirectly) the other Loan Parties to perform and comply with the covenants set forth in the Financing Agreement, including in Article VII, and the other Loan Documents.

 

  19.

Termination. If for any reason the Sixth Amendment Effective Date does not occur on or before the EagleRock IPO Outside Date, then this Amendment shall be deemed to have terminated effective as of the EagleRock IPO Outside Date and this Amendment shall become void and of no further force or effect without any further action by or liability to any party hereto, and following such termination, the Existing Financing Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect without giving any effect to this Amendment.

[Signature pages follow]

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWERS:
HYDROSOURCE LOGISTICS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President
DESERT RAM HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President
ACCELERATED WATER RESOURCES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President
GUARANTORS:
LEA & EDDY HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President
DESERT RAM SOUTH, INCORPORATED
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President

[Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement]


DESERT RAM SOUTH RANCH, INC. (F/K/A NGL
SOUTH RANCH, INC.)
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President
DESERT RAM NORTH RANCH, LLC (F/K/A NGL
NORTH RANCH, LLC)
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President
HYDROSOURCE LOGISTICS WASTE MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President
LIMESTONE BASIN PROPERTIES RANCH, LLC
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President
BASIN PROPERTIES RANCHES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President

[Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement]


AWR EQUIPMENT, LLC
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President
ACCELERATED SWD, LLC
By:  

/s/ Dale Redman

Name: Dale Redman
Title: President

 

[Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement]


COLLATERAL AGENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

 

TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

  Name:   Suzanne Grosso
  Title:   Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement]


LENDERS:     TCW DIRECT LENDING PRIVATE FUND VIII LP, as a Lender
   

By TCW Asset Management Company LLC,

its Investment Advisor

    By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

    Name: Suzanne Grosso
    Title: Managing Director
    TCW DIRECT LENDING STRUCTURED
    SOLUTIONS 2022 LLC, as a Lender
   

By: TCW Asset Management Company LLC,

its Collateral Manager

    By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

    Name: Suzanne Grosso
    Title: Managing Director
    TCW BRAZOS FUND LLC, as a Lender
   

By: TCW Asset Management Company LLC,

its Investment Advisor

    By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

    Name: Suzanne Grosso
    Title: Managing Director
    TCW SKYLINE LENDING LP, as a Lender
   

By: TCW Asset Management Company LLC,

its Investment Advisor

    By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

    Name: Suzanne Grosso
    Title: Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement]


TCW WV FINANCING LLC, as a Lender

By: TCW Asset Management Company

LLC, its Collateral Manager

By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

Name: Suzanne Grosso
Title: Managing Director
SAFETY NATIONAL CASUALTY
CORPORATION, as a Lender
By:  

TCW Asset Management Company LLC,

its Investment Manager and Attorney-in-Fact

By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

Name: Suzanne Grosso
Title: Managing Director
RELIANCE STANDARD LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY, as a Lender

By: TCW Asset Management Company LLC, its

Investment Manager and Attorney-in-Fact

By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

Name: Suzanne Grosso
Title: Managing Director
PHILADELPHIA INDEMNITY INSURANCE
COMPANY, as a Lender

By: TCW Asset Management Company LLC, its

Investment Manager and Attorney-in-Fact

By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

Name: Suzanne Grosso
Title: Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement]


TCW SL FINANCING LLC, as a Lender

By TCW Asset Management Company LLC, its

Collateral Manager

By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

Name: Suzanne Grosso
Title: Managing Director
TCW DL VIII FINANCING LLC, as a Lender

By TCW Asset Management Company LLC, its

Collateral Manager

By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

Name: Suzanne Grosso
Title: Managing Director
TCW STAR DIRECT LENDING LLC, as a Lender

By: TCW Asset Management Company

LLC, its Investment Advisor

By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

Name: Suzanne Grosso
Title: Managing Director
TCW MARINA SL FINANCING I LLC, as a Lender

By: TCW Asset Management Company

LLC, its Collateral Manager

By:  

/s/ Suzanne Grosso

Name: Suzanne Grosso
Title: Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement]


AWC CAYMAN B, LLC, as a Lender
Acting through its managing member,
AWC MASTER FUND A, LP
By:  

/s/ Cathy Weist

Name: Cathy Weist
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement]


CCLF HOLDINGS (D41) LLC, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Stephen Nesbitt

Name: Stephen Nesbitt
Title: Partner

 

[Signature Page to Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement]


Exhibit A

Amended Financing Agreement

[See Attached]


Amended by the FifthSixth Amendment to Financing Agreement dated April 1May 4, 2026

FINANCING AGREEMENT

Dated as of April 4, 2024

by and among

LEA & EDDY HOLDINGSEAGLEROCK LAND OPERATING, LLC,

as the Parent,

EACH SUBSIDIARY OF THE PARENT LISTED AS A BORROWER

ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO,

as Borrowers,

THE PARENT AND EACH SUBSIDIARY OF THE PARENT

LISTED AS A GUARANTOR ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO,

as Guarantors,

THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

as Lenders,

TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC,

as Collateral Agent,

and

TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC,

as Administrative Agent


Table of Contents

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN TERMS

     1  

Section 1.01

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.02

  Terms Generally      4242  

Section 1.03

  Certain Matters of Construction      4243  

Section 1.04

  Accounting and Other Terms      4343  

Section 1.05

  Time References      4444  

Section 1.06

  Performance of Obligations      4444  

Section 1.07

  LLC Divisions      4444  

Section 1.08

  Rates      4444  

ARTICLE II THE LOANS

     4545  

Section 2.01

  Commitments      4545  

Section 2.02

  Making the Loans      4646  

Section 2.03

  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt      4849  

Section 2.04

  Interest      5050  

Section 2.05

  Reduction of Commitment; Prepayment of Loans      5152  

Section 2.06

  Fees      5555  

Section 2.07

  SOFR Option; Suspension of SOFR Option; Benchmark Transition      5656  

Section 2.08

  Funding Losses      5959  

Section 2.09

  Taxes      5960  

Section 2.10

  Increased Costs and Reduced Return.      6363  

ARTICLE III [RESERVED]

     6464  

ARTICLE IV APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS; DEFAULTING LENDERS; JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY OF BORROWERS

     6464  

Section 4.01

  Payments; Computations and Statements      6464  

Section 4.02

  Sharing of Payments      6464  

Section 4.03

  Apportionment of Payments      6565  

Section 4.04

  Defaulting Lenders      6666  

Section 4.05

  Administrative Borrower; Joint and Several Liability of the Borrowers      6767  

ARTICLE V CONDITIONS TO LOANS

     6868  

Section 5.01

  Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness      6868  

Section 5.02

  Conditions Precedent to All Loans      7171  

Section 5.03

  Conditions Subsequent to Effectiveness      7272  

ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     7372  

Section 6.01

  Representations and Warranties      7372  

ARTICLE VII COVENANTS OF THE LOAN PARTIES AND OTHER COLLATERAL MATTERS

     8180  

Section 7.01

  Affirmative Covenants      8180  

Section 7.02

  Negative Covenants      9089  


Section 7.03

  Financial Covenants      9494  

ARTICLE VIII CASH MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER COLLATERAL MATTERS

     9594  

Section 8.01

  Cash Management Arrangements      9594  

ARTICLE IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     9695  

Section 9.01

  Events of Default      9695  

Section 9.02

  Cure Right      9898  

ARTICLE X AGENTS

     9998  

Section 10.01

  Appointment      9998  

Section 10.02

  Nature of Duties; Delegation      10099  

Section 10.03

  Rights, Exculpation, Etc.      100100  

Section 10.04

  Reliance      101101  

Section 10.05

  Indemnification      101101  

Section 10.06

  Agents Individually      102101  

Section 10.07

  Successor Agent      102101  

Section 10.08

  Collateral Matters      102102  

Section 10.09

  Agency for Perfection      104103  

Section 10.10

  No Reliance on any Agent’s Customer Identification Program      104103  

Section 10.11

  No Third-Party Beneficiaries      104104  

Section 10.12

  No Fiduciary Relationship      104104  

Section 10.13

  Reports; Confidentiality; Disclaimers      105104  

Section 10.14

  Collateral Custodian      105105  

Section 10.15

  Collateral Agent May File Proofs of Claim      105105  

Section 10.16

  Erroneous Distribution      106105  

ARTICLE XI GUARANTY

     106106  

Section 11.01

  Guaranty      106106  

Section 11.02

  Guaranty Absolute      106106  

Section 11.03

  Waiver      107107  

Section 11.04

  Continuing Guaranty; Assignments      108107  

Section 11.05

  Subrogation      108107  

Section 11.06

  Contribution      108108  

Section 11.07

  Maximum Parent Liability      108  

ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS

     109109  

Section 12.01

  Notices, Etc.      109109  

Section 12.02

  Amendments, Etc.      111111  

Section 12.03

  No Waiver; Remedies, Etc.      112112  

Section 12.04

  Expenses; Attorneys’ Fees      113112  

Section 12.05

  Right of Set-off      113113  

Section 12.06

  Severability      114114  

Section 12.07

  Assignments and Participations      114114  

Section 12.08

  Counterparts; Electronic Execution      117117  

Section 12.09

  GOVERNING LAW      118117  

 

ii


Section 12.10

  CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS AND VENUE      118118  

Section 12.11

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC.      119118  

Section 12.12

  Consent by the Agents and Lenders      119119  

Section 12.13

  No Party Deemed Drafter      119119  

Section 12.14

  Reinstatement; Certain Payments      119119  

Section 12.15

  Indemnification; Limitation of Liability for Certain Damages      120119  

Section 12.16

  Records      121120  

Section 12.17

  Binding Effect      121120  

Section 12.18

  Highest Lawful Rate      121121  

Section 12.19

  Confidentiality      122121  

Section 12.20

  Public Disclosure      122122  

Section 12.21

  Integration      123122  

Section 12.22

  USA PATRIOT Act      123122  

 

iii


SCHEDULE AND EXHIBITS

 

Schedule 1.01(A)    Lenders and Lenders’ Commitments
Schedule 1.01(B)    Mortgaged Properties
Schedule 6.01(e)    Capitalization; Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.01(f)    Litigation
Schedule 6.01(l)    Nature of Business
Schedule 6.01(o)(i)    Owned Real Property
Schedule 6.01(o)(ii)    Leased Real Property
Schedule 6.01(q)    Environmental Matters
Schedule 6.01(r)    Insurance
Schedule 6.01(u)    Intellectual Property
Schedule 6.01(v)    Material Contracts
Schedule 7.02(a)    Existing Liens
Schedule 7.02(b)    Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 7.02(e)    Existing Investments
Schedule 7.02(k)    Limitations on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions
Schedule 8.01    Cash Management Accounts
Exhibit A    Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit B    Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit C    Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit D    Form of SOFR Notice
Exhibit E    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit F    Form of Note
Exhibit 2.09(d)    Forms of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

iv


FINANCING AGREEMENT

Financing Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2024, by and among Lea & Eddy HoldingsEagleRock Land Operating, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “Parent”), each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages hereto (together with each other Person that executes a joinder agreement and becomes a “Borrower” hereunder, each, a “Borrower” and, collectively, the “Borrowers”), each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a Guarantor” on the signature pages hereto (together with the Parent and each other Person that executes a joinder agreement and becomes a “Guarantor” hereunder, each, a “Guarantor” and, collectively, the “Guarantors”), the lenders from time to time party hereto (each, a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”), TCW Asset Management Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TCW”), as collateral agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), and TCW, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent” and, together with the Collateral Agent, each, an “Agent” and, collectively, the “Agents”).

R E C I T A L S:

The Borrowers have asked the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrowers consisting of (a) an initial term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $72,000,000, (b) a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $7,500,000 at any time outstanding and (c) a term loan on the Third Amendment Effective Date in the aggregate principal amount of $204,000,000. Hydrosource has asked the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrowers consisting of a term loan on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date in the aggregate principal amount of $70,000,000. The proceeds of the initial term loan and the loans made under the revolving credit facility shall be used to (a) fund a portion of the cash consideration payable by the Loan Parties in connection with the Effective Date Acquisition, (b) fund the fees, costs and expenses relating to this Agreement and the Effective Date Acquisition and (c) fund general corporate purposes. The proceeds of the term loan funded on the Third Amendment Effective Date shall be used to (a) fund a portion of the cash consideration payable by the Loan Parties in connection with the AWR Acquisition, (b) fund the fees, costs and expenses relating to this Agreement and the AWR Acquisition and (c) fund general corporate purposes. The proceeds of the term loan funded on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date shall be used to (a) fund a portion of the cash consideration payable by the Loan Parties in connection with the Intrepid Acquisition, (b) fund the fees, costs and expenses relating to this Agreement and the Intrepid Acquisition and (c) fund general corporate purposes. The Lenders are severally, and not jointly, willing to extend such credit to the Borrowers subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN TERMS

Section 1.01 Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings indicated below:

Account Debtor” means, with respect to any Person, each debtor, customer or obligor in any way obligated on or in connection with any Account of such Person.


Acquisition” means the acquisition (whether by means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) of all of the Equity Interests of any Person or all or substantially all of the assets of (or any division or business line of) any Person.

Action” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.12.

Additional Amount” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(a).

Adjusted Term SOFR” means, for purposes of any calculation, the rate per annum equal to (a) Term SOFR for such calculation plus (b) the Term SOFR Adjustment.

Administrative Agent” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble.

Administrative Agent’s Accounts” means one or more accounts designated by the Administrative Agent at a bank designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time as the accounts into which the Loan Parties shall make all payments to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Administrative Borrower” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 4.05(a).

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 10% or more of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of members of the Board of Directors of such Person or (b) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Agent or any Lender be considered an “Affiliate” of any Loan Party.

Agent” and “Agents” have the respective meanings specified therefor in the preamble.

Agreement” means this Financing Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, the Third Amendment, the Fourth Amendment and, the Fifth Amendment and the Sixth Amendment, and including all amendments, restatements, amendments and restatements, modifications and supplements and any exhibits or schedules to any of the foregoing, and shall refer to the Agreement as the same may be in effect at the time such reference becomes operative.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all Requirements of Law concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including, without limitation, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), the UK Bribery Act of 2010, and the anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and regulations of those jurisdictions in which the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries do business.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means all Requirements of Law concerning or relating to terrorism or money laundering, including, without limitation, the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956-1957), the USA PATRIOT Act and the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act”, 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5332 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and §§ 1951-1959) and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any law prohibiting or directed against the financing or support of terrorist activities (e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 2339A and 2339B).

 

2


Applicable Margin” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to the interest rate of any Revolving Loan or the Term Loans (or any portion thereof):

(a) From the Effective Date until receipt by the Administrative Agent of the quarterly financial statements and a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Parent for the Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2024 in accordance with Sections 7.01(a)(ii) and 7.01(a)(iv) (the “Initial Applicable Margin Period”), the relevant Applicable Margin shall be set at Level I in the table below.

(b) After the Initial Applicable Margin Period, the relevant Applicable Margin shall be set at the respective level indicated below based upon the Leverage Ratio set forth opposite thereto, which ratio shall be calculated as of the end of the most recent four consecutive Fiscal Quarter period for which quarterly financial statements and a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Parent are received by the Agents and the Lenders in accordance with Sections 7.01(a)(ii) and 7.01(a)(iv):

With respect to all Tranche A Loans:

 

Level

  

Leverage Ratio

   Reference Rate Loans     SOFR Loans  

I

   Greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1:00      7.50     8.50

II

   Less than 3.00 to 1:00      7.00     8.00

With respect to all Fifth Amendment Term Loans:

 

Level

  

Leverage Ratio

   Reference Rate Loans     SOFR Loans  

I

   Greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1:00      7.75 %      8.75 % 

II

   Less than 3.00 to 1:00      7.25 %      8.25 % 

(c) Subject to clause (d) below, the adjustment of the Applicable Margin (if any) will occur two Business Days after the date the Administrative Agent receives the quarterly financial statements and a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Parent in accordance with Sections 7.01(a)(ii) and 7.01(a)(iv).

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing:

(i) the Applicable Margin shall be set at Level I in the tables above (A) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, or (B) if for any period, the Administrative Agent does not receive the financial statements and certificates described in clause (c) above, for the period commencing on the date such financial statements and certificate were required to be delivered through the date on which such financial statements and certificate are actually received by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; and

(ii) in the event that any financial statement or certificate described in clause (c) above is inaccurate (regardless of whether this Agreement or any Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin for any fiscal period, then the Applicable Margin for such fiscal period shall be adjusted retroactively (to the effective date of the determination of the Applicable Margin that was based upon the delivery of such inaccurate financial statement or certificate) to reflect the correct Applicable Margin, and the Borrowers shall promptly make payments to the Agents and the Lenders to reflect such adjustment.

 

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Applicable Premium” means:

(a) as of the date of the occurrence of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clause (c), (d) or (e) of the definition thereof:

(i) with respect to the Tranche A Loans:

(1i) during the period after the one year anniversary of the Effective Date up to and including the date that is the two year anniversary of the Effective Date (the “First Period”), an amount equal to 5.0% times the sum of (A) the aggregate amount of all Obligations (other than the Applicable Premium) attributable to the Tranche A Loans outstanding on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event and (B) the aggregate amount of undrawn Revolving Credit Commitments immediately prior to such Applicable Premium Trigger Event;

(2ii) during the period after the First Period up to and including the date that is the three year anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Second Period”), an amount equal to 4.0% times the sum of (A) the aggregate amount of all Obligations (other than the Applicable Premium) attributable to the Tranche A Loans outstanding on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event and (B) the aggregate amount of undrawn Revolving Credit Commitments immediately prior to such Applicable Premium Trigger Event;

(3iii) during the period after the Second Period up to and including the date that is the four year anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Third Period”), an amount equal to 2.0% times the sum of (A) the aggregate amount of all Obligations (other than the Applicable Premium) attributable to the Tranche A Loans outstanding on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event and (B) the aggregate amount of undrawn Revolving Credit Commitments immediately prior to such Applicable Premium Trigger Event;

(4iv) during the period after the Third Period up to and including the date that is the five year anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Fourth Period”), an amount equal to 1.0% times the sum of (A) the aggregate amount of all Obligations (other than the Applicable Premium) attributable to the Tranche A Loans outstanding on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event and (B) the aggregate amount of undrawn Revolving Credit Commitments immediately prior to such Applicable Premium Trigger Event; and

(5v) thereafter, zero; or.

(ii) with respect to the Fifth Amendment Term Loans, an amount equal to the greater of (1) a fee in an amount equal to $2,800,000 (i.e. 4.00% of the aggregate original principal amount of Fifth Amendment Term Loans) and (2) the amount necessary to cause the Fifth Amendment Term Loan Lenders to achieve a MOIC on the aggregate principal amount of all Fifth Amendment Term Loans of 1.10 to 1.00 as of the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event;

(b) as of the date of the occurrence of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clause (a) of the definition thereof:

(i) during the First Period, an amount equal to 5.0% times the amount of the permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment on such date;

 

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(ii) during the Second Period, an amount equal to 4.0% times the amount of the permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment on such date;

(iii) during the Third Period, an amount equal to 2.0% times the amount of the permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment on such date;

(iv) during the Fourth Period, an amount equal to 1.0% times the amount of the permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment on such date; and

(v) thereafter, zero; and

(c) as of the date of the occurrence of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clause (b) of the definition thereof:

(i) during the First Period, an amount equal to 5.0% times the principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans (other than the Applicable Premium) being paid on such date;

(ii) during the Second Period, an amount equal to 4.0% times the principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans (other than the Applicable Premium) being paid on such date;

(iii) during the Third Period, an amount equal to 2.0% times the principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans (other than the Applicable Premium) being paid on such date;

(iv) during the Fourth Period, an amount equal to 1.0% times the principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans (other than the Applicable Premium) being paid on such date; and

(v) thereafter, zero; and.

(d) as of the date of the occurrence of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clause (f) of the definition thereof, an amount necessary to cause the Fifth Amendment Term Loan Lenders to achieve a MOIC on the aggregate principal amount of all Fifth Amendment Term Loans repaid or prepaid on or prior to such date of 1.10 to 1.00; provided that if the Fifth Amendment Term Loans are being paid in full on such date, then the amount of such Applicable Premium payable on such date shall be no less than $2,800,000 (i.e. 4.00% of the aggregate original principal amount of Fifth Amendment Term Loans).

Applicable Premium Trigger Event” means

(a) any permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 2.05 or Section 9.01;

(b) any payment by any Loan Party of all, or any part, of the principal balance of the Tranche A Term Loans for any reason (including, without limitation, any optional prepayment or mandatory prepayment (other than any mandatory prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.03(b)(i), Section 2.05(c)(i) or 2.05(c)(iv), or any mandatory prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(iii) due to an Equity Issuance by the Parent to Enchanted Eagle Investments, LLC or any of its Affiliates)) whether before or after (i) the occurrence of an Event of Default, or (ii) the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding, and notwithstanding any acceleration (for any reason) of the Obligations;

 

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(c) the acceleration of the Obligations for any reason, including, without limitation, acceleration in accordance with Section 9.01, including as a result of the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding;

(d) the satisfaction, release, payment, restructuring, reorganization, replacement, reinstatement, defeasance or compromise of any of the Obligations in any Insolvency Proceeding, foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding or otherwise) or deed in lieu of foreclosure or the making of a distribution of any kind in any Insolvency Proceeding to any Agent, for the account of the Lenders in full or partial satisfaction of the Obligations; or

(e) the termination of this Agreement for any reason; or.

(f) any payment by any Loan Party of all, or any part, of the principal balance of the Fifth Amendment Term Loans for any reason (including, without limitation, any optional prepayment or mandatory prepayment (other than any mandatory prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.03(b)(ii), Section 2.05(c)(i) or 2.05(c)(iv)) whether before or after (i) the occurrence of an Event of Default, or (ii) the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding, and notwithstanding any acceleration (for any reason) of the Obligations.

Appraised Value” means, as of any date, the appraised value of the fee-owned Mortgaged Properties as set forth in the most recent appraisal of the Mortgaged Properties delivered to the Agents pursuant to Section 7.01(q).

Asset Coverage Ratio” means, at any time, the ratio of (a) the Appraised Value as of such time to (b) all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such time.

Assignment and Acceptance” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by an assigning Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Collateral Agent (and the Administrative Agent, if applicable), in accordance with Section 12.07 and substantially in the form of Exhibit B or such other form acceptable to the Collateral Agent.

Authorized Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or other financial officer performing similar functions, president, co-president or executive vice president of such Person.

Availability” means, at any time, the difference between (a) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and (b) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans.

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (a) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period or (b) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement as of such date.

AWR” means Accelerated Water Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

AWR Acquired Assets” means, collectively, all of the Equity Interests in the AWR Acquired Companies and all of the Property of the AWR Acquired Companies.

 

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AWR Acquired Companies” means the collective reference to Accelerated Water Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Accelerated SWD, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, AWR Equipment, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Limestone Basin Properties Ranch, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Basin Properties Ranches, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries.

AWR Acquisition” means the acquisition directly by the Parent of all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of AWR pursuant to the terms and conditions of the AWR Acquisition Documents.

AWR Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Membership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of the Third Amendment Effective Date, by and between Basin Properties, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, NGL Water Solutions Permian, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, the Parent, and Accelerated Water Resources, LLC a Delaware limited liability company, as amended or otherwise modified in accordance with Section 7.02(m).

AWR Acquisition Documents” means the AWR Acquisition Agreement and all agreements, bills of sale, assignments, documents and instruments, including any escrow agreement, executed and/or delivered pursuant thereto or in connection therewith (other than the Loan Documents).

AWR Excluded Subsidiaries” means the collective reference to RRR and Limestone Basin Properties Ranch, LLC, a New Mexico limited liability company, RRR and Basin Properties Ranches, LLC, a New Mexico limited liability company, and any future Subsidiary of either of the foregoing.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time and any successor statute or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Benchmark” means, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 2.07(h).

Benchmark Replacement” mean, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if such Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than the Floor, such Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

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

 

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

(a) in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (1) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (2) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

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

For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

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

(a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(c) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative.

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

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Benchmark Transition Start Date” means, in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (a) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (b) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than 90 days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication).

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.07(h) and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with this Section 2.07(h).

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

Board Observer” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(p).

Board of Directors” means with respect to (a) any corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board, (b) a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership, (c) a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee or board of directors of such company or the sole member or the managing member thereof, and (d) any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

BOD Meeting” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(p).

Borrower” and “Borrowers” have the respective meanings specified therefor in the preamble hereto. As of the ThirdSixth Amendment Effective Date, the Borrowers are Desert Ram Holdings, LLC, Hydrosource and AWR.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which banks are authorized or required to close in New York, except that, if a determination of a Business Day shall relate to a SOFR Loan, the term “Business Day” also shall exclude any day that is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of (a) the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period that in accordance with GAAP are or should be included in “property, plant and equipment” or in a similar fixed asset account on its balance sheet, whether such expenditures are paid in cash or financed, including all Capitalized Lease Obligations, obligations under synthetic leases and capitalized software costs that are paid or due and payable during such period and (b) to the extent not covered by clause (a) above, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period to acquire by purchase or otherwise the business or fixed assets of, or the Equity Interests of, any other Person.

Capitalized Lease” means, with respect to any Person, any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property by such Person as lessee that is required under GAAP to be capitalized on the balance sheet of such Person.

 

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Capitalized Lease Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries under Capitalized Leases, and, for purposes hereof, the amount of any such obligation shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Equivalents” means (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case, maturing within six months from the date of acquisition thereof; (b) commercial paper, maturing not more than 270 days after the date of issue rated P 1 by Moody’s or A 1 by Standard & Poor’s; (c) certificates of deposit maturing not more than 270 days after the date of issue, issued by commercial banking institutions and money market or demand deposit accounts maintained at commercial banking institutions, each of which is a member of the Federal Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000; (d) repurchase agreements having maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition which are entered into with major money center banks included in the commercial banking institutions described in clause (c) above and which are secured by readily marketable direct obligations of the United States Government or any agency thereof; (e) money market accounts maintained with mutual funds having assets in excess of $2,500,000,000, which assets are primarily comprised of Cash Equivalents described in another clause of this definition; and (f) marketable tax exempt securities rated A or higher by Moody’s or A+ or higher by Standard & Poor’s, in each case, maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof.

Cash Management Accounts” means the bank accounts of each Loan Party maintained at one or more Cash Management Banks listed on Schedule 8.01 hereto.

Cash Management Bank” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 8.01(a).

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, judicial ruling, judgment 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, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy 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 shall, in each case, be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Change of Control” means each occurrence of any of the following:

(a) except as a result of the exercise of any Warrants, the Permitted Holders cease to beneficially and of record own and control, directly or indirectly, at least 85% on a fully diluted basis of the aggregate outstanding voting or economic power of the Equity Interests of the Parent; provided a Change of Control shall occur if at any time the Permitted Holders cease to beneficially and of record own and control, directly or indirectly, at least 50.1% on a fully diluted basis of the aggregate outstanding voting or economic power of the Equity Interests of the Parent;

(a) any Person or group (within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) other than Permitted Holders acquires the ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, of Equity Interests representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent;

 

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(b) the Permitted Holders cease to beneficially and of record own and control, directly or indirectly, the power to designate managers on the Board of Directors of the Parent with majority voting controlPubCo shall cease to be the managing member of the Parent;

(c) the Parent shall cease to have beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 100% of the aggregate voting or economic power of the Equity Interests of each other Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries (other than (i) in connection with any transaction permitted pursuant to Section 7.02(c)(i) and (ii) the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries), free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Specified Liens; or

(d) Dale Redman ceases for any reason to be actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to substantially the same extent as on the Effective Date;

(e) the Parent shall cease to have beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of at least 60% of the aggregate voting or economic power of the Equity Interests of each AWR Excluded Subsidiary, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Specified Liens); or

(fd) a “Change of Control” (or any comparable term or provision) under or with respect to any Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Equity Interests of the Parent.

Collateral” means all of the Property and all interests therein and proceeds thereof now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person upon which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted by such Person as security for all or any part of the Obligations.

Collateral Agent” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble.

Collateral Agent Advances” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 10.08(a).

Collections” means all cash, checks, notes, instruments, and other items of payment (including insurance proceeds, proceeds of cash sales, rental proceeds, and tax refunds).

Commitments” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, Initial Term Loan Commitment, and Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment and Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment.

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

Compliance Certificate” means a Compliance Certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit E, duly executed by an Authorized Officer of the Parent.

Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of Term SOFR or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period” or any similar or analogous definition (or the addition of a concept of “interest period”), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and

 

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administration thereof by Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries for any period:

(a) Consolidated Net Income for such period,

plus

(b) without duplication, the sum of the following amounts for such period to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(i) any provision for United States federal income taxes or other taxes measured by net income,

(ii) Consolidated Net Interest Expense,

(iii) any depreciation and amortization expense,

(iv) other non-cash charges, non-cash expenses or non-cash losses,

(v) expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the Transactions,

(vi) any aggregate net losses from the Disposition of property (other than accounts and Inventory) outside the ordinary course of business, and

(vii) reasonable and documented one-time, non-recurring expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the AWR Acquisition and the Intrepid Acquisition,

minus

(c) without duplication, the sum of the following amounts for such period to the extent included in the calculation of such Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(i) any credit for United States federal income taxes or other taxes measured by net income,

(ii) any aggregate net gain from the Disposition of property (other than accounts and Inventory) outside the ordinary course of business,

(iii) any gain from extraordinary (as defined under GAAP prior to the effectiveness of FASB ASU 2015-01) items, and

 

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(iv) any non-cash gain;

in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to the Parent for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period; provided, however, that the following shall be excluded: (a) the net income of (i) any other Person in which the Parent or one of its Subsidiaries has a joint interest with a third-party (which interest does not cause the net income of such other Person to be consolidated into the net income of the Parent or its Subsidiaries) and (ii) the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries, in each case except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid to a Loan Party, (b) the net income of any Subsidiary of the Parent that is, on the last day of such period, subject to any restriction or limitation on the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions, to the extent of such restriction or limitation, and (c) the net income of any other Person arising prior to such other Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Parent or merging or consolidating into the Parent or its Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Net Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, (a) gross interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP (including, without limitation, interest expense paid to Affiliates of such Person), less (b) the sum of (i) interest income for such period and (ii) gains for such period on Hedging Agreements (to the extent not included in interest income above and to the extent not deducted in the calculation of gross interest expense), plus (c) the sum of (i) losses for such period on Hedging Agreements (to the extent not included in gross interest expense) and (ii) the upfront costs or fees for such period associated with Hedging Agreements (to the extent not included in gross interest expense), in each case, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

Contingent Indemnity Obligations” means any Obligation constituting a contingent, unliquidated indemnification obligation of any Loan Party, in each case, to the extent (a) such obligation has not accrued and is not yet due and payable and (b) no claim has been made or is reasonably anticipated to be made with respect thereto.

Contingent Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intending to guarantee any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, (a) the direct or indirect guaranty, endorsement (other than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business), co-making, discounting with recourse or sale with recourse by such Person of the obligation of a primary obligor, (b) the obligation to make take-or-pay or similar payments, if required, regardless of nonperformance by any other party or parties to an agreement, and (c) any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (A) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (B) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, assets, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include any product warranties extended in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation with respect to which such Contingent Obligation is made (or, if less, the maximum amount of such primary obligation for which such Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Contingent Obligation) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability with respect thereto (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder), as determined by such Person in good faith.

 

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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 Agreement” means, with respect to any deposit account, any securities account, commodity account, securities entitlement or commodity contract, an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, among the Collateral Agent, the financial institution or other Person at which such account is maintained or with which such entitlement or contract is carried and the Loan Party maintaining such account, effective to grant “control” (as defined under the applicable UCC) over such account to the Collateral Agent.

Cure Right” has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

Current Value” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(m).

Debtor Relief Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief law of the United States or other applicable jurisdiction from time to time in effect.

Default” means an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Administrative Borrower, or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, 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

 

14


judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permits such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Administrative Borrower and each Lender.

Desert Ram” means Desert Ram South, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation.

Disposition” means any transaction, or series of related transactions, pursuant to which any Person or any of its Subsidiaries sells, assigns, transfers, leases, licenses (as licensor) or otherwise disposes of any property or assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to any other Person, in each case, whether or not the consideration therefor consists of cash, securities or other assets owned by the acquiring Person. For purposes of clarification, “Disposition” shall include (a) the sale or other disposition for value of any contracts, (b) any disposition of property through a “plan of division” under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or any comparable transaction under any similar law, (c) the early termination or modification of any contract resulting in the receipt by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of a cash payment or other consideration in exchange for such event (other than payments in the ordinary course for accrued and unpaid amounts due through the date of termination or modification) or (d) any sale of merchant accounts (or any rights thereto (including, without limitation, any rights to any residual payment stream with respect thereto)) by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

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

Dollar”, “Dollars” and the symbol “$” each means lawful money of the United States of America.

Effective Date” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 5.01.

Effective Date Acquired Companies” means the collective reference to Desert Ram South Ranch, Inc. (f/k/a NGL South Ranch, Inc.), a New Mexico corporation, and Desert Ram North Ranch, LLC (f/k/a NGL North Ranch, LLC), a Texas limited liability company.

Effective Date Acquisition” means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by the Loan Parties of all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Effective Date Acquired Companies pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Effective Date Acquisition Documents.

Effective Date Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Equity Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2024, by and between the Effective Date Seller, Hydrosource, Desert Ram, and the Effective Date Acquired Companies, as amended or otherwise modified in accordance with Section 7.02(m).

 

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Effective Date Acquisition Documents” means the Effective Date Acquisition Agreement and all other agreements, instruments and other documents related thereto or executed in connection therewith, the terms of which shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Effective Date Assets” means, collectively, all of the Equity Interests in the Effective Date Acquired Companies and all of the Property of the Effective Date Acquired Companies.

Effective Date Seller” means NGL Water Solutions Permian, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

Employee Plan” means an employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, regardless of whether subject to ERISA, that any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates maintains, sponsors or contributes to or is obligated to contribute to or otherwise has any liability.

Environmental Claim” means any action, suit, complaint, summons, citation, notice, directive, order, claim, litigation, investigation, judicial or administrative proceeding, judgment, letter or other communication, from any Person or Governmental Authority relating to or arising out of any threatened, alleged or actual (a) violation of, non-compliance with, or liability under, any Environmental Law, or (b) the manufacture, use, handling, processing, distribution, labeling, generation, transportation, storage, treatment, Release, threatened Release, disposal or arranging for the disposal of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials.

Environmental Law” means any Requirement of Law relating to, regulating or governing (i) the pollution or protection of the environment, any environmental media, natural resources, human health or safety, or (ii) the manufacture, use, handling, processing, distribution, labeling, generation, transportation, storage, treatment, Release, threatened Release, disposal or arranging for the disposal of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials.

Environmental Liability” means all liabilities (contingent or otherwise, known or unknown), monetary obligations, losses (including monies paid in settlement), damages, natural resource damages, costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees, costs, client charges and expenses of counsel, experts and consultants), fines, penalties, sanctions and interest arising directly or indirectly as a result of, from, or based upon (a) any Environmental Claim, (b) any actual, alleged or threatened violation of or non-compliance with any Environmental Law or permits required by Environmental Law, (c) any actual, alleged or threatened Release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Materials, (d) any Remedial Action, (e) any environmental condition or (f) any contract, agreement or other arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed contractually or by operation of law with respect to any of the foregoing clauses (a)-(e).

Environmental Lien” means any Lien in favor of any Governmental Authority arising out of any Environmental Liability.

Equity Interests” means (a) all shares of capital stock (whether denominated as common stock or preferred stock), equity interests, beneficial, partnership or membership interests, joint venture interests, participations, or other ownership, profit interests in or equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a Person (other than an individual), whether voting or non-voting, and (b) all securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing and all warrants, options or other rights to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire any of the foregoing, whether or not presently convertible, exchangeable or exercisable.

 

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Equity Issuance” means either (a) the sale or issuance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any shares of its Equity Interests or (b) the receipt by the Parent of any cash capital contributions.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute of similar import, and regulations thereunder, in each case, as in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with such Person is, or within the last six (6) years was or would reasonably be expected to be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

Erroneous Distribution” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 10.16.

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

Excess Cash Flow” means, with respect to the Parent and its Subsidiaries for any period, (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such period, less (b) the sum of, without duplication, (i) all cash principal payments (excluding any principal payments made pursuant to Section 2.05(b) or 2.05(c)) on the Loans made during such period (but, in the case of the Revolving Loans, only to the extent that the Total Revolving Credit Commitment is permanently reduced by the amount of such payments), and all cash principal payments on Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement) of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries during such period to the extent such other Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred, and such payments are permitted to be made, under this Agreement (but, in the case of revolving loans, only to the extent that the revolving credit commitment in respect thereof is permanently reduced by the amount of such payments), (ii) all Consolidated Net Interest Expense to the extent paid or payable in cash during such period, (iii) the cash portion of Capital Expenditures made by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period to the extent permitted to be made under this Agreement (excluding Capital Expenditures to the extent financed through the incurrence of Indebtedness or through an Equity Issuance), (iv) all scheduled loan servicing fees and other similar fees in respect of Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries paid in cash during such period, to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred, and such payments are permitted to be made, under this Agreement, (v) all Tax Distributions to the extent paid in cash during such period and (vi) any amounts added to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clause (b)(vii) of the definition thereof (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any amounts paid out of the proceeds of the Third Amendment Term Loans and the Fifth Amendment Term Loans), to the extent paid in cash during such period.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Excluded Account” means (a) any deposit account maintained by any Excluded Subsidiary and (b) any deposit account specifically and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Loan Party’s employees.

“Excluded Subsidiaries” means the collective reference to the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries and any other Subsidiaries of the Parent that are not Legacy Loan Parties (as defined in the Sixth Amendment).

 

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Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.09, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.09(d) and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Executive Order No. 13224” means the Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.

Extraordinary Receipts” means any cash received by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries not in the ordinary course of business (and not consisting of proceeds described in Section 2.05(c)(ii) or (iii)), including, without limitation, (a) foreign, United States, state or local tax refunds, (b) proceeds of insurance, (c) judgments, proceeds of settlements or other consideration of any kind in connection with any cause of action, (d) condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof), (e) indemnity payments and (f) any purchase price adjustment received in connection with any purchase agreement (including any Effective Date Acquisition Documents and any AWR Acquisition Documents).

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

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the date of this Agreement (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, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code and any fiscal, tax or regulatory legislation, rules or official practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and entered into in connection with the implementation of Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

FCPA” has the meaning specified therefor in the definition of Anti-Corruption Laws.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to, for each day during such period, the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letter” means that certain fee letter agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and among the Parent, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

Fifth Amendment” means that certain Fifth Amendment to Financing Agreement dated as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Loan Parties party thereto, the Agents and the Lenders.

 

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Fifth Amendment Effective Date” has the meaning given to such term in the Fifth Amendment.

Fifth Amendment Fee Letter” means that certain fee letter agreement, dated as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, by and among Hydrosource and the Administrative Agent.

Fifth Amendment Term Loan” means, collectively, the loans made by the Fifth Amendment Term Loan Lenders to Hydrosource pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(iv).

Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the Fifth Amendment Term Loan to Hydrosource in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Fifth Amendment Term Loan Lender” means a Lender with a Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment or a Fifth Amendment Term Loan.

Fifth Amendment Term Loan Maturity Date” means December 31, 2027.

Fifth Amendment Term Loan Note” shall mean a promissory note evidencing the Fifth Amendment Term Loans, substantially in the form of Exhibit F.

Final Maturity Date” means the latest stated maturity date applicable to any Loans under this Agreement.

First Amendment” means that certain First Amendment to Financing Agreement dated as of December 11, 2024, by and among the Loan Parties party thereto, the Agents and the Lenders.

Fiscal Quarter” means each fiscal quarter of the Parent and its Subsidiaries ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each Fiscal Year.

Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries ending on December 31 of each year.

Floor” means a rate of interest equal to 2.00% per annum.

Foreign Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(d)(i)(B).

Fourth Amendment” means that certain Fourth Amendment to Financing Agreement dated as of December 12, 2025, by and among the Loan Parties party thereto, the Agents and the Lenders.

Funding Fee” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.06(a).

Funding Losses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08.

 

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GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States, applied on a consistent basis, provided that for the purpose of Section 7.03 and the definitions used therein, “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the date hereof, provided further that if there occurs after the date of this Agreement any change in GAAP that affects in any respect the calculation of any covenant contained in Section 7.03, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Borrower shall negotiate in good faith amendments to the provisions of this Agreement that relate to the calculation of such covenant with the intent of having the respective positions of the Lenders and the Borrowers after such change in GAAP conform as nearly as possible to their respective positions as of the date of this Agreement and, until any such amendments have been agreed upon, the covenants in Section 7.03 shall be calculated as if no such change in GAAP has occurred.

Governing Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization, and the operating agreement; (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture, declaration or other applicable agreement or documentation evidencing or otherwise relating to its formation or organization, governance and capitalization; and (d) with respect to any of the entities described above, any other 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.

Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any federal, state, city, town, municipality, county, local or other political subdivision thereof or thereto and any department, commission, board, bureau, instrumentality, agency or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 11.01.

Guarantor” means (a) the Parent and each Subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages hereto, and (b) each other Person which guarantees, pursuant to Section 7.01(b) or otherwise, all or any part of the Obligations.

Guaranty” means (a) the guaranty of each Guarantor party hereto contained in Article XI and (b) each other guaranty, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, made by any other Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders guaranteeing all or part of the Obligations.

H2O” means H2O Oil Field Solutions, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

Hazardous Material” means any element, material, substance, waste, compound or chemical that is defined, listed or otherwise classified as a contaminant, pollutant, toxic or hazardous substance, hazardous waste, universal waste, special waste, or solid waste or is otherwise characterized by words of similar import under any Environmental Law or that is regulated under, or for which liability or standards of care are imposed, pursuant to any Environmental Law, including, without limitation, petroleum, polychlorinated biphenyls; asbestos-containing materials, lead or lead-containing materials, urea formaldehyde-containing materials, radioactive materials, radon, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and mold.

 

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Hedging Agreement” means any interest rate, foreign currency, commodity or equity swap, collar, cap, floor or forward rate agreement, or other agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates or currency, commodity or equity values (including, without limitation, any option with respect to any of the foregoing and any combination of the foregoing agreements or arrangements), and any confirmation executed in connection with any such agreement or arrangement with a Hedging Counterparty.

Hedging Counterparty” means (i) any Person reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent that is a counterparty under a Hedging Agreement to which any Loan Party is party and (ii) any other Person whose long-term senior unsecured debt rating is A-/A3 by S&P or Moody’s (or their equivalent) or higher.

Highest Lawful Rate” means, with respect to any Agent or any Lender, the maximum non-usurious interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Obligations under laws applicable to such Agent or such Lender which are currently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum non-usurious interest rate than applicable laws now allow.

Hy Flow” means Hy Flow Water Solutions, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

Hy Flow Pledge Agreement” means a Pledge Agreement by each Hy Flow Pledgor, pursuant to which each Hy Flow Pledgor grants a security interest in 100% of its Equity Interests in H2O Oilfield Solutions, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and the other “Collateral” as defined therein in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the payment and performance of the Obligations, as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

Hy Flow Pledgor” means each of Dale Redman and Wasser Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

Hy Flow Recycling Agreement” means a water recycling services agreement to be entered into between Hydrosource and Hy Flow in accordance with Section 5.03(d), as amended or otherwise modified in accordance with Section 5.03(d) and Section 7.02(m).

Hy Flow Subordination Agreement” means a Subordination Agreement made by Hy Flow in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

Hydrosource” means Hydrosource Logistics, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

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

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money; (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables or other accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business and not outstanding for more than 90 days after the date such payable was created

 

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and any earn-out, purchase price adjustment or similar obligation until such obligation appears in the liabilities section of the balance sheet of such Person); (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments or upon which interest payments are customarily made; (d) all reimbursement, payment or other obligations and liabilities of such Person created or arising under any conditional sales or other title retention agreement with respect to property used and/or acquired by such Person, even though the rights and remedies of the lessor, seller and/or lender thereunder may be limited to repossession or sale of such property; (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (f) all obligations and liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of such Person, in respect of letters of credit, acceptances and similar facilities; (g) all obligations and liabilities, calculated on a basis satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and in accordance with accepted practice, of such Person under Hedging Agreements; (h) all monetary obligations under any receivables factoring, receivable sales or similar transactions and all monetary obligations under any synthetic lease, tax ownership/operating lease, off-balance sheet financing or similar financing; (i) all Contingent Obligations; (j) all Disqualified Equity Interests; and (k) all obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (j) of this definition of another Person secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) a Lien upon property owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership of or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer.

Indemnified Matters” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.15.

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

Indemnitees” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.15.

Initial Term Loan” means, collectively, the loans made by the Initial Term Loan Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(ii).

Initial Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the Initial Term Loan to the Borrowers in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Initial Term Loan Lender” means a Lender with an Initial Term Loan Commitment or an Initial Term Loan.

Insolvency Proceeding” means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any provision of any Debtor Relief Law.

Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified therefor in the Security Agreement.

Intellectual Property Contracts” means all agreements concerning Intellectual Property, including without limitation license agreements, technology consulting agreements, confidentiality agreements, co-existence agreements, consent agreements and non-assertion agreements.

Interest Payment Date” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.04(d).

 

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Interest Period” means, with respect to each SOFR Loan, a period commencing on the date of the making of such SOFR Loan (or the continuation of a SOFR Loan or the conversion of a Reference Rate Loan to a SOFR Loan) and ending one or three months thereafter; provided, however, that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended (subject to clauses (c)-(e) below) to the next succeeding Business Day, (b) interest shall accrue at the applicable rate based upon the Adjusted Term SOFR from and including the first day of each Interest Period to, but excluding, the day on which any Interest Period expires, (c) any Interest Period that would end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (d) with respect to an Interest Period 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), the Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month that is one or three months after the date on which the Interest Period began, as applicable, and (e) (i) Hydrosource may not elect an Interest Period for any Fifth Amendment Term Loan which will end after the Fifth Amendment Term Loan Maturity Date and (ii) the Borrowers may not elect an Interest Period for any Tranche A Loans which will end after the Tranche A Maturity Date.

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

Inventory” means, with respect to any Person, all goods and merchandise of such Person leased or held for sale or lease by such Person, including, without limitation, all raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods, and all packaging, supplies and materials of every nature used or usable in connection with the shipping, storing, advertising or sale of such goods and merchandise, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and all such other property the sale or other disposition of which would give rise to an Account or cash.

Investment” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any investment by such Person in any other Person (including Affiliates) in the form of loans, guarantees, advances or other extensions of credit (excluding accounts arising in the ordinary course of business), capital contributions or acquisitions of Indebtedness (including, any bonds, notes, debentures or other debt securities), Equity Interests, or all or substantially all of the assets of such other Person (or of any division or business line of such other Person), (b) the purchase or ownership of any futures contract or liability for the purchase or sale of currency or other commodities at a future date in the nature of a futures contract, or (c) any investment in any other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Intrepid Acquired Assets” means, collectively, all of the Property acquired by Hydrosource pursuant to the Intrepid Acquisition Documents.

Intrepid Acquisition” means the acquisition directly by Hydrosource of the Intrepid Acquired Assets pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Intrepid Acquisition Documents.

Intrepid Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, by and among Hydrosource, as buyer, Dale Redman, as owner, and Intrepid Potash-New Mexico, LLC, a New Mexico limited liability company, as seller, as amended or otherwise modified in accordance with Section 7.02(m).

Intrepid Acquisition Documents” means the Intrepid Acquisition Agreement and all agreements, bills of sale, assignments, documents and instruments, including any escrow agreement, executed and/or delivered pursuant thereto or in connection therewith (other than the Loan Documents).

 

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Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, duly executed by a Subsidiary of a Loan Party made a party hereto pursuant to Section 7.01(b).

Lease” means any (i) lease, sublease or license of, or (ii) permit or other agreement granting a right to use (including without limitation the right to graze upon, mine or extract minerals from) or possessory interest in, real property to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party as lessor, lessee, sublessor, sublessee, licensor or licensee or permit holder.

Leased Real Property” means (i) any leasehold interest in real property, (ii) easements or other exclusive or non-exclusive rights of access, occupancy or possession in or on real property or (iii) rights pursuant to mining permits and/or grazing and agricultural leases with respect to real property, in each case, held by a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries.

Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble.

Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to the Parent and its Subsidiaries for any Rolling Period, the ratio of (a) all Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period; provided, that for the purposes of calculating the Leverage Ratio for any period ending on or prior to March 31, 2025, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to be the actual Consolidated EBITDA for such Rolling Period, multiplied by the factor determined for such Rolling Period in accordance with the table below:

 

Rolling Period Ending

   Factor  

September 30, 2024

     4  

December 31, 2024

     2  

March 31, 2025

     4/3  

Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), security interest, charge or other encumbrance or security or preferential arrangement of any nature, including, without limitation, any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, any Capitalized Lease and any assignment, deposit arrangement or financing lease intended as, or having the effect of, security.

Loan” means any Term Loan or any Revolving Loan made by an Agent or a Lender to the Borrowers pursuant to Article II.

Loan Account” means an account maintained hereunder by the Administrative Agent on its books of account at the Payment Office, and with respect to the Borrowers, in which the Borrowers will be charged with all Loans made to, and all other Obligations incurred by, the Borrowers.

Loan Document” means this Agreement, any Control Agreement, any Guaranty, the Hy Flow Subordination Agreement, any Joinder Agreement, any Mortgage, any Security Agreement, any landlord waiver, any collateral access agreement, any Perfection Certificate and any other agreement, instrument, certificate, report and other document executed and delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or otherwise evidencing or securing any Loan or any other Obligation.

Loan Party” means any Borrower and any Guarantor.

Loan Servicing Fee” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.06(c).

 

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Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on any of (a) the operations, assets, liabilities or financial condition of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole to perform any of their obligations under any Loan Document, (c) the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (d) the rights and remedies of any Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document, or (e) the validity, perfection or priority of a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders on Collateral.

Material Contract” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the Effective Date Acquisition Agreement, (b) the AWR Acquisition Agreement, (c) the Intrepid Acquisition Agreement, (d) the NGL Water Supply Agreement, (e) the Hy Flow Recycling Agreement, (f) each Merchant Ranch Agreement, (gd) each Recycled Water Sales Agreement, (h) each contract or agreement to which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party involving aggregate consideration payable to or by such Person or such Subsidiary of $500,000 or more in any Fiscal Year (other than purchase orders in the ordinary course of the business of such Person or such Subsidiary and other than contracts that by their terms may be terminated by such Person or Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business upon less than 60 days’ notice without penalty or premium) and (ie) each other contract or agreement as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Maximum Capital Expenditure Amount” means, for each Fiscal Year of the Loan Parties ending on the date set forth in the table below (each a “Measurement Fiscal Year”), the amount of capital expenditures set forth for such fiscal year in the table below:

 

Fiscal Year

   Maximum Capital Expenditure Amount  

Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2024

   $ 1,500,000  

Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2025

   $ 6,000,000  

Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2026

   $ 6,000,000  

Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2027

   $ 6,000,000  

Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2028

   $ 6,000,000  

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Maximum Capital Expenditure Amount may be increased for any Fiscal Year by an amount equal to 50% of the unused Maximum Capital Expenditure Amount for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year only (a “Rollover Amount”). For the avoidance of doubt, any unused Maximum Capital Expenditure Amounts from a Fiscal Year two or more Fiscal Years prior to the Measurement Fiscal Year may not be included in the Rollover Amount.

Merchant Ranch Agreement” means each surface use or other similar agreement between a Loan Party or one of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and an interest owner of real property, on the other hand, pursuant to which such Loan Party or Subsidiary obtains rights to conduct Midstream Services on the lands covered thereby.

Midstream Properties” means all Property used by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in Midstream Services, including, without limitation, gathering systems, disposal facilities, disposal leases, disposal permits, disposal wells, rights of way, processing plants, terminals, tankage, gathering lines, pipelines, storage facilities, storage ponds, pump stations, surface leases and servitudes related to each of the foregoing.

 

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Midstream Services” means the (a) gathering, procurement, transportation, storage, treatment, recycling, re-use and disposal of flow back and produced water from oil and gas wells (including the liquid hydrocarbons contained in any oil and gas waste and the marketing and sale of such hydrocarbons), (b) transportation, storage, marketing, recycling and sale of water used in oil and gas exploration, completion, and production operations and any other water distribution, supply, treatment, storage, recycling and disposal services and (c) other similar activities.

MOIC” means the sum of all interest, original issue discount, principal payments and premiums (including payments of the MOIC amount in connection with prior principal repayments) paid with respect to the Fifth Amendment Term Loans, divided by the maximum aggregate principal amount of Fifth Amendment Term Loans that were funded under this Agreement (or in the case of any partial repayment, the aggregate principal of the Fifth Amendment Term Loans previously repaid and then being repaid), provided, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing calculation of MOIC shall not take into account any (x) fees received in any capacity other than as a Lender (including, but not limited to, fee payments to the Agents) and (y) expense reimbursements or indemnification received by the Lenders.

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

Mortgage” means a mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, made by a Loan Party in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, securing the Obligations and delivered to the Collateral Agent.

Mortgaged Property” means the real property identified on Schedule 1.01(B) and any real property hereafter acquired by the Loan Parties and mortgaged in accordance with Section 7.01(m).

Mortgaged Property Deliverables” means each of the following agreements, instruments and other documents in respect of each Mortgaged Property, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent:

(a) a Mortgage duly executed by the applicable Loan Party;

(b) evidence of the recording of each Mortgage in such office or offices as may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the Lien purported to be created thereby or to otherwise protect the rights of the Collateral Agent and the Lenders thereunder;

(c)

a Title Insurance Policy with respect to each Mortgage;

(d) an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, in the state where such Mortgaged Property is located with respect to the enforceability of the Mortgage to be recorded and such other matters as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request;

(e) any consents or estoppels reasonably deemed by the Collateral Agent to be reasonably necessary to allow Collateral Agent to obtain the Title Insurance Policy in connection with such Mortgage; and

(f) such other agreements, instruments, appraisals and other documents (including an ASTM 1527-13 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment by an independent firm reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require.

 

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Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to, any issuance or incurrence of any Indebtedness, any Equity Issuance, any Disposition or the receipt of any Extraordinary Receipts by any Person or any of its Subsidiaries, the aggregate amount of cash received (directly or indirectly) from time to time (whether as initial consideration or through the payment or disposition of deferred consideration) by or on behalf of such Person or such Subsidiary, in connection therewith after deducting therefrom only (a) in the case of any Disposition or the receipt of any Extraordinary Receipts consisting of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards, the amount of any Indebtedness secured by any Permitted Lien on any asset (other than Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such asset) which is required to be, and is, repaid in connection therewith (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement), (b) reasonable expenses related thereto incurred by such Person or such Subsidiary in connection therewith, (c) transfer taxes paid to any taxing authorities by such Person or such Subsidiary in connection therewith, and (d) net income taxes to be paid in connection therewith (after taking into account any tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), in each case, to the extent, but only to the extent, that the amounts so deducted are (i) actually paid to a Person that, except in the case of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, is not an Affiliate of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) properly attributable to such transaction or to the asset that is the subject thereof.

NGL Water Supply Agreement” means that certain Produced Water Treatment and Supply Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2024, by and between NGL Water Solutions Permian, LLC and Hydrosource Logistics, LLC, as amended or otherwise modified in accordance with Section 7.02(m).

Non-U.S. Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(d).

Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a).

Obligations” means all present and future indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities (including, without limitation, the Term Loan PIK Amount) of each Loan Party to the Agents and the Lenders arising under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether or not the right of payment in respect of such claim is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, unsecured, and whether or not such claim is discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by any proceeding referred to in Section 9.01. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of each Loan Party under the Loan Documents include (a) the obligation (irrespective of whether a claim therefor is allowed in an Insolvency Proceeding) to pay principal (including, without limitation, the Term Loan PIK Amount), interest, charges, expenses, fees, premiums (including the Applicable Premium, if any), attorneys’ fees and disbursements, indemnities and other amounts payable by such Person under the Loan Documents, and (b) the obligation of such Person to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Agent or any Lender (in its sole discretion) may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Person.

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

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

 

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Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment.

Owned Real Property” means an interest in real property owned in fee simple by a Loan Party or one of its Subsidiaries.

Parent” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble.

“Parent Collateral” means all of Parent’s right, title and interest in and to (i) the Equity Interests in Desert Ram Holdings and AWR; (ii) the Sixth Amendment Account (including all cash, instruments, investment property, securities, security entitlements and other financial assets at any time on deposit in or credited to such account, including all income, earnings and distributions thereon); and (iii) all proceeds, products and accessions of and to any and all of the foregoing.

Participant Register” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(i).

Payment Office” means the Administrative Agent’s office located at 515 South Flower Street Los Angeles, CA 90071, or at such other office or offices of the Administrative Agent as may be designated in writing from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Borrower.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.

Perfection Certificate” means a certificate in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent providing information with respect to the property of each Loan Party and each such Loan Party’s Subsidiaries.

Permitted Cure Equity” means Qualified Equity Interests of the Parent.

Permitted Disposition” means:

(a) [reserved];

(b) licensing, on a non-exclusive basis, Intellectual Property rights in the ordinary course of business;

(c) [reserved];

(d) (i) the lapse of Registered Intellectual Property of the Parent and its Subsidiaries to the extent not economically desirable in the conduct of their business or (ii) the abandonment of Intellectual Property rights in the ordinary course of business so long as (in each, case under clauses (i) and (ii)), (A) with respect to copyrights, such copyrights are not material revenue generating copyrights, and (B) such lapse is not materially adverse to the interests of the Secured Parties;

(e) any involuntary loss, damage or destruction of property;

(f) any involuntary condemnation, seizure or taking, by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise, or confiscation or requisition of use of property;

 

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(g) the Disposition of NGL South Ranch, Inc.’s right, title and interest in and to the following real property in Lea County, New Mexico: (1) Section 21, Township 26S, Range 36E and/or (2) Section 27, Township 26S, Range 36E (in the case of this clause (2), together with corresponding landfill permit(s)), so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) such Disposition shall be made in exchange solely for cash consideration in an amount that is greater than or equal to the fair market value of such Property (as reasonably determined by the board of directors (or equivalent body) of the applicable Loan Party), (iii) 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Disposition shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to the terms of Section 2.05(c)(ii) and (iv) the Parent shall be in pro forma compliance with Section 7.03(a) as of the date of such Disposition (giving pro forma effect to (x) the removal of the portion of Appraised Value attributable to the Disposed fee acreage and (y) the prepayment of the Loans required hereby) (any such Disposition, a “Permitted Lea County Disposition”);

(g) [reserved];

(h) Disposition of obsolete or worn-out equipment in the ordinary course of business; and

(i) Disposition of property or assets not otherwise permitted in clauses (a) through (h) above for cash in an aggregate amount not less than the fair market value of such property or assets;

provided that the Net Cash Proceeds of such Dispositions (including the proposed Disposition) (1) in the case of clauses (h) and (i) above, do not exceed $250,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year and (2) in all cases, are paid to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to the terms of Section 2.05(c)(ii).

Permitted Holder” means Dale Redman, Greg Mabee and(a) Lea & Eddy Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, Double Eagle IV Midco, LLC, the Lenders, Richard H. Coats and Charles R. Wiggins, (b) as to each of the foregoing Persons that are individuals, their respective Immediate Family Members, and, (c) as to each such Personof the foregoing Persons, any other Person (including any fund or investment vehicle) that is directly or indirectly controlled by such Person.

Permitted Indebtedness” means:

(a) any Indebtedness owing to any Agent or any Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(b) any other Indebtedness listed on Schedule 7.02(b), and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness;

(c) Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness;

(d) Permitted Intercompany Investments;

(e) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business under performance, surety, statutory, and appeal bonds;

(f) Indebtedness owed to any Person providing property, casualty, liability, or other insurance to the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, so long as the amount of such Indebtedness is not in excess of the amount of the unpaid cost of, and shall be incurred only to defer the cost of, such insurance for the period in which such Indebtedness is incurred and such Indebtedness is outstanding only during such period;

 

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(g) the incurrence by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under Hedging Agreements that are incurred for the bona fide purpose of hedging the interest rate, commodity, or foreign currency risks associated with such Loan Party’s or such Subsidiary’s operations and not for speculative purposes; and

(h) other Indebtedness not otherwise permitted pursuant to this definition, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $100,000 at any time.

Permitted Intercompany Investments” means Investments made by a Loan Party to or in another Loan Party (other than the Parent).

Permitted Investments” means:

(a) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

(b) Investments in negotiable instruments deposited or to be deposited for collection in the ordinary course of business;

(c) advances made in connection with purchases of goods or services in the ordinary course of business;

(d) Investments received in settlement of amounts due to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries effected in the ordinary course of business or owing to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of Insolvency Proceedings involving an Account Debtor or upon the foreclosure or enforcement of any Lien in favor of a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries;

(e) Investments existing on the date hereof, as set forth on Schedule Section 7.02(e), but not any increase in the amount thereof as set forth in such Schedule or any other modification of the terms thereof;

(f) Permitted Intercompany Investments;

(g) the Effective Date Acquisition;

(h) the AWR Acquisition;

(i) the Intrepid AcquisitionInvestments in the Excluded Subsidiaries existing on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date; and

(j) Investments in the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries made after the Third Amendment Effective Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000 during the term of this Agreement.

Permitted Lea County Disposition” has the meaning specified therefor in the definition of “Permitted Disposition”.

Permitted Liens” means:

(a) Liens securing the Obligations;

(b) Liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges the payment of which is not required under Section 7.01(c)(ii);

 

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(c) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money) that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted, and a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made therefor;

(d) Liens described on Schedule 7.02(a), provided that any such Lien shall only secure the Indebtedness that it secures on the Effective Date and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(e) purchase money Liens on equipment acquired or held by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of its business to secure Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness so long as such Lien only (i) attaches to such property and (ii) secures the Indebtedness that was incurred to acquire such property or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(f) deposits and pledges of cash securing (i) obligations incurred in respect of workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of governmental insurance or benefits, (ii) the performance of bids, tenders, leases, contracts (other than for the payment of money) and statutory obligations, or (iii) obligations on surety or appeal bonds, but only to the extent such deposits or pledges are made or otherwise arise in the ordinary course of business and secure obligations not past due;

(g) with respect to any real property, easements, zoning restrictions and similar encumbrances on real property and minor irregularities in the title thereto that do not (i) secure obligations for the payment of money or (ii) impair the value of such property or its use by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in the normal conduct of such Person’s business;

(h) Liens of landlords and mortgagees of landlords (i) arising by statute or under any Lease or related Contractual Obligation entered into in the ordinary course of business, (ii) on fixtures and movable tangible property located on the real property leased or subleased from such landlord or (iii) for amounts not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(i) the title and interest of a lessor or sublessor in and to personal property leased or subleased (other than through a Capitalized Lease), in each case extending only to such personal property;

(j) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property rights in the ordinary course of business;

(k) judgment liens (other than for the payment of taxes, assessments or other governmental charges) securing judgments and other proceedings not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(j);

(l) rights of set-off or bankers’ liens upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions, solely to the extent incurred in connection with the maintenance of such deposit accounts in the ordinary course of business; and

(m) Liens granted in the ordinary course of business on the unearned portion of insurance premiums securing the financing of insurance premiums to the extent the financing is permitted under the definition of Permitted Indebtedness.

 

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Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, but including Capitalized Lease Obligations) incurred to finance the acquisition of any fixed assets secured by a Lien permitted under clause (e) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; provided that (a) such Indebtedness is incurred within 20 days after such acquisition, (b) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price of the asset financed and (c) the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means the extension of maturity, refinancing or modification of the terms of Indebtedness so long as:

(a) after giving effect to such extension, refinancing or modification, the amount of such Indebtedness is not greater than the amount of Indebtedness outstanding immediately prior to such extension, refinancing or modification (other than by the amount of premiums paid thereon and the fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith and by the amount of unfunded commitments with respect thereto);

(b) such extension, refinancing or modification does not result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity (measured as of the extension, refinancing or modification) of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced or modified;

(c) such extension, refinancing or modification is pursuant to terms that are not less favorable to the Loan Parties, their Subsidiaries and the Lenders than the terms of the Indebtedness, taken as a whole (including, without limitation, terms relating to the collateral (if any) and subordination (if any)), being extended, refinanced or modified; and

(d) the Indebtedness that is extended, refinanced or modified is not recourse to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries that is liable on account of the obligations other than those Persons which were obligated with respect to the Indebtedness that was refinanced, renewed or extended.

Permitted Restricted Payments” means any of the following Restricted Payments made by:

(a) for any taxable year (or portion thereof) ending after the Effective Date during which the Borrowers are treated as a disregarded entities and the Parent is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, the Borrowers to the Parent, and the Parent to its direct and indirect Equity Interest holders, the payment of amounts permitted or required under Section 6.45.2 of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Parent (as in effect on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date), to pay any U.S. federal income, state, local or other tax liability incurred by the Parent’s direct or indirect Equity Interest holders as a result of such Equity Interest holders’ ownership of interests in the Parent with respect to income attributable to the Borrowers (“Tax Distributions”),

(b) any Loan Party to any other Loan Party,

(c) the Parent to pay dividends in the form of common Equity Interests, and

(d) any of the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries to the holders of its Equity Interests on a ratable basis.

Permitted Specified Liens” means Permitted Liens described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of the definition of Permitted Liens, and, solely in the case of Section 7.01(b)(i), including clauses (g), (h) and (i) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

 

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Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture or other enterprise or entity or Governmental Authority.

Post-Closing Control Agreement Delivery Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.03(a).

Post-Default Rate” means a rate of interest per annum equal to the rate of interest otherwise in effect from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement plus 2.00%, or, if a rate of interest is not otherwise in effect, interest at the highest rate specified herein for any Loan then outstanding prior to an Event of Default plus 2.00%.

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to:

(a) a Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans and the right to receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, by (ii) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, provided that, if the Total Revolving Credit Commitment has been reduced to zero, the numerator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans (including Collateral Agent Advances) and the denominator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans (including Collateral Agent Advances),

(b) a Lender’s obligation to make the Initial Term Loan, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment, by (ii) the Total Initial Term Loan Commitment,

(c) a Lender’s obligation to make the Third Amendment Term Loan, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment, by (ii) the Total Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment,

(d) a Lender’s obligation to make the Fifth Amendment Term Loan, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment, by (ii) the Total Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment,

(e) a Lender’s right to receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect to the Tranche A Term Loans, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Tranche A Term Loans by (ii) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans, and

(f) a Lender’s right to receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect to the Fifth Amendment Term Loans, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Fifth Amendment Term Loans by (ii) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Fifth Amendment Term Loans, and

(gf) all other matters (including, without limitation, the indemnification obligations arising under Section 10.05), the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and the unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Term Loans, by (ii) the sum of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans, provided that, if such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment shall have been reduced to zero, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed to be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans (including Collateral Agent Advances) and if the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall have been reduced to zero, the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed to be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans (including Collateral Agent Advances).

 

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Property” means any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Equity Interests and the Real Property.

Projections” means financial projections (including monthly balance sheet, profit and loss and cash flow figures) of the Parent and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(g)(ii), as updated from time to time pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(vi).

“PubCo” means EagleRock Land, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

Qualified Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all Equity Interests of such Person that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

Real Property” means, collectively, the Leased Real Property and the Owned Real Property.

Recipient” means any Agent and any Lender, as applicable.

Recycled Water Sales Agreement” means each Contractual Obligation entered into by the Borrowers or any Subsidiary from time to time pursuant to which a Borrower or a Subsidiary sells water that has been recycled pursuant to the Hy Flow Recycling Agreement.

Reference Rate” means, for any period, the greatest of (a) 3.00% per annum, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% per annum, (c) SOFR (which rate shall be calculated based upon an Interest Period of three months) plus 1.00% per annum, and (d) the rate last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Reference Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

Reference Rate Term SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

Reference Rate Loan” means each portion of a Loan that bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Reference Rate.

Refusal Option” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(g).

Register” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(f).

Registered Intellectual Property” means Intellectual Property that is issued, registered, renewed or the subject of a pending application.

Registered Loans” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(f).

Regulation T”, “Regulation U” and “Regulation X” mean, respectively, Regulations T, U and X of the Board or any successor, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

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Related Fund” means, with respect to any Person, an Affiliate of such Person, or a fund or account managed by such Person or an Affiliate of such Person.

Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the direct and indirect equityholders, partners, directors, officers, members, employees, agents, consultants, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, seeping, migrating, dumping or disposing of any Hazardous Material (including the abandonment or discarding of barrels, containers and other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material) into the indoor or outdoor environment, including, without limitation, the movement of Hazardous Materials through or in any environmental media, including the indoor or outdoor air, soil, surface or ground water, sediments or property.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

Remedial Action” means any action (a) to correct, mitigate, or address any actual, alleged or threatened violation of or non-compliance with any Environmental Law or permits required by Environmental Law, or (b) to clean up, remove, remediate, mitigate, abate, contain, treat, monitor, assess, evaluate, investigate, prevent, minimize or in any other way address any environmental condition or the actual, alleged or threatened presence, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials (including the performance of pre-remedial studies and investigations and post-remedial operation and maintenance activities).

Required Lenders” means Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares (calculated in accordance with clause (g) of the definition thereof) aggregate at least 50.1%; provided, that at any time when there are two (2) or more unaffiliated Lenders, “Required Lenders” must include at least two (2) unaffiliated Lenders.

Required Leverage Ratio” means, for each Fiscal Quarter of the Loan Parties set forth below, the Leverage Ratio set forth opposite such Fiscal Quarter in the table below:

 

Fiscal Quarter

   Required Leverage Ratio  

Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2024

     8.00:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2024

     9.50:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2025

     7.50:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2025

     5.50:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2025

     5.50:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2025

     5.50:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2026

     6.00:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2026

     5.25:1.00  

 

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Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2026

     5.25:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2026

     5.25:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2027

     5.00:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2027

     5.00:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2027

     5.00:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2027

     5.00:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2028

     4.75:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2028

     4.75:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2028

     4.75:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2028

     4.75:1.00  

Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2029

     4.75:1.00  

Required Prepayment Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(g).

Requirements of Law” means, with respect to any Person, collectively, the common law and any and all federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, multinational or international laws, statutes, codes, treaties, standards, rules and regulations, guidelines, ordinances, orders, judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees (including administrative or judicial precedents or authorities), and the interpretation or administration thereof by, and other determinations, directives, requirements or requests of any Governmental Authority, in each case that are applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Restricted Payment” means (a) the declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, together with any payment or distribution pursuant to a “plan of division” under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or any comparable transaction under any similar law, (b) the making of any repurchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of any Loan Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of any Loan Party, now or hereafter outstanding, (c) the making of any payment to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition of shares of any class of Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, (d) the return of any Equity Interests to any shareholders or other equity holders of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or the making of any other distribution of property, assets, shares of Equity Interests, warrants, rights, options, obligations or securities thereto as such, or (e) the payment of any management, consulting, monitoring or advisory fees or any other fees or expenses (including the reimbursement thereof by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries) pursuant to any management, consulting, monitoring, advisory or other services agreement to any of the shareholders or other equityholders of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, or to any other Subsidiaries or Affiliates of any Loan Party.

 

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Revolving Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers in the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as such amount may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, from and after the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment shall be equal to the then-outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans.

Revolving Loan” means a loan made by a Lender to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i).

Revolving Loan Lender” means a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment or a Revolving Loan.

Rolling Period” means (a) for the Fiscal Quarters ending on September 30, 2024, December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 the applicable period commencing on July 1, 2024 and ending on the last day of such applicable Fiscal Quarter, and (b) for the Fiscal Quarter ending on June 30, 2025, and for each Fiscal Quarter thereafter, any period of four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on the last day of such applicable Fiscal Quarter.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any other Person whereby the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries shall sell or transfer to any other Person any property used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred.

Sale Proceeds Sharing Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(bb).

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory that is the subject or target of any Sanctions (which, as of the Effective Date, includes the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, OFAC’s Sectoral Sanctions Identification List, and any other Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) a Person that resides in, is organized in or located in, or has a place of business in, a country or territory named on any list referred to in clause (a) of this definition or a country or territory that is designated as a “Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction” by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, or whose subscription funds are transferred from or through any such jurisdiction (each of the foregoing in this clause (b), a “Sanction Target”), or a Person that owns 50% or more of the Equity Interests of, or is otherwise controlled by, or is acting on behalf of, one or more Sanction Targets, (c) any Person with whom or with which a U.S. Person is prohibited from dealing under any of the Sanctions or (d) any Person owned or controlled by any Person or Persons described in clause (a) or (b).

 

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Sanctions” means Requirements of Law concerning or relating to economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other similar or successor agency of the Federal government administering the Securities Act.

Second Amendment” means that certain Second Amendment to Financing Agreement dated as of February 28, 2025, by and among the Loan Parties party thereto, the Agents and the Lenders.

Secured Party” means any Agent, and any Lender.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.

Securitization” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(l).

Security Agreement” means a Pledge and Security Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, made by a Loan Party in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties securing the Obligations.

Settlement Period” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(d)(i).

“Sixth Amendment” means that certain Sixth Amendment to Financing Agreement dated as of May 4, 2026, by and among the Loan Parties party thereto, the Agents and the Lenders.

“Sixth Amendment Account” has the meaning given to such term in the Sixth Amendment.

“Sixth Amendment Account Required Balance” has the meaning given to such term in the Sixth Amendment.

“Sixth Amendment Effective Date” has the meaning given to such term in the Sixth Amendment.

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

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

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

SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Adjusted Term SOFR.

SOFR Notice” means a written notice in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto.

Solvent” means, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is not less than the total amount of the liabilities of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its existing debts as they become absolute and matured, (c)

 

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such Person is able to pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (d) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (e) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute unreasonably small capital.

Standard & Poor’s” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person at any date, any corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, association, joint venture or other business entity (a) the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in such Person’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP or (b) of which more than 50% of (i) the outstanding Equity Interests having (in the absence of contingencies) ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such Person, (ii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, the interest in the capital or profits of such partnership or limited liability company, or (iii) in the case of a trust, estate, association, joint venture or other entity, the beneficial interest in such trust, estate, association, joint venture or other entity is, at the time of determination, owned or controlled directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, by such Person. References to a Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary of the Parent unless the context expressly provides otherwise.

Tax Distributions” has the meaning specified therefor in clause (a) of the definition of “Permitted Restricted Payments”.

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

Term Loan” means, collectively, the Tranche A Term Loans and the Fifth Amendment Term Loan.

Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment, and Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment and Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment.

Term Loan PIK Amount” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (i) the amount of all interest accrued with respect to the Term Loan that has been paid in kind by being added to the balance thereof in accordance with Section 2.04(b) and (ii) the amount of all fees that have been paid in kind by being added to the balance of the Term Loan in accordance with the First Amendment and the Second Amendment.

Term SOFR” means,

(a) for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Loan, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 4:00 p.m. (New York time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term

 

39


SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and

(b) for any calculation with respect to a Reference Rate Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of three months on the day (such day, the “Reference Rate Term SOFR Determination Date”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 4:00 p.m. (New York time) on any Reference Rate Term SOFR Determination Date the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Reference Rate SOFR Determination Date;

provided that if Term SOFR as so determined shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.

Term SOFR Adjustment” means, for any calculation with respect to a Reference Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan, a percentage per annum equal to the percentage set forth below for the applicable Type of such Loan and (if applicable) Interest Period therefor:

Reference Rate Loans:

0.26161%

SOFR Loans:

 

Interest Period

   Percentage  

One month

     0.11448

Three months

     0.26161

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

Term SOFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the Loans bearing interest at a rate based on Adjusted Term SOFR comprising such Borrowing other than pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of “Reference Rate”.

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

 

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Termination Date” means the first date on which all of the Obligations are paid in full in cash and the Commitments of the Lenders are terminated.

Third Amendment” means that certain Third Amendment to Financing Agreement dated as of the Third Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Loan Parties party thereto, the Agents and the Lenders.

Third Amendment Effective Date” has the meaning given to such term in the Third Amendment.

Third Amendment Fee Letter” means that certain fee letter agreement, dated as of the Third Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Parent, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

Third Amendment Term Loan” means, collectively, the loans made by the Third Amendment Term Loan Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(iii).

Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the Third Amendment Term Loan to the Borrowers in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Third Amendment Term Loan Lender” means a Lender with a Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment or a Third Amendment Term Loan.

Title Insurance Policy” means a mortgagee’s loan policy, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its discretion, together with all endorsements made from time to time thereto, issued to the Collateral Agent by or on behalf of a title insurance company selected by the Collateral Agent, insuring the Lien created by the applicable Mortgage in an amount and on terms and with such endorsements satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its discretion, delivered to the Collateral Agent.

Total Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitments.

Total Initial Term Loan Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Initial Term Loan Commitments. For the avoidance of doubt, as of the Third Amendment Effective Date, the Total Initial Term Loan Commitment is zero.

Total Revolving Credit Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments.

Total Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Third Amendment Term Loan Commitments. For the avoidance of doubt, as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, the Total Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment is zero.

Tranche A Loan Note” shall mean a promissory note evidencing the Tranche A Loans, substantially in the form of Exhibit F.

Tranche A Loans” means, collectively, Revolving Loans and the Tranche A Term Loan.

Tranche A Maturity Date” means April 4, 2029.

 

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Tranche A Term Loans” means, collectively, the Initial Term Loan and the Third Amendment Term Loan. On the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans is equal to $257,205,613.69, consisting of Initial Term Loans of $66,547,853.65 (inclusive of the Term Loan PIK Amount) and Third Amendment Term Loans of $190,657,760.04.

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any prepayment, a rate per annum (computed on the basis of actual days elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent on the date three Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment, to be the yield expressed as a rate listed in The Wall Street Journal for United States Treasury securities most nearly equal to the period from the date of such prepayment, repayment or date of required repayment to and including the twelve-month anniversary of the Effective Date.

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

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 1.04(b).

USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (PATRIOT) Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, Oct. 26, 2001) as amended by the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-177, March 9, 2006) and as the same may have been or may be further renewed, extended, amended, or replaced.

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

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

Waivable Mandatory Prepayment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(g).

Warrants” shall mean the warrants issued to the Lenders in connection with this Agreement between the Parent and each Lender.

Withholding Agent” means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

Section 1.02 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, amendments and restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns,

 

42


(c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any right or interest in or to assets and properties of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible.

Section 1.03 Certain Matters of Construction. References in this Agreement to “determination” by any Agent include good faith estimates by such Agent (in the case of quantitative determinations) and good faith beliefs by such Agent (in the case of qualitative determinations). A Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to exist at all times during the period commencing on the date that such Default or Event of Default occurs to the date on which such Default or Event of Default is waived in writing pursuant to this Agreement or, in the case of a Default, is cured within any period of cure expressly provided for in this Agreement; and an Event of Default shall “continue” or be “continuing” until such Event of Default has been waived in writing by the Required Lenders, each Lender affected thereby or all Lenders, in each case as may be required pursuant to this Agreement. Any Lien referred to in this Agreement or any other Loan Document as having been created in favor of any Agent, any agreement entered into by any Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any payment made by or to or funds received by any Agent pursuant to or as contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any act taken or omitted to be taken by any Agent, shall, unless otherwise expressly provided, be created, entered into, made or received, or taken or omitted, for the benefit or account of the Agents and the Lenders. Wherever the phrase “to the knowledge of any Loan Party” or words of similar import relating to the knowledge or the awareness of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries are used in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, such phrase shall mean and refer to (i) the actual knowledge of a senior officer of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) the knowledge that a senior officer would have obtained if such officer had engaged in good faith and diligent performance of such officer’s duties, including the making of such reasonably specific inquiries as may be necessary of the employees or agents of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary and a good faith attempt to ascertain the existence or accuracy of the matter to which such phrase relates. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or otherwise within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a default if such action is taken or condition exists. In addition, all representations and warranties hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular representation or warranty proves to be incorrect or is breached, the fact that another representation or warranty concerning the same or similar subject matter is correct or is not breached will not affect the incorrectness of a breach of a representation or warranty hereunder.

Section 1.04 Accounting and Other Terms.

(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, each accounting term used herein shall have the meaning given it under GAAP. For purposes of determining compliance with any incurrence or expenditure tests set forth herein, any amounts so incurred or expended (to the extent incurred or expended in a currency other than Dollars) shall be converted into Dollars on the basis of the exchange rates (as shown on the Bloomberg currency page for such currency or, if the same does not provide such exchange rate, by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be reasonably selected by the Agents or, in the event no such service is selected, on such other basis as is reasonably satisfactory to the Agents) as in effect on the date of such incurrence or expenditure under any provision of any such Section that has an aggregate Dollar limitation provided for therein (and to the extent the respective incurrence or expenditure test regulates the aggregate amount outstanding at any time and it is expressed in terms of Dollars, all outstanding amounts originally incurred or spent in currencies other than Dollars shall be converted into Dollars on the basis of the exchange rates (as shown on the Bloomberg

 

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currency page for such currency or, if the same does not provide such exchange rate, by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be reasonably selected by the Agents or, in the event no such service is selected, on such other basis as is reasonably satisfactory to the Agents) as in effect on the date of any new incurrence or expenditures made under any provision of any such Section that regulates the Dollar amount outstanding at any time). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

(b) All terms used in this Agreement which are defined in Article 8 or Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York (the “Uniform Commercial Code” or the “UCC”) and which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as set forth therein; provided that terms used herein which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof shall continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or amendment of such statute, except as any Agent may otherwise determine.

Section 1.05 Time References. Unless otherwise indicated herein, all references to time of day refer to Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Saving Time, as in effect in New York City on such day. For purposes of the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding”; provided, however, that with respect to a computation of fees or interest payable to any Secured Party, such period shall in any event consist of at least one full day.

Section 1.06 Performance of Obligations. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of Interest Period) or performance shall (a) in the case of any scheduled date of payment in respect of the Loans, be deemed to be the first Business Day preceding such scheduled payment date and (b) except as provided in the preceding clause (a) or otherwise set forth in this Agreement, extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day, and such adjustments of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

Section 1.07 LLC Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any “plan of division” under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or any comparable transaction under any similar law: (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time and (c) any agreement providing for the allocation of assets and liabilities in respect of any such division involving a Loan Party shall be subject to the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent unless each resulting party from such division continues to be a Loan Party.

Section 1.08 Rates. Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to Reference Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR or Term SOFR, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement),

 

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including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, Reference Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of Reference Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, Adjusted Term SOFR, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower; provided, that Administrative Agent will not engage in such transactions with the primary purpose of negatively impacting the Borrower. Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its sole discretion to ascertain Reference Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, Adjusted Term SOFR or any other Benchmark, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to any 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 calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

ARTICLE II

THE LOANS

Section 2.01 Commitments.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth:

(i) each Revolving Loan Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers at any time and from time to time during the term of this Agreement, in an aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment;

(ii) each Initial Term Loan Lender severally agrees to make the Initial Term Loan to the Borrowers on the Effective Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Initial Term Loan Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment; and

(iii) each Third Amendment Term Loan Lender severally agrees to make the Third Amendment Term Loan to the Borrowers on the Third Amendment Effective Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Third Amendment Term Loan Lender’s Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment; and.

(iv) each Fifth Amendment Term Loan Lender severally agrees to make the Fifth Amendment Term Loan to Hydrosource on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Fifth Amendment Term Loan Lender’s Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loan made on the Effective Date shall not exceed the Total Initial Term Loan Commitment, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Third Amendment Term Loan made on the Third Amendment Effective Date shall not exceed the Total Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of the Fifth Amendment Term Loan made on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date shall not exceed the Total Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment. Any principal amount of the Term Loans which is repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

(c) The aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans outstanding at any time to the Borrowers shall not exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. The Revolving Credit Commitment of each Lender shall automatically and permanently be reduced to zero on the Tranche A Maturity Date. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrowers may borrow, repay and reborrow, the Revolving Loans on or after the Effective Date and prior to the Tranche A MaturitySixth Amendment Effective Date, subject to the terms, provisions and limitations set forth herein.

Section 2.02 Making the Loans.

(a) The Administrative Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prior written notice, in substantially the form of Exhibit C (a “Notice of Borrowing”), not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the date which is three Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Loan (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent is willing to accommodate from time to time, but in no event later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the borrowing date of the proposed Loan). Such Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the principal amount of the proposed Loan, which in the case of the Initial Term Loan on the Effective Date shall be $72,000,000, and in the case of the Third Amendment Term Loan on the Third Amendment Effective Date shall be $204,000,000, and in the case of the Fifth Amendment Term Loan on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date shall be $70,000,000, (ii) whether such Loan is requested to be a Revolving Loan, the Initial Term Loan, or the Third Amendment Term Loan or the Fifth Amendment Term Loan, (iii) whether the Loan is requested to be a Reference Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan and, in the case of a SOFR Loan, the initial Interest Period with respect thereto, (iv) the use of the proceeds of such proposed Loan, (v) the wire instructions for the proceeds of such proposed Loan, and (vi) the proposed borrowing date, which must be a Business Day, and must be (A) with respect to the Initial Term Loan, the Effective Date, and (B) with respect to the Third Amendment Term Loan, the Third Amendment Effective Date, and (C) with respect to the Fifth Amendment Term Loan, the Fifth Amendment Effective Date. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may act without liability upon the basis of written or telecopied notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be from the Administrative Borrower (or from any Authorized Officer thereof designated in writing purportedly from the Administrative Borrower to the Administrative Agent). The Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be entitled to rely conclusively on any Authorized Officer’s authority to request a Loan on behalf of the Borrowers until the Administrative Agent receives written notice to the contrary. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have no duty to verify the authenticity of the signature appearing on any written Notice of Borrowing.

(b) Each Notice of Borrowing pursuant to this Section 2.02 shall be irrevocable and the Borrowers shall be bound to make a borrowing in accordance therewith. Each Revolving Loan shall be made in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and shall be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000. The Borrowers shall not request Revolving Loans more than two times in any Fiscal Quarter.

(c) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.02(c), all Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their Pro Rata Shares of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, the Total Initial Term Loan Commitment, or the Total Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment or the Total Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment, as the case may be, it being understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in that other Lender’s obligations to make a Loan requested hereunder, nor shall the Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of the default by any other Lender in that other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make the Loans required to be made by it by the terms of this Agreement regardless of the failure by any other Lender.

 

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(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and in order to reduce the number of fund transfers among the Borrowers, the Agents and the Lenders, the Borrowers, the Agents and the Lenders agree that the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), and the Borrowers and the Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to, fund, on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders, Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.01, subject to the procedures for settlement set forth in Section 2.02(d); provided, however, that (A) the Administrative Agent shall in no event fund any such Revolving Loans if the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders on the Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Revolving Loan that one or more of the conditions precedent contained in Section 5.02 will not be satisfied at the time of the proposed Revolving Loan, and (B) the Administrative Agent shall not otherwise be required to determine that, or take notice whether, the conditions precedent in Section 5.02 have been satisfied. If the Administrative Borrower gives a Notice of Borrowing requesting a Revolving Loan and the Administrative Agent elects not to fund such Revolving Loan on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders, then promptly after receipt of the Notice of Borrowing requesting such Revolving Loan, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Loan Lender of the specifics of the requested Revolving Loan and that it will not fund the requested Revolving Loan on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders. If the Administrative Agent notifies the Revolving Loan Lenders that it will not fund a requested Revolving Loan on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders, each Revolving Loan Lender shall make its Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent, in immediately available funds, in the Administrative Agent’s Accounts no later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) (provided that the Administrative Agent requests payment from such Revolving Loan Lender not later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time)) on the date of the proposed Revolving Loan. The Administrative Agent will make the proceeds of all such requested Revolving Loans available to the Borrowers on the day of the proposed Revolving Loan by causing an amount, in immediately available funds, equal to the proceeds of all such Revolving Loans received by the Administrative Agent in the Administrative Agent’s Accounts or the amount funded by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders to be deposited in an account designated by the Administrative Borrower.

(ii) If the Administrative Agent has notified the Revolving Loan Lenders that the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders, will not fund a particular Revolving Loan pursuant to Section 2.02(c)(i), the Administrative Agent may assume that each such Revolving Loan Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such day and the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, may, but shall not be obligated to, cause a corresponding amount to be made available to the Borrowers on such day. If the Administrative Agent makes such corresponding amount available to the Borrowers and such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by any such Revolving Loan Lender, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Revolving Loan Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for three Business Days and thereafter at the Reference Rate. During the period in which such Revolving Loan Lender has not paid such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the amount so advanced by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers shall, for all purposes hereof, be a Revolving Loan made by the Administrative Agent for its own account. Upon any such failure by a Revolving Loan Lender to pay the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly thereafter notify the Administrative Borrower of such failure and the Borrowers shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent for its own account.

 

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(iii) Nothing in this Section 2.02(c) shall be deemed to relieve any Revolving Loan Lender from its obligations to fulfill its Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers may have against any Revolving Loan Lender as a result of any default by such Revolving Loan Lender hereunder.

(d) (i) With respect to all periods for which the Administrative Agent has funded Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.02(c), on Friday of each week, or if the applicable Friday is not a Business Day, then on the following Business Day, or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may from time to time select (any such week or shorter period being herein called a “Settlement Period”), the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Loan Lender of the unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding as of the last day of each such Settlement Period. In the event that such amount is greater than the unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding on the last day of the Settlement Period immediately preceding such Settlement Period (or, if there has been no preceding Settlement Period, the amount of the Revolving Loans made on the date of such Revolving Loan Lender’s initial funding), each Revolving Loan Lender shall promptly (and in any event not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) if the Administrative Agent requests payment from such Lender not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on such day) make available to the Administrative Agent its Pro Rata Share of the difference in immediately available funds. In the event that such amount is less than such unpaid principal amount, the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay over to each Revolving Loan Lender its Pro Rata Share of the difference in immediately available funds. In addition, if the Administrative Agent shall so request at any time when a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or any other event shall have occurred as a result of which the Administrative Agent shall determine that it is desirable to present claims against the Borrowers for repayment, each Revolving Loan Lender shall promptly remit to the Administrative Agent or, as the case may be, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to each Revolving Loan Lender, sufficient funds to adjust the interests of the Revolving Loan Lenders in the then outstanding Revolving Loans to such an extent that, after giving effect to such adjustment, each such Revolving Loan Lender’s interest in the then outstanding Revolving Loans will be equal to its Pro Rata Share thereof. The obligations of the Administrative Agent and each Revolving Loan Lender under this Section 2.02(d) shall be absolute and unconditional. Each Revolving Loan Lender shall only be entitled to receive interest on its Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Loans which have been funded by such Revolving Loan Lender.

(ii) In the event that any Revolving Loan Lender fails to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.02(d)(i), the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Revolving Loan Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for three Business Days and thereafter at the Reference Rate. During the period in which such Revolving Loan Lender has not paid such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the amount so advanced by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers shall, for all purposes hereof, be a Revolving Loan made by the Administrative Agent for its own account. Upon any such failure by a Revolving Loan Lender to pay the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly thereafter notify the Administrative Borrower of such failure and the Borrowers shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent for its own account. Nothing in this Section 2.02(d)(ii) shall be deemed to relieve any Revolving Loan Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers may have against any Revolving Loan Lender as a result of any default by such Revolving Loan Lender hereunder.

 

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Section 2.03 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

(a) The outstanding principal of all Revolving Loans shall be due and payable on the Tranche A Maturity Date or, if earlier, on the date on which they are declared due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(b)

(b) (i) The outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans shall be repaid in consecutive quarterly installments on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter, beginning with the calendar quarter ending June 30, 2025; each such quarterly installment shall be in an aggregate amount equal to the percentage of the original principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans, set forth below opposite the applicable date set forth below:

 

Period

   Quarterly Percentage  

June 30, 2025 up to and including March 31, 2026

     0.3125

June 30, 2026, but on or prior to March 31, 2027

     0.625

June 30, 2027, but on or prior to March 31, 2028

     0.9375

June 30, 2028 and the last Business Day of each calendar quarter ending thereafter

     1.25

; provided, however, that if any such date is not a Business Day then the installment due on such date shall instead be paid on the immediately preceding Business Day. The outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall be due and payable on the earlier of (A) the Tranche A Maturity Date, and (B) the date on which the Term Loans are declared due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(ii) The outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Fifth Amendment Term Loans shall be repaid in consecutive quarterly installments on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter, beginning with the calendar quarter ending December 31, 2026; each such quarterly installment shall be in an aggregate amount equal to the percentage of the original principal amount of the Fifth Amendment Term Loans, set forth below opposite the applicable date set forth below:

 

Period

   Quarterly Percentage  

December 31, 2026 and the last Business Day of each calendar quarter ending thereafter

     1.25 % 

 

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; provided, however, that if any such date is not a Business Day then the installment due on such date shall instead be paid on the immediately preceding Business Day. The outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall be due and payable on the earlier of (A) the Fifth Amendment Term Loan Maturity Date and (B) the date on which the Term Loans are declared due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

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

(d) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(e) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(c) or 2.03(d) shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that (i) the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (ii) in the event of any conflict between the entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(d), the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(d) shall govern and control.

(f) Any Lender may request that the Tranche A Loans or Fifth Amendment Term Loans made by it be evidenced by Tranche A Loan Notes or Fifth Amendment Term Loan Notes, respectively. Such promissory notes shall be executed and delivered to each such Lender and shall be payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) in a form substantially similar to Exhibit F. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 12.07) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

Section 2.04 Interest.

(a) Revolving Loans. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, at the option of the Administrative Borrower, each Revolving Loan shall be either a Reference Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan. Each Revolving Loan that is a Reference Rate Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, from the date of such Loan until repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the Reference Rate plus the Applicable Margin. Each Revolving Loan that is a SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, from the date of such Loan until repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Term SOFR for the Interest Period in effect for such Loan plus the Applicable Margin.

(b) Term Loans. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, at the option of the Administrative Borrower, the Term Loans (including, without limitation, the Term Loan PIK Amount relating thereto) or any portion thereof shall be either a Reference Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan. Each portion of the Term Loans that is a Reference Rate Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, from the date of such Term Loan until repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the

 

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Reference Rate plus the Applicable Margin, and each portion of the Term Loans that is a SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, from the date of such Term Loan until repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Term SOFR for the Interest Period in effect for such Term Loan (or such portion thereof) plus the Applicable Margin; provided that interest accruing during the period of six full months immediately following the Effective Date shall be paid on the Interest Payment Date for each such month by capitalizing such interest and adding such capitalized interest to the then outstanding principal amount of such Term Loan. Any interest to be so capitalized pursuant to this clause (b) shall be capitalized on the day on which interest shall be payable on such Term Loan pursuant to (d) below and added to the then outstanding principal amount of such Term Loan and, thereafter, shall bear interest as provided hereunder as if it had originally been part of the outstanding principal of such Term Loan.

(c) Default Interest. To the extent permitted by law and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the principal (including the Term Loan PIK Amount) of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all Loans, fees, indemnities or any other Obligations of the Loan Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall bear interest, from the date such Event of Default occurred until the date such Event of Default is cured or waived in writing in accordance herewith, at a rate per annum equal at all times to the Post-Default Rate.

(d) Interest Payment. Interest (other than the Term Loan PIK Amount, which shall be capitalized in accordance with Section 2.04(b)) on each Loan shall be payable, monthly, in arrears, on the last Business Day of each calendar month, commencing on the last Business Day of the first full month after which such Loan is made and at maturity (whether upon demand, by acceleration or otherwise) (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest at the Post-Default Rate shall be payable on demand. Each Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to, and the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, charge the Loan Account pursuant to Section 4.01 with the amount of any interest payment due hereunder.

(e) General. All interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days, including the first day but excluding the last day, elapsed.

(f) At the election of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, each SOFR Loan shall be converted to a Reference Rate Loan.

(g) In connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR, Administrative 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, except that any Conforming Changes which result in an increase in the amount or rate of interest payable hereunder shall require the consent of the Borrowers. Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR.

 

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Section 2.05 Reduction of Commitment; Prepayment of Loans.

(a) Reduction of Commitments.

(i) Revolving Credit Commitments. The Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall terminate on the Tranche A Maturity Date. The Borrowers may reduce the Total Revolving Credit Commitment to an amount (which may be zero) not less than the sum of (A) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans then outstanding, and (B) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans not yet made as to which a Notice of Borrowing has been given by the Administrative Borrower under Section 2.02. Each such reduction shall be (1) in an amount which is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or by the full amount of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment in effect immediately prior to such reduction if such amount at that time is less than $1,000,000), (2) made by providing not less than five Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, (3) irrevocable and (4) accompanied by the payment of the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. Once reduced, the Total Revolving Credit Commitment may not be increased. Each such reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Lender proportionately in accordance with its Pro Rata Share thereof.

(ii) Term Loans.

(A) The Initial Term Loan Commitment terminated upon the funding of the Initial Term Loan on the Effective Date in accordance with Section 2.01(a)(ii).

(B) The Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment terminated upon the funding of the Third Amendment Term Loan on the Third Amendment Effective Date in accordance with Section 2.01(a)(iii).

(C) The Fifth Amendment Term Loan Commitment shall terminate upon the funding of the Fifth Amendment Term Loan on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date in accordance with Section 2.01(a)(iv).

(b) Optional Prepayment.

(i) Revolving Loans. The Borrowers may, at any time and from time to time, upon at least 3 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, prepay the principal of any Revolving Loan, in whole or in part. Each prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) in connection with a reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(i) above shall be accompanied by the payment of the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.

(ii) Term Loans. The Borrowers may, at any time and from time to time, upon at least 5 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, prepay the principal of the Term Loans, in whole or in part. Each prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii) shall be accompanied by the payment of (A) accrued interest to the date of such payment on the amount prepaid and (B) the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such prepayment of the Term Loans. Each such prepayment shall be applied first, to the Tranche A Term Loans on a pro rata basis (applied against the remaining installments of principal due on the Tranche A Term Loans in the inverse order of maturity) until the Tranche A Term Loans are repaid in full, and second, to the Fifth Amendment Term Loans (applied against the remaining installments of principal due on the Tranche A Term Loans in the inverse order of maturity).

 

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(iii) Termination of Agreement. The Borrowers may, upon at least 30 days prior written notice (or such lesser period that the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) to the Administrative Agent, terminate this Agreement by paying to the Administrative Agent, in cash, the Obligations, in full, plus the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such termination of this Agreement. If the Administrative Borrower has sent a notice of termination pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(iii), then the Lenders’ obligations to extend credit hereunder shall terminate and the Borrowers shall be obligated to repay the Obligations, in full, plus the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such termination of this Agreement on the date set forth as the date of termination of this Agreement in such notice.

(c) Mandatory Prepayment.

(i) Contemporaneously with the delivery to the Agents and the Lenders of quarterly financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iiiii), commencing with the delivery to the Agents and the Lenders of the financial statements for the Fiscal Quarter ended December 31, 2024 or, if such financial statements are not delivered to the Agents and the Lenders on the date such statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iiiii), on the date such statements are required to be delivered to the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to Section  7.01(a)(iiiii ), the Borrowers shall, (A) for each Fiscal Quarter ending during the period from and including December 31, 2024 through and including the Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2026, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to the result of (to the extent positive) (1) 75.0% of the Excess Cash Flow during such Fiscal Quarter minus (2) the aggregate principal amount of all payments made by the Borrowers in respect of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) for such Fiscal Quarter and (B) for each Fiscal Quarter ending on or after December 31, 2026, (1) if the Leverage Ratio of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter is (x) greater than or equal to 2.00:1.00, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to the result of (to the extent positive) (I) 75.0% of the Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Quarter minus (II) the aggregate principal amount of all payments made by the Borrowers in respect of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) during such Fiscal Quarter, or (y) less than 2.00:1.00, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to the result of (to the extent positive) (I) 50.0% of the Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Quarter minus (II) the aggregate principal amount of all payments made by the Borrowers in respect of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) during such Fiscal Quarter; provided that, no later than three Business Days after the delivery of the annual audited financial statements of the Parent pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iii), the Borrowers shall prepay an amount, if positive, equal to (x) the amount the Borrowers would have been required to prepay under this Section 2.05(c)(i) for such Fiscal Year if such prepayments were based on such annual audited financial statements minus (y) the aggregate amount the Borrowers have prepaid under this Section 2.05(c)(i) for each Fiscal Quarter of such Fiscal Year; provided that the Borrowers shall not have to make any prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.05(c)(i) for the fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2026 and June 30, 2026.

(ii) Immediately upon any Disposition (excluding Dispositions which qualify as Permitted Dispositions under clauses (b), (d), (e), or (f) of the definition of Permitted Disposition) by any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries, the Borrowers shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection with such Disposition to the extent that the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds received by all Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries (and not paid to the Administrative Agent as a prepayment of the Loans) shall exceed for all such Dispositions $250,000 in any Fiscal Year. Nothing contained in this Section 2.05(c)(ii) shall permit any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to make a Disposition of any property other than in accordance with Section 7.02(c)(ii). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.05(c)(ii) or elsewhere in this Agreement, the Net Cash Proceeds paid to the Administrative Agent in respect of the Permitted Disposition described in clause (g) of the definition thereof shall be accompanied by the payment of an amount equal to 2.0% times the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds.

 

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(iii) Upon the issuance or incurrence by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness), or upon any Equity Issuance (other than any Permitted Cure Equity) by the Parent, the Borrowers shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection therewith. The provisions of this Section 2.05(c)(iii) shall not be deemed to be implied consent to any such issuance, incurrence or sale otherwise prohibited by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(iv) Upon the receipt by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Extraordinary Receipts, the Borrowers shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection therewith.

(v) Immediately upon receipt by the Borrowers of the proceeds of any Permitted Cure Equity pursuant to Section 9.02, the Borrowers shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of such proceeds.

(d) Application of Payments. Each prepayment pursuant to subsections (c)(i), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (c)(iv) and (c)(v) above shall be applied first, to the Tranche A Term Loans (applied against the remaining installments of principal due on the Tranche A Term Loans in the inverse order of maturity) until the Tranche A Term Loans are repaid in full, and second, to the Revolving Loans (with a corresponding permanent reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitments), until paid in full and third, to the Fifth Amendment Term Loans on a pro rata basis (applied against the remaining installments of principal due on the Fifth Amendment Term Loans in the inverse order of maturity). Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, if the Administrative Agent has elected, or has been directed by the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders, to apply payments in respect of any Obligations in accordance with Section 4.03(b), prepayments required under Section 2.05(c) shall be applied in the manner set forth in Section 4.03(b).

(e) Interest and Fees. Any prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest on the principal amount being prepaid to the date of prepayment, (ii) any Funding Losses payable pursuant to Section 2.08, (iii) the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such prepayment of the Loans to the extent required under Section 2.06(d) and (iv) if such prepayment would reduce the amount of the outstanding Loans to zero at a time when the Total Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated, such prepayment shall be accompanied by the payment of all fees accrued to such date pursuant to Section 2.06.

(f) Cumulative Prepayments. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.05, payments with respect to any subsection of this Section 2.05 are in addition to payments made or required to be made under any other subsection of this Section 2.05.

(g) Waivable Mandatory Prepayments. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the Borrowers are required to make any mandatory prepayment (a “Waivable Mandatory Prepayment”) of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(c), not less than two Business Days prior to the date on which the Borrowers are required to make such Waivable Mandatory Prepayment (the “Required Prepayment Date”), the Administrative Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of the amount of such prepayment, and the Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter notify each Lender of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Waivable Mandatory Prepayment and such Lender’s option to refuse such amount (the “Refusal Option”). Each such Lender may exercise the Refusal Option by giving written notice to the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent of its election to do so on or before 12:00 noon (New York City time) one Business Day prior to the Required

 

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Prepayment Date (it being understood that any Lender that does not notify the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent of its election to exercise the Refusal Option on or before 12:00 noon (New York City time) one Business Day prior to the Required Prepayment Date shall be deemed to have elected, as of such date, not to exercise the Refusal Option). On the Required Prepayment Date, the Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent the amount of the Waivable Mandatory Prepayment, which amount shall be applied (i) in an amount equal to that portion of the Waivable Mandatory Prepayment payable to those Lenders that have elected not to exercise the Refusal Option, to prepay the Loans of such Lenders (which prepayment shall be applied to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Obligations in accordance with Section 2.05(d)) and (ii) to the extent of any excess, to those Lenders that have elected not to exercise the Refusal Option, on a pro rata basis (based upon the portion of the Loans held by each such Lender that elected not to exercise the Refusal Option, as compared to the aggregate amount of the Loans held by all such Lenders that did not elect to exercise the Refusal Option) to prepay the Loans of such Lenders, or, to the extent any such Lender refuses the excess amount specified in this clause (ii) (or to the extent the Loans of all such Lenders have been repaid in full), to the Borrowers for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Section 2.06 Fees.

(a) Fee Letters. On or prior to the Effective Date and thereafter from time to time until the Termination Date, (i) the Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent all amounts required pursuant to the Fee Letter and the Third Amendment Fee Letter and (ii) Hydrosource shall pay to the Administrative Agent all amounts required pursuant to the Fifth Amendment Fee Letter.

(b) Revolving Unused Line Fee. From and after the Effective Date and until the TerminationSixth Amendment Effective Date, the Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Loan Lenders, in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares, quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing June 30, 2024, an unused line fee, which shall accrue at the rate per annum of 0.5% on the excess, if any, of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment over the sum of the average principal amount of all Revolving Loans outstanding from time to time during the preceding calendar quarter.

(c) [Reserved].

(d) Applicable Premium.

(i) Upon the occurrence of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event, the Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares, the Applicable Premium.

(ii) Any Applicable Premium payable in accordance with this Section 2.06(d) shall be presumed to be equal to the liquidated damages sustained by the Lenders as the result of the occurrence of the Applicable Premium Trigger Event and the Loan Parties agree that it is reasonable under the circumstances currently existing. THE LOAN PARTIES EXPRESSLY WAIVE THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE FOREGOING APPLICABLE PREMIUM IN CONNECTION WITH ANY ACCELERATION.

 

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(iii) The Loan Parties expressly agree that: (A) the Applicable Premium is reasonable and is the product of an arm’s length transaction between sophisticated business people, ably represented by counsel; (B) the Applicable Premium shall be payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time payment is made; (C) there has been a course of conduct between the Lenders and the Loan Parties giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the Applicable Premium; (D) the Loan Parties shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this paragraph; (E) their agreement to pay the Applicable Premium is a material inducement to Lenders to provide the Commitments and make the Loans; and (F) the Applicable Premium represents a good faith, reasonable estimate and calculation of the lost profits or damages of the Agents and the Lenders and that it would be impractical and extremely difficult to ascertain the actual amount of damages to the Agents and the Lenders or profits lost by the Agents and the Lenders as a result of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event.

(iv) Nothing contained in this Section 2.06(d) shall permit any prepayment of the Loans or reduction of the Commitments not otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(e) Audit and Collateral Monitoring Fees. The Borrowers acknowledge that pursuant to Section 7.01(f), representatives of the Agents may visit any or all of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries and/or conduct inspections, audits, physical counts, valuations, appraisals, environmental site assessments and/or examinations of any or all of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries at any time and from time to time. The Borrowers agree to pay (i) $1,500 per day per examiner plus the examiner’s out-of-pocket costs and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with all such visits, inspections, audits, physical counts, valuations, appraisals, environmental site assessments and/or examinations and (ii) the cost of all visits, inspections, audits, physical counts, valuations, appraisals, environmental site assessments and/or examinations conducted by a third party on behalf of the Agents; provided that so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrowers shall not be obligated to reimburse the Agents for more than two of each of the following during any calendar year: (A) audits, (B) valuations (including valuations to determine Appraised Value), (C) appraisals or (D) environmental site assessments.

Section 2.07 SOFR Option; Suspension of SOFR Option; Benchmark Transition.

(a) The Borrowers may, at any time and from time to time, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, elect to have interest on all or a portion of the Loans be charged at a rate of interest based upon the Adjusted Term SOFR (the “SOFR Option”) by notifying the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) at least three U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) the proposed borrowing date of a Loan (as provided in Section 2.02), (ii) in the case of the conversion of a Reference Rate Loan to a SOFR Loan, the commencement of the proposed Interest Period or (iii) in the case of the continuation of a SOFR Loan as a SOFR Loan, the last day of the then current Interest Period (the “SOFR Deadline”). Notice of the Borrowers’ election of the SOFR Option for a permitted portion of the Loans and an Interest Period pursuant to this Section 2.07(a) shall be made by delivery to the Administrative Agent of (A) a Notice of Borrowing (in the case of the initial making of a Loan) in accordance with Section 2.02 or (B) a SOFR Notice prior to the SOFR Deadline. Promptly upon its receipt of each such SOFR Notice, the Administrative Agent shall provide a copy thereof to each of the Lenders. Each SOFR Notice shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrowers.

(b) Interest on SOFR Loans shall be payable in accordance with Section 2.04(d). On the last day of each applicable Interest Period, unless the Borrowers properly have exercised the SOFR Option with respect thereto, the interest rate applicable to such SOFR Loans automatically shall convert to the rate of interest then applicable to Reference Rate Loans of the same type hereunder. At any time that a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers no longer shall have the option to request that any portion of the Loans bear interest at the Adjusted Term SOFR and the Administrative Agent shall have the right to convert the interest rate on all outstanding SOFR Loans to the rate of interest then applicable to Reference Rate Loans of the same type hereunder on the last day of the then current Interest Period.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrowers (i) shall have not more than five (5) SOFR Loans in effect at any given time, and (ii) only may exercise the SOFR Option for SOFR Loans of at least $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof.

(d) The Borrowers may prepay SOFR Loans at any time; provided, however, that in the event that SOFR Loans are prepaid on any date that is not the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, including as a result of any mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(c) or any application of payments or proceeds of Collateral in accordance with Section 4.03 or 4.04 or for any other reason, including early termination of the term of this Agreement or acceleration of all or any portion of the Obligations pursuant to the terms hereof, the Borrowers shall indemnify, defend and hold the Agents and the Lenders and their participants harmless against any and all Funding Losses in accordance with Section 2.08.

(e) [Reserved].

(f) [Reserved].

(g) If Administrative Agent shall have determined in good faith that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed SOFR Loan or that the Adjusted Term SOFR rate applicable pursuant to Section 2.03 for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed SOFR Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding or maintaining such Loan, Administrative Agent will forthwith give notice of such determination to the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain SOFR Loans hereunder shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or, in the case of a Term SOFR Borrowing, the affected Interest Periods) until Administrative Agent revokes such notice in writing. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any Notice of Borrowing or notice of conversion or continuation of SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or, in the case of a Term SOFR Borrowing, the affected Interest Periods) then submitted by it. If the Borrower does not revoke such notice, the Lenders shall make, convert or continue the Loans, as proposed by the Borrower, in the amount specified in the applicable notice submitted by the Borrower, but such Loans shall be made, converted or continued as Reference Rate Loans immediately or, in the case of a Term SOFR Borrowing, at the end of the applicable Interest Period.

(h) Benchmark Replacement Setting. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document;

(i) Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace the then-current Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement. Any such amendment with respect to a Benchmark Transition Event will become effective at 4:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth (5th) U.S. Government Securities Business Day after Administrative Agent has posted such proposed amendment to all affected Lenders and the Borrower so long as Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such amendment from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. No replacement of a Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this Section 2.07(h)(i) will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date. For the avoidance of doubt, no Hedging Agreement shall be deemed to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 2.07.

 

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(ii) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, Administrative 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.

(iii) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (A) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (B) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. Administrative Agent will notify the Borrower of (x) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 2.07(h)(iv) and (y) the commencement of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.07, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.07.

(iv) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, Borrower may revoke any request for an advance of a SOFR Borrowing, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Reference Rate Loans. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period, the component of Reference Rate based upon the Adjusted Term SOFR will not be used in any determination of the Reference Rate.

(i) Illegality.

(i) If after the Effective Date, any Lender shall determine that the introduction of any Requirement of Law, or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or administration thereof, has made it unlawful, or that any central bank or other Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Lending Office to make SOFR Loans, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through Administrative Agent, the obligation of that Lender to make SOFR Loans shall be suspended until such Lender shall have notified Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exists.

(ii) Subject to clause (iii) below, if any Lender shall determine that it is unlawful to maintain any SOFR Loan, the Borrower shall prepay in full all SOFR Loans of such Lender then outstanding, together with interest accrued thereon, either on the last day of the Interest Period, as applicable, thereof if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans, together with any amounts required to be paid hereunder.

 

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(iii) If the obligation of any Lender to make or maintain SOFR Loans has become unlawful, instead of prepaying outstanding SOFR Loans in full as provided in clause (ii) above, the Borrower may elect, by giving notice to such Lender through Administrative Agent, that all Loans which would otherwise be made or continued by any such Lender as SOFR Loans shall be instead made or converted to Reference Rate Loans.

(iv) Before giving any notice to Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.07(i), the affected Lender shall designate a different Lending Office with respect to its SOFR Loans if such designation will avoid the need for giving such notice or making such demand and will not, in the judgment of the Lender, be illegal or otherwise disadvantageous to the Lender.

(j) Reserves on SOFR Loans. The Borrowers shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required under regulations of the Federal Reserve Board to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including SOFR funds or deposits, additional costs on the unpaid principal amount of each SOFR Loan equal to actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan provided the Borrower shall have received at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice (with a copy to Administrative Agent and Revolving Agent) of such additional interest from the Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant interest payment date, such additional interest shall be payable fifteen (15) days from receipt of such notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.07(j), no Borrower shall be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07(j) for any additional interest incurred, or relating to Loans made, more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrowers of the requirement to pay such additional interest (except that, if the requirements under the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board giving rise to such additional interest is retroactive, then the nine (9) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof)

Section 2.08 Funding Losses. In connection with each SOFR Loan, the Borrowers shall indemnify, defend, and hold the Agents and the Lenders harmless against any loss, cost, or expense incurred by any Agent or any Lender as a result of (a) the payment of any principal of any SOFR Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of a Default or an Event of Default or any mandatory prepayment required pursuant to Section 2.05(c)), (b) the conversion of any SOFR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of a Default or an Event of Default) or (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any SOFR Loan on the date specified in any Notice of Borrowing or SOFR Notice delivered pursuant hereto (such losses, costs, and expenses, collectively, “Funding Losses”). Funding Losses shall, with respect to any Agent or any Lender, be deemed to equal the amount reasonably determined by such Agent or such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such SOFR Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted Term SOFR that would have been applicable thereto, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period therefor), minus (ii) the amount of interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Agent or such Lender would be offered were it to be offered, at the commencement of such period, Dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period in the London interbank market. A certificate of an Agent or a Lender delivered to the Administrative Borrower setting forth any amount or amounts that such Agent or such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.08 shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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Section 2.09 Taxes.

(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any and all Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of any Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Taxes from or in respect of any such payment, (i) the applicable Withholding Agent shall make such deduction or withholding, (ii) the applicable Withholding Agent shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and (iii) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased by the amount (an “Additional Amount”) necessary such that after making all required deductions and withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.09) the applicable Recipient receives the amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

(b) In addition, each Loan Party shall pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law any Other Taxes, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of any Other Taxes by any Secured Party. Each Loan Party shall deliver to each Secured Party official receipts in respect of any Taxes or Other Taxes payable hereunder promptly after payment of such Taxes or Other Taxes.

(c) The Loan Parties hereby jointly and severally indemnify and agree to hold each Secured Party harmless from and against Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes (including, without limitation, Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes imposed on any amounts payable under this Section 2.09) paid or payable by such Secured Party or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Secured Party and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. Such indemnification shall be paid within ten days from the date on which any such Person makes written demand therefore specifying in reasonable detail the nature and amount of such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Secured Party (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of another Secured Party shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) (2) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 2.09(d)(i)(A), (i)(B) and (i)(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.

(i) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

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

 

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(B) any Lender that is not a U.S. Person (a “Foreign Lender”) shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be reasonably requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

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

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

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.09(d)-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E; or

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.09(d)-2 or Exhibit 2.09(d)-3, IRS Form W-9, 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 2.09(d)-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

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

(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including

 

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as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

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

(e) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.07(i) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

(f) If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.09 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.09), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.09 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (f) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (f), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (f) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

(g) Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.09 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

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Section 2.10 Increased Costs and Reduced Return.

(a) If any Secured Party shall have determined that any Change in Law shall (i) subject such Secured Party, or any Person controlling such Secured Party, to any tax, duty or other charge with respect to this Agreement or any Loan made by such Agent or such Lender (except for (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes), (ii) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against any Loan or against assets of or held by, or deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, such Secured Party or any Person controlling such Secured Party or (iii) impose on such Secured Party or any Person controlling such Secured Party any other condition regarding this Agreement or any Loan, and the result of any event referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above shall be to increase the cost to such Secured Party of making any Loan, or agreeing to make any Loan, or to reduce any amount received or receivable by such Secured Party hereunder, then, upon demand by such Secured Party, the Borrowers shall pay to such Secured Party such additional amounts as will compensate such Secured Party for such increased costs or reductions in amount.

(b) If any Secured Party shall have determined that any Change in Law either (i) affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Secured Party or any Person controlling such Secured Party, and such Secured Party determines that the amount of such capital is increased as a direct or indirect consequence of any Loans made or maintained, such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s other obligations hereunder, or (ii) has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s capital to a level below that which such Secured Party or such controlling Person could have achieved but for such circumstances as a consequence of any Loans made or maintained, or any agreement to make Loans, or such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s other obligations hereunder (in each case, taking into consideration, such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s policies with respect to capital adequacy), then, upon demand by such Secured Party, the Borrowers shall pay to such Secured Party from time to time such additional amounts as will compensate such Secured Party for such cost of maintaining such increased capital or such reduction in the rate of return on such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s capital.

(c) All amounts payable under this Section 2.10 shall bear interest from the date that is 10 days after the date of demand by any Secured Party until payment in full to such Secured Party at the Reference Rate. A certificate of such Secured Party claiming compensation under this Section 2.10, specifying the event herein above described and the nature of such event shall be submitted by such Secured Party to the Administrative Borrower, setting forth the additional amount due and an explanation of the calculation thereof, and such Secured Party’s reasons for invoking the provisions of this Section 2.10, and shall be final and conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Administrative 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).

(e) The obligations of the Loan Parties under this Section 2.10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

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ARTICLE III

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE IV

APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS; DEFAULTING LENDERS;

JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY OF BORROWERS

Section 4.01 Payments; Computations and Statements. The Borrowers will make each payment under this Agreement not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the day when due, in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent’s Accounts. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 12:00 noon (New York City time) on any Business Day may, in the Administrative Agent’s discretion, be credited to the Loan Account on the next succeeding Business Day. All payments shall be made by the Borrowers without set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, deduction or other defense to the Agents and the Lenders. Except as provided in Section 2.02, after receipt, the Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal ratably to the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Lenders and the Borrowers hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to, and the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, charge the Loan Account of the Borrowers with any amount due and payable by the Borrowers under any Loan Document. Each of the Lenders and the Borrowers agrees that the Administrative Agent shall have the right to make such charges whether or not any Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or whether any of the conditions precedent in Section 5.02 have been satisfied. Any amount charged to the Loan Account of the Borrowers shall be deemed a Revolving Loan hereunder made by the Revolving Loan Lenders to the Borrowers, funded by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders and subject to Section 2.02. The Lenders and the Borrowers confirm that any charges which the Administrative Agent may so make to the Loan Account of the Borrowers as herein provided will be made as an accommodation to the Borrowers and solely at the Administrative Agent’s discretion, provided that the Administrative Agent shall from time to time upon the request of the Collateral Agent, charge the Loan Account of the Borrowers with any amount due and payable under any Loan Document. Whenever any payment to be made under any such Loan Document shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or fees, as the case may be. All computations of fees shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fees hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes in the absence of manifest error.

Section 4.02 Sharing of Payments. Except as provided in Section 2.02, if any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off or otherwise) on account of any Obligation in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of similar obligations obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in such similar obligations held by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided, however, that (a) if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and each Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, and (b) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (i) any payment

 

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made by the Borrowers 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 and any payment of an amendment, consent or waiver fee to consenting Lenders pursuant to an effective amendment, consent or waiver with respect to this Agreement), or (ii) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans, other than to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply). The Borrowers agree that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all of its rights (including the Lender’s right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrowers in the amount of such participation.

Section 4.03 Apportionment of Payments. Subject to Section 2.02:

(a) All payments of principal and interest in respect of outstanding Loans, all payments of fees (other than the fees set forth in Section 2.06) and all other payments in respect of any other Obligations, shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent among such of the Lenders as are entitled thereto, in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares or otherwise as provided herein or, in respect of payments not made on account of Loans, as designated by the Person making payment when the payment is made.

(b) After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the direction of the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders shall, apply all payments in respect of any Obligations, including without limitation, all proceeds of the Collateral, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, (i) first, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees, expense reimbursements, indemnities and other amounts then due and payable to the Agents until paid in full; (ii) second, to pay interest then due and payable in respect of the Collateral Agent Advances until paid in full; (iii) third, to pay principal of the Collateral Agent Advances until paid in full; (iv) fourth, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees (other than any Applicable Premium), expense reimbursements, indemnities and other amounts then due and payable to the Lenders until paid in full; (v) fifth, ratably to pay interest then due and payable in respect of the Loans until paid in full; (vi) sixth, ratably to pay principal of the Loans (including the Term Loan PIK Amount) until paid in full; (vii) seventh, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any Applicable Premium then due and payable to the Lenders until paid in full; and (viii) eighth, to the ratable payment of all other Obligations then due and payable.

(c) For purposes of Section 4.03(b) , “paid in full” means payment in cash of all amounts owing under the Loan Documents according to the terms thereof, including loan fees, service fees, professional fees, interest (and specifically including interest accrued after the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding), default interest, interest on interest, and expense reimbursements, whether or not same would be or is allowed or disallowed in whole or in part in any Insolvency Proceeding, except to the extent that default or overdue interest (but not any other interest) and loan fees, each arising from or related to a default, are disallowed in any Insolvency Proceeding;.

(d) In the event of a direct conflict between the priority provisions of this Section 4.03 and other provisions contained in any other Loan Document, it is the intention of the parties hereto that both such priority provisions in such documents shall be read together and construed, to the fullest extent possible, to be in concert with each other. In the event of any actual, irreconcilable conflict that cannot be resolved as aforesaid, the terms and provisions of Section 4.03 shall control and govern.

 

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Section 4.04 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

(a) Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 12.02.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to transfer to such Defaulting Lender any payments made by any Borrower to the Administrative Agent for such Defaulting Lender’s benefit, and, in the absence of such transfer to such Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent shall transfer any such payments to each other non-Defaulting Lender ratably in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares (without giving effect to the Pro Rata Shares of such Defaulting Lender) (but only to the extent that such Defaulting Lender’s Loans were funded by the other Lenders) or, if so directed by the Administrative Borrower and if no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and to the extent such Defaulting Lender’s Loans were not funded by the other Lenders), retain the same to be re-advanced to the Borrowers as if such Defaulting Lender had made such Loans to the Borrowers. Subject to the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may hold and, in its discretion, re-lend to the Borrowers for the account of such Defaulting Lender the amount of all such payments received and retained by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender.

(c) Any such failure to fund by any Defaulting Lender shall constitute a material breach by such Defaulting Lender of this Agreement and shall entitle the Borrowers to replace the Defaulting Lender with one or more substitute Lenders, and the Defaulting Lender shall have no right to refuse to be replaced hereunder. Such notice to replace the Defaulting Lender shall specify an effective date for such replacement, which date shall not be later than 15 Business Days after the date such notice is given. Prior to the effective date of such replacement, the Defaulting Lender shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Acceptance, subject only to the Defaulting Lender being repaid its share of the outstanding Obligations without any premium or penalty of any kind whatsoever. If the Defaulting Lender shall refuse or fail to execute and deliver any such Assignment and Acceptance prior to the effective date of such replacement, the Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Acceptance. The replacement of any Defaulting Lender shall be made in accordance with the terms of Section 12.07.

(d) The operation of this Section shall not be construed to increase or otherwise affect the Commitments of any Lender, to relieve or excuse the performance by such Defaulting Lender or any other Lender of its duties and obligations hereunder, or to relieve or excuse the performance by any Borrower of its duties and obligations hereunder to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders other than such Defaulting Lender.

(e) This Section shall remain effective with respect to such Lender until either (i) the Obligations under this Agreement shall have been declared or shall have become immediately due and payable or (ii) the non-Defaulting Lenders, the Agents, and the Borrowers shall have waived such Defaulting Lender’s default in writing, and the Defaulting Lender makes its Pro Rata Share of the applicable defaulted Loans and pays to the Agents all amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender in respect thereof; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; 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 such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

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Section 4.05 Administrative Borrower; Joint and Several Liability of the Borrowers.

(a) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints HydrosourceDesert Ram Holdings, LLC as the borrowing agent and attorney-in-fact for the Borrowers (the “Administrative Borrower”) which appointment shall remain in full force and effect unless and until the Agents shall have received prior written notice signed by all of the Borrowers that such appointment has been revoked and that another Borrower has been appointed Administrative Borrower. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Borrower (i) to provide to the Agents and receive from the Agents all notices with respect to Loans obtained for the benefit of any Borrower and all other notices and instructions under this Agreement and (ii) to take such action as the Administrative Borrower deems appropriate on its behalf to obtain Loans and to exercise such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto to carry out the purposes of this Agreement. It is understood that the handling of the Loan Account and Collateral of the Borrowers in a combined fashion, as more fully set forth herein, is done solely as an accommodation to the Borrowers in order to utilize the collective borrowing powers of the Borrowers in the most efficient and economical manner and at their request, and that neither the Agents nor the Lenders shall incur liability to the Borrowers as a result hereof. Each Borrower expects to derive benefit, directly or indirectly, from the handling of the Loan Account and the Collateral in a combined fashion since the successful operation of each Borrower is dependent on the continued successful performance of the integrated group.

(b) Each Borrower hereby accepts joint and several liability hereunder and under the other Loan Documents in consideration of the financial accommodations to be provided by the Agents and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, for the mutual benefit, directly and indirectly, of each of the Borrowers and in consideration of the undertakings of the other Borrowers to accept joint and several liability for the Obligations. Each of the Borrowers, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety, but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with the other Borrowers, with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Obligations (including, without limitation, any Obligations arising under this Section 4.05), it being the intention of the parties hereto that all of the Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of each of the Borrowers without preferences or distinction among them. If and to the extent that any of the Borrowers shall fail to make any payment with respect to any of the Obligations as and when due or to perform any of the Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof, then in each such event, the other Borrowers will make such payment with respect to, or perform, such Obligation. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Obligations of each of the Borrowers under the provisions of this Section 4.05 constitute the absolute and unconditional, full recourse Obligations of each of the Borrowers, enforceable against each such Person to the full extent of its properties and assets, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other circumstances whatsoever.

(c) The provisions of this Section 4.05 are made for the benefit of the Agents, the Lenders and their successors and assigns, and may be enforced by them from time to time against any or all of the Borrowers as often as occasion therefor may arise and without requirement on the part of the Agents, the Lenders or such successors or assigns first to marshal any of its or their claims or to exercise any of its or their rights against any of the other Borrowers or to exhaust any remedies available to it or them against any of the other Borrowers or to resort to any other source or means of obtaining payment of any of the Obligations hereunder or to elect any other remedy. The provisions of this Section 4.05 shall remain in effect until all of the Obligations shall have been paid in full or otherwise fully satisfied.

(d) Each of the Borrowers hereby agrees that it will not enforce any of its rights of contribution or subrogation against the other Borrowers with respect to any liability incurred by it hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents, any payments made by it to the Agents or the Lenders with respect to any of the Obligations or any Collateral, until such time as all of the Obligations have been paid in full in cash. Any claim which any Borrower may have against any other Borrower with respect to any payments to the Agents or the Lenders hereunder or under any other Loan Documents are hereby expressly made subordinate and junior in right of payment, without limitation as to any increases in the Obligations arising hereunder or thereunder, to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations.

 

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ARTICLE V

CONDITIONS TO LOANS

Section 5.01 Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective as of the Business Day (the “Effective Date”) when each of the following conditions precedent shall have been satisfied in a manner satisfactory to the Agents:

(a) Payment of Fees, Etc. The Borrowers shall have paid on or before the Effective Date all fees, costs, expenses and taxes then payable pursuant to Section 2.06 and Section 12.04.

(b) Representations and Warranties; No Event of Default. The following statements shall be true and correct: (i) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and in each other Loan Document, certificate or other writing delivered to any Secured Party pursuant hereto or thereto on or prior to the Effective Date are true and correct on and as of the Effective Date as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date (in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date) and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the Effective Date or would result from this Agreement or the other Loan Documents becoming effective in accordance with its or their respective terms.

(c) Legality. The making of the initial Loans and the transactions contemplated hereunder (including the Effective Date Acquisition) shall not contravene any law, rule or regulation applicable to any Secured Party nor shall any law, rule or regulation applicable in the reasonable judgment of the Agent restrain, prevent or impose materially adverse conditions upon the initial Loans and the transactions contemplated hereunder.

(d) Delivery of Documents. The Collateral Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and, unless indicated otherwise, dated the Effective Date and, if applicable, duly executed by the Persons party thereto:

(i) (A) a Security Agreement and (B) the Hy Flow Pledge Agreement, in each case, together with (x) the original stock certificates (if any) representing all of the Equity Interests and all promissory notes required to be pledged thereunder, accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank and other proper instruments of transfer and (y) in the case of the Hy Flow Pledge Agreement, all consents, if any, required under the Organizational Documents of Hy Flow in order to effectuate the terms of and security interests granted pursuant to the Hy Flow Pledge Agreement;

(ii) evidence satisfactory to the Collateral Agent of the filing of appropriate financing statements on Form UCC-1 in such office or offices as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests purported to be created by the Security Agreement, the Hy Flow Pledge Agreement, and each Mortgage;

(iii) the results of searches for any effective UCC financing statements, tax Liens or judgment Liens filed against any Loan Party or its property or against any Hy Flow Pledgor or its property, which results shall not show any such Liens (other than Permitted Liens acceptable to the Collateral Agent or Liens being released on the Effective Date);[reserved];

(iv) a Perfection Certificate;

 

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(v) the Fee Letter;

(vi) [reserved];

(vii) with respect to each Mortgaged Property as of the Effective Date, each of the Mortgaged Property Deliverables;

(viii) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of each Loan Party, each Hy Flow Pledgor and Hy Flow certifying (A) as to copies of the Governing Documents of such Loan Party (which, (x) in the case of each Borrower on the Effective Date, shall be amended, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to permit the pledge of its limited liability company membership interests thereunder and (y) in the case of the Parent, shall be amended and restated in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), together with all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, a true and complete copy of the charter, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or other publicly filed organizational document of each Loan Party certified as of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the Effective Date by an appropriate official of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party which shall set forth the same complete name of such Loan Party as is set forth herein and the organizational number of such Loan Party, if an organizational number is issued in such jurisdiction), (B) as to a copy of the resolutions or written consents of such Loan Party authorizing (1) the borrowings hereunder and the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is or will be a party, and (2) the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Loan Party is or will be a party and the execution and delivery of the other documents to be delivered by such Person in connection herewith and therewith, (C) the names and true signatures of the representatives of such Loan Party authorized to sign each Loan Document (in the case of a Borrower, including, without limitation, Notices of Borrowing, SOFR Notices and all other notices under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) to which such Loan Party is or will be a party and the other documents to be executed and delivered by such Loan Party in connection herewith and therewith, together with evidence of the incumbency of such authorized officers and (D) as to the matters set forth in Section 5.01(b);

(ix) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Parent attaching a copy of the Projections described in Section 6.01(g)(ii) and certifying as to the compliance with the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6.01(aa)(ii);

(x) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of each Loan Party, certifying as to the solvency of such Loan Party (after giving effect to the Loans made on the Effective Date);

(xi) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Administrative Borrower certifying that (A) (1) the attached copies of the Effective Date Acquisition Documents satisfactory to the Agents, and (2) the attached copies of the NGL Water Supply Agreement and (3) all other Material Contracts as in effect on the Effective Date, which have been provided to the Administrative Agent, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (1) throughand (42), are true, complete and correct and (B) such agreements remain in full force and effect and that none of the Loan Parties has breached or defaulted in any of its obligations under such agreements;

(xii) a certificate of the appropriate official(s) of the jurisdiction of organization of each Loan Party certifying as of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the Effective Date as to the subsistence in good standing of, and the payment of taxes by, such Loan Party in such jurisdictions, together with written confirmation (where available) on the Effective Date from such official(s) as to such matters;

 

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(xiii) opinions of (a) Kemp Smith, LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties and the Hy Flow Pledgors, and (b) Porter Hedges LLP, special New York counsel to the Loan Parties and the Hy Flow Pledgors, in each case, as to such matters as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request;

(xiv) evidence of the insurance coverage required by Section 7.01 and the terms of each Security Agreement and each Mortgage and such other insurance coverage with respect to the business and operations of the Loan Parties as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in each case, where requested by the Collateral Agent, with such endorsements as to the additional insureds or lender’s loss payees thereunder as the Collateral Agent may request and providing that such policy may be terminated or canceled (by the insurer or the insured thereunder) only upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Collateral Agent and each such additional insured or lender’s loss payee, together with evidence of the payment of all premiums due in respect thereof for such period as the Collateral Agent may request;

(xv) (a) evidence satisfactory to it that all Liens on the Effective Date Acquisition Properties (other than Permitted Liens) have been released or terminated, subject only to the filing of applicable terminations, releases or assignments and (b) duly executed recordable releases and terminations with respect thereto, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; and

(xvi) such other agreements, instruments, approvals, opinions and other documents, each satisfactory to the Agents in form and substance, as any Agent may reasonably request.

(e) Material Adverse Effect. The Collateral Agent shall have determined, in its sole judgment, that no event or development shall have occurred which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Warrants. The Lenders (or their designees) shall have been issued penny warrants representing the right to purchase 50.1% of the outstanding common Equity Interests (on a fully diluted as-converted basis) of the Parent (subject to step-downs in the quantum of such right to purchase common Equity Interests, subject to the conditions set forth therein), in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders.

(g) Consummation of Acquisition. Concurrently with the making of the initial Loans, (i) the Borrowers shall have purchased, pursuant to the Effective Date Acquisition Documents (no provision of which shall have been amended or otherwise modified or waived without the prior written consent of the Agents), all of the Equity Interests in the Effective Date Acquired Companies, (ii) the proceeds of the initial Loans shall have been applied in full to pay the cash consideration payable pursuant to the Effective Date Acquisition Documents and the closing and other costs relating thereto, and (iii) the Borrowers shall have fully performed all of the obligations to be performed by them under the Effective Date Acquisition Documents.

(h) Approvals. All consents, authorizations and approvals of, and filings and registrations with, and all other actions in respect of, any Governmental Authority or other Person required in connection with the making of the Loans, or the conduct of the Loan Parties’ business, or the consummation of any of the underlying transactions, shall have been obtained and shall be in full force and effect.

(i) Litigation. There shall exist no claim, action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, shareholder or derivative litigation) pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority which relates to the Loans or which, in the opinion of the Collateral Agent, is reasonably likely to be adversely determined, and that, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(j) Proceedings; Receipt of Documents. All proceedings in connection with the making of the initial Loans and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and all documents incidental hereto and thereto, shall be satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and its counsel, and the Collateral Agent and such counsel shall have received all such information and such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as the Collateral Agent or such counsel may reasonably request.

(k) Management Reference Checks. The Collateral Agent shall have received satisfactory reference checks for, and shall have had an opportunity to meet with, key management of each Loan Party.

(l) Due Diligence. The Agents shall have completed their business, industry, financial, legal, tax, insurance, environmental and collateral due diligence with respect to each Loan Party and the results thereof shall be acceptable to the Agents, in their sole and absolute discretion.

(m) Notice of Borrowing. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.02.

(n) Know Your Customer Compliance. The Agents and the Lenders shall have each received (to the extent requested prior to the Effective Date) a W-9 and all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities with respect to the Loan Parties under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents and the Lenders.

Section 5.02 Conditions Precedent to All Loans. The obligation of any Agent or any Lender to make any Loan after the Effective Date is subject to the fulfillment, in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of each of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Representations and Warranties; No Event of Default. The following statements shall be true and correct, and the submission by the Administrative Borrower to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Borrowing with respect to each such Loan, and the Borrowers’ acceptance of the proceeds of such Loan, shall each be deemed to be a representation and warranty by each Loan Party on the date of such Loan that: (i) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and in each other Loan Document, certificate or other writing delivered to any Secured Party pursuant hereto or thereto on or prior to the date of such Loan are true and correct on and as of such date as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date (in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date), (ii) at the time of and after giving effect to the making of such Loan and the application of the proceeds thereof, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the making of the Loan to be made, on such date and (iii) the conditions set forth in this Section 5.02 have been satisfied as of the date of such request.

(b) Legality. The making of such Loan shall not contravene any law, rule or regulation applicable to any Secured Party.

(c) Notices. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.02.

 

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Section 5.03 Conditions Subsequent to Effectiveness. As an accommodation to the Loan Parties, the Agents and the Lenders have agreed to execute this Agreement and to make the Loans on the Effective Date notwithstanding the failure by the Loan Parties to satisfy the conditions set forth below on or before the Effective Date. In consideration of such accommodation, the Loan Parties agree that, in addition to all other terms, conditions and provisions set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, those conditions set forth in Section 5.01, the Loan Parties shall satisfy each of the conditions subsequent set forth below on or before the date applicable thereto (it being understood that (i) the failure by the Loan Parties to perform or cause to be performed any such condition subsequent on or before the date applicable thereto shall constitute an Event of Default and (ii) to the extent that the existence of any such condition subsequent would otherwise cause any representation, warranty or covenant in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to be breached, the Required Lenders hereby waive such breach for the period from the Effective Date until the date on which such condition subsequent is required to be fulfilled pursuant to this Section 5.03):

(a) Within 45 days after the Effective Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) (such date, the “Post-Closing Control Agreement Delivery Date”), the Loan Parties shall deliver all Control Agreements that, in the reasonable judgment of the Agents, are required for the Loan Parties to comply with the Loan Documents as of the Effective Date, each duly executed by, in addition to the applicable Loan Party, the applicable financial institution.

(b) Within 60 days of the Effective Date (or such later date as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the Administrative Agent shall have received appropriate endorsements (including loss payable endorsements), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, naming Collateral Agent as an additional insured and Collateral Agent as mortgagee and/or lender loss payee (as applicable) as its interests may appear with respect to all insurance policies referred to Section 7.01(h).

(c) Within five (5) Business Days of the Administrative Borrower being advised by the Administrative Agent that a certified lien search is then available from the Secretary of State of the State of New Mexico, the Administrative Borrower shall deliver for each Loan Party or Hy Flow Pledgor, in each case, formed or organized in the State of New Mexico the results of searches for any effective UCC financing statements, tax Liens or judgment Liens filed against such Loan Party or its Property, which results shall not show any such Liens (other than Liens securing the Obligations).

(d) [Reserved].

(e) Within seven (7) days of the Effective Date (or such later date as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that the Loan Parties are carrying property insurance pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.01(h), and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of property insurance satisfying the requirements of Section 7.01(h).

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 6.01 Representations and Warranties. Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants to the Secured Parties as follows:

(a) Organization, Good Standing, Etc. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries (i) is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state or jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has all requisite power and authority to conduct its business as now conducted and as presently contemplated and, in the case of the Borrowers, to make the borrowings hereunder, and to execute and deliver each Loan

 

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Document to which it is a party, and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, and (iii) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary, except (solely for the purposes of this subclause (iii)) where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Authorization, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries of each Loan Document to which it is or will be a party, (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary action, (ii) do not and will not contravene (A) any of its Governing Documents, (B) any applicable material Requirement of Law or (C) any material Contractual Obligation binding on or otherwise affecting it or any of its properties, (iii) do not and will not result in or require the creation of any Lien (other than pursuant to any Loan Document) upon or with respect to any of its properties, and (iv) do not and will not result in any default, noncompliance, suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal of any permit, license, authorization or approval applicable to its operations or any of its properties, except, in the case of clause (iv), to the extent where such contravention, default, noncompliance, suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Governmental Approvals. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the due execution, delivery and performance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Loan Document to which it is or will be a party other than filings and recordings with respect to Collateral to be made, or otherwise delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing or recordation, on the FifthSixth Amendment Effective Date.

(d) Enforceability of Loan Documents. This Agreement is, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is or will be a party, when delivered hereunder, will be, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person, enforceable against such Person in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

(e) Capitalization. On the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, the authorized Equity Interests of the Parent and each of itsLoan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries and the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent and each of itsLoan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries are as set forth on Schedule 6.01(e) hereto. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Equity Interests of the Parent and each of itsLoan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders thereof are not entitled to any preemptive, first refusal or other similar rights. All Equity Interests of such Subsidiaries of the ParentLoan Parties are owned by the Parentapplicable Loan Party free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Specified Liens). Except as described on Schedule 6.01(e) hereto, there are no outstanding debt or equity securities of the ParentLoan Parties or any of itstheir Subsidiaries and no outstanding obligations of the ParentLoan Parties or any of itstheir Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for, or warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from the ParentLoan Parties or any of itstheir Subsidiaries, or other obligations of the ParentLoan Parties or any of itstheir Subsidiaries to issue, directly or indirectly, any shares of Equity Interests of the ParentLoan Parties or any of itstheir Subsidiaries.

(f) Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.01(f) hereto, there is no pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened action, suit or proceeding affecting any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties before any court or other Governmental Authority or any arbitrator that (i) if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) relates to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

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(g) Financial Statements.

(i) [Reserved].

(ii) The Parent has heretofore furnished to each Agent and each Lender (A) projected monthly income statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the period from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, and (B) projected annual income statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Years ending in 2024 through 2029, which projected financial statements shall be updated from time to time pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(vi).

(h) Compliance with Law, Etc. No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of (i) any of its Governing Documents, (ii) any material Requirement of Law, or (iii) any material term of any material Contractual Obligation (including, without limitation, any Material Contract) binding on or otherwise affecting it or any of its properties, and no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing thereunder.

(i) ERISA. No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates maintains, sponsors, contributes to, or has ever had any obligation (including any contingent obligation) to maintain, sponsor, or contribute to, or otherwise would reasonably be expected to have any liability under or with respect to, any Employee Plan.

(j) Taxes, Etc. (i) All Tax returns and other reports required by applicable Requirements of Law to be filed by any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries have been timely filed and (ii) all Taxes imposed upon any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries or any property of any Loan Party or Subsidiary which have become due and payable on or prior to the date hereof have been paid, except Taxes contested in good faith by proper proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in the financial statements of Parent in accordance with GAAP.

(k) Regulations T, U and X. No Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party is or will be engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X), and no proceeds of any Loan will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for any purpose that violates, or is inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U and X.

(l) Nature of Business.

(i) No Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party is engaged in any business other than as set forth on Schedule 6.01(l) hereto.

(ii) The Parent does not have any material liabilities (other than liabilities arising under the Loan Documents), own any material assets (other than the Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries) or engage in any operations or business (other than the ownership of its Subsidiaries).

(iii) Except as set forth on the Schedule 6.01(l) hereto, no Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party has any material liabilities (other than liabilities arising under the Loan Documents), owns any material assets (other than the Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries), or engages in any operations or business (other than the ownership of its Subsidiaries).

 

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(iv) No AWR Excluded Subsidiary is engaged in any business other than the business of cattle ranching as presently conducted on the Third Amendment Effective Date and businesses reasonably incidental thereto.

(m) Adverse Agreements, Etc. No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Contractual Obligation or subject to any restriction or limitation in any Governing Document or any judgment, order, regulation, ruling or other requirement of a court or other Governmental Authority, which (either individually or in the aggregate) has, or in the future could reasonably be expected (either individually or in the aggregate) to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

(n) Permits, Etc. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has, and is in material compliance with, all permits, licenses, authorizations, approvals, entitlements and accreditations, including permits required under Environmental Law, required for such Person lawfully to own, lease, manage or operate, or to acquire its Property (including the Effective Date Assets, the AWR Acquired Assets, the Intrepid Acquired Assets and the Midstream Properties), and each business currently owned, leased, managed or operated, or to be acquired, by such Person. No condition exists or event has occurred which, in itself or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would result in the suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or non-renewal of any such permit, license, authorization, approval, entitlement or accreditation, including any such permit required by Environmental Law, and there is no claim that any of the foregoing is not in full force and effect. Without limiting the generality of any other provision this Agreement, no certificate, license, permit, consent, authorization or order (to the extent not otherwise obtained) is required by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries from any Governmental Authority to construct, own, operate and maintain the Midstream Properties, or to transport and/or distribute water and oil and gas waste, under existing contracts and agreements as the Midstream Properties are presently owned, operated and maintained

(o) Properties.

(i) Personal Property. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in, or valid licenses to use, all personal Property material to its business.

(ii) Owned Real Property. Schedule 6.01(o)(i) sets forth the address and description of each Owned Real Property. With respect to each Owned Real Property: (A) a Loan Party has good and marketable indefeasible fee simple title to such Owned Real Property, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, except Permitted Liens; (B) except as set forth in Schedule 6.01(o)(i), no Loan Party has leased or otherwise granted to any Person the right to use or occupy such Owned Real Property or any portion thereon; (C) there are no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal to purchase such Owned Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein; and (D) no Loan Party is a party to any agreement or option to purchase any real property or interest therein relating to, or intended to be used in the operation of its business.

(iii) Leased Real Property. Schedule 6.01(o)(ii) sets forth the address of each Leased Real Property, and a true and complete list of all Leases (including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties and other agreements with respect thereto) for each such Leased Real Property (including the date and name of the parties to such Lease document). The Loan Parties have delivered to Collateral Agent a true and complete copy of each such Lease document. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.01(o)(ii), with respect to each of the Leases: (i) such Lease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect; (ii) the Loan Parties and/or their Subsidiaries’ use, possession and quiet

 

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enjoyment of the Leased Real Property under such Lease has not been disturbed and there are no disputes with respect to such Lease; (iii) neither the applicable Loan Party or Subsidiary nor any other party to the Lease is in breach or default under such Lease, and no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit the termination, modification or acceleration of rent under such Lease; (iv) except as set forth on Schedule 6.01(o)(ii) no Loan Party nor any Subsidiary has subleased, licensed or otherwise granted any Person the right to use or occupy such Leased Real Property or any portion thereof; (v) No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary has collaterally assigned or granted any other security interest in such Lease or any interest therein.

(iv) Access. Each parcel of Real Property has direct access to a public street or road adjoining the Real Property, and such access is not dependent on any land or other real property interest which is not included in the Real Property.

(p) Employee and Labor Matters. (i) No Loan Party or any Subsidiary is party to any collective bargaining agreement, nor has any labor union been recognized as the representative of the employees of any Loan Party of Subsidiary; (ii) there is no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary before any Governmental Authority; (iii) there is no strike, work stoppage, slowdown, lockout, or other labor dispute pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened in writing against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary; and (iv) to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, no labor organization or group of employees has made a pending demand for recognition or certification and there are no representation or certification proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding presently pending or threatened to be brought or filed with the National Labor Relations Board or any similar labor relations tribunal. All payments due from any Loan Party or Subsidiary on account of wages have been made in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and similar applicable Requirements of Law.

(q) Environmental Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.01(q) hereto, (i) no Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any applicable Environmental Law, (ii) each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has, and is in compliance with, all permits required pursuant to Environmental Law and for its respective operations and businesses (including with respect to the Effective Date Assets, and the AWR Acquired Assets and the Intrepid Acquired Assets), except to the extent any failure to have or be in compliance therewith could not reasonably be expected to result in any adverse consequence to any Loan Party (other than immaterial consequences) or any Secured Party; (iii) there has been no Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials on, in, at under or from any Properties currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party, its Subsidiaries or a respective predecessor in interest (including the Effective Date Assets, and the AWR Acquired Assets and the Intrepid Acquired Assets) or with respect to any current Properties or business or with respect to any disposal or treatment facility which received Hazardous Materials generated by any Loan Party, its Subsidiaries or any respective predecessor in interest, which in any case of the foregoing could reasonably be expected to result in any adverse consequence to any Loan Party (other than immaterial consequences) or any Secured Party; (iv) there are no pending or threatened Environmental Claims against, or Environmental Liability of, any Loan Party, its Subsidiaries or any respective predecessor in interest that could reasonably be expected to result in any adverse consequence to any Loan Party (other than immaterial consequences) or any Secured Party; (v) neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is performing or responsible for any Remedial Action that could reasonably be expected to result in any adverse consequence to any Loan Party (other than immaterial consequences) or any Secured Party; and (vi) the Loan Parties have made available to the Collateral Agent and Lenders true and complete copies of all material environmental reports, audits and investigations in the possession or control of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Properties, operations and businesses of the Loan Parties and its Subsidiaries (including the Effective Date Assets, and the AWR Acquired Assets and the Intrepid Acquired Assets).

 

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(r) Insurance. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries maintains all insurance required by Section 7.01(h). Schedule 6.01(r) sets forth a list of all such insurance maintained by or for the benefit of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.

(s) Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used (i) in the case of the Initial Term Loans, (A) to pay the cash consideration payable pursuant to the Effective Date Acquisition Documents and (B) to pay fees and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) in the case of the Third Amendment Term Loans, (A) to pay the cash consideration payable pursuant to the AWR Acquisition Documents, (B) to pay fees and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (C) for general corporate purposes, and (iii) in the case of the Fifth Amendment Term Loans, (A) to pay the cash consideration payable by Hydrosource pursuant to the Intrepid Acquisition Documents and (B) to pay fees and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (iv) in the case of Revolving Loans, for general corporate purposes.

(t) Solvency. After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and before and after giving effect to each Loan, each Loan Party and Subsidiary of a Loan Party is, and the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are, Solvent. No transfer of property is being made by any Loan Party or Subsidiary and no obligation is being incurred by any Loan Party or Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of such Loan Party or Subsidiary.

(u) Intellectual Property. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.01(u) hereto, each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries owns or licenses or otherwise has the right to use all Intellectual Property rights that are necessary for the operation of its business, without infringement upon or conflict with the rights of any other Person with respect thereto, except for such infringements and conflicts which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Set forth on Schedule 6.01(u) hereto is a complete and accurate list as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date of (i) each item of Registered Intellectual Property owned by each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, (ii) each material work of authorship owned by each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, and which is not Registered Intellectual Property and (iii) each material Intellectual Property Contract to which each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries is bound. No trademark or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries infringes upon or conflicts with any rights owned by any other Person, and no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or threatened, except for such infringements and conflicts which could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of each Loan Party, no patent, invention, device, application, principle or any statute, law, rule, regulation, standard or code pertaining to Intellectual Property is pending or proposed, which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Material Contracts. Set forth on Schedule 6.01(v) hereto is a complete and accurate list as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date of all Material Contracts of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, showing the parties and subject matter thereof and amendments and modifications thereto. Each such Material Contract (i) is in full force and effect and is binding upon and enforceable against each Loan Party and Subsidiaryeach of its Subsidiaries that is a party thereto and, to the best

 

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knowledge of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, all other parties thereto in accordance with its terms, (ii) has not been otherwise amended or modified, and (iii) is not in default due to the action of any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of a Loan Party or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, any other party thereto.

(w) Investment Company Act. None of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries is (i) an “investment company”, “affiliated person”, “promoter” of, or “principal underwriter” of or for, an “investment company”, as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (ii) subject to regulation under any Requirement of Law that limits in any respect its ability to incur Indebtedness or which may otherwise render all or a portion of the Obligations unenforceable.

(x) Consummation of Acquisitions[Reserved].

(i) The Parent has delivered to the Agents complete and correct copies of the Effective Date Acquisition Documents, including all schedules and exhibits thereto. The Effective Date Acquisition Documents set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties thereto relating to the subject matter thereof, and there are no other agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, relating to the matters covered thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of the Effective Date Acquisition Documents has been duly authorized by all necessary action (including, without limitation, the obtaining of any consent of stockholders or other holders of Equity Interests required by law or by any applicable corporate or other organizational documents) on the part of each such Person. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to filing with or license from, any Governmental Authority is required for such sale other than such as have been obtained on or prior to the Effective Date. Each Effective Date Acquisition Document is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the parties thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms. All conditions precedent to the Effective Date Acquisition Document have been fulfilled or (with the prior written consent of the Agents) waived, no Effective Date Acquisition Document has been amended or otherwise modified, and there has been no breach of any material term or condition of any Effective Date Acquisition Document.

(ii) The Parent has delivered to the Agents complete and correct copies of the AWR Acquisition Documents, including all schedules and exhibits thereto. The AWR Acquisition Documents set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties thereto relating to the subject matter thereof, and there are no other agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, relating to the matters covered thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of the AWR Acquisition Documents has been duly authorized by all necessary action (including, without limitation, the obtaining of any consent of stockholders or other holders of Equity Interests required by law or by any applicable corporate or other organizational documents) on the part of each such Person. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to filing with or license from, any Governmental Authority is required for such sale other than such as have been obtained on or prior to the Third Amendment Effective Date. Each AWR Acquisition Document is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the parties thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms. All conditions precedent to the AWR Acquisition Document have been fulfilled or (with the prior written consent of the Agents) waived, no AWR Acquisition Document has been amended or otherwise modified, and there has been no breach of any material term or condition of any AWR Acquisition Document.

 

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(iii) Hydrosource has delivered to the Agents complete and correct copies of the Intrepid Acquisition Documents, including all schedules and exhibits thereto. The Intrepid Acquisition Documents set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties thereto relating to the subject matter thereof, and there are no other agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, relating to the matters covered thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of the Intrepid Acquisition Documents has been duly authorized by all necessary action (including, without limitation, the obtaining of any consent of stockholders or other holders of Equity Interests required by law or by any applicable corporate or other organizational documents) on the part of each such Person. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to filing with or license from, any Governmental Authority is required for such sale other than such as have been obtained on or prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date. Each Intrepid Acquisition Document is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the parties thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms. All conditions precedent to the Intrepid Acquisition Documents have been fulfilled or (with the prior written consent of the Agents) waived, no Intrepid Acquisition Document has been amended or otherwise modified, and there has been no breach of any material term or condition of any Intrepid Acquisition Document.

(y) Sanctions; Anti-Corruption and Anti-Money Laundering Laws. None of any Loan Party, any Subsidiary thereof, any of their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders or owners, nor, (i) is a Sanctioned Person or currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) has assets located in a Sanctioned Country, (iii) conducts any business with or for the benefit of any Sanctioned Person, (iv) directly or indirectly derives revenues from investments in, or transactions with, Sanctioned Persons, (v) is a “Foreign Shell Bank” within the meaning of the USA Patriot Act, i.e., a foreign bank that does not have a physical presence in any country and that is not affiliated with a bank that has a physical presence and an acceptable level of regulation and supervision, or (vi) is a Person that resides in or is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction designated by the United States Secretary of the Treasury under Section 311 or 312 of the USA Patriot Act as warranting special measures due to money laundering concerns. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates with all Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Law. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Anti-Corruption Laws. Each Loan Party and each Affiliate, officer, employee or director acting on behalf of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is (and is taking no action that would result in any such Person not being) in compliance with (A) all applicable OFAC rules and regulations, (B) all applicable United States of America, United Kingdom, United Nations, European Union, German, Canadian, Australian and all other internationally respected national autonomous sanctions, embargos and trade restrictions and (C) all applicable provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. In addition, no Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is engaged in any kind of activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that is subject to any sanctions administered by OFAC, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Germany, Canada, Australia or the United Nations.

(z) Anti-Bribery and Corruption.

(i) Neither any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof nor, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, any director, officer, employee or any other Person acting on behalf of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary, has offered, promised, paid, given or authorized the payment or giving of any money or other thing of value, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of any Person, including, without limitation, any employee, official or other Person acting on behalf of any Governmental Authority, or otherwise engaged in any activity that may violate any Anti-Corruption Law.

(ii) Neither any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof nor, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, any director, officer, employee or any other Person acting on behalf of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary thereof, has engaged in any activity that would breach any Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

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(iii) To the best of each Loan Party’s knowledge and belief, there is no pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation before any court or other Governmental Authority against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or other Person acting on its behalf that relates to a potential violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Sanctions.

(iv) The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries will not directly or indirectly use, lend or contribute the proceeds of the Loans for any purpose that would breach the Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws.

(aa) Full Disclosure.

(i) Each Loan Party has disclosed to the Agents all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Agents (other than forward-looking information and projections and information of a general economic nature and general information about Borrowers’ industry) in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (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 it was made, not misleading.

(ii) Projections have been prepared on a reasonable basis and in good faith based on assumptions, estimates, methods and tests that are believed by the Loan Parties to be reasonable at the time such Projections were prepared and information believed by the Loan Parties to have been accurate based upon the information available to the Loan Parties at the time such Projections were furnished to the Lenders, and Parent is not be aware of any facts or information that would lead it to believe that such Projections are incorrect or misleading in any material respect; it being understood that (A) Projections are by their nature subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Loan Parties’ control, (B) actual results may differ materially from the Projections and such variations may be material and (C) the Projections are not a guarantee of performance.

(bb) SUA Side Letters and Similar Agreements. Schedule 6.01(bb) sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all Contractual Obligations (including side letter agreements) of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which such Loan Party or Subsidiary has agreed to pay to any Person (including any counterparty to a Merchant Ranch Agreement) a share of the proceeds of a Disposition of all or any portion of a Loan Party’s or Subsidiary’s Property or Equity Interests (any such Contractual Obligation, a “Sale Proceeds Sharing Agreement”). Except as set forth on Schedule 6.01(bb), no Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is party to any Sale Proceeds Sharing Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

COVENANTS OF THE LOAN PARTIES AND OTHER COLLATERAL MATTERS

Section 7.01 Affirmative Covenants. So long as any principal of or interest on any Loan or any other Obligation (whether or not due) shall remain unpaid (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

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(a) Reporting Requirements. Furnish to each Agent and each Lender:

(i) as soon as available, and in any event within 30 days after the end of each fiscal month of the Parent and its Subsidiaries (and for the first three fiscal months after the Effective Date, 45 days after the end of each such fiscal month) commencing with the first fiscal month of the Parent and its Subsidiaries ending after the Effective Date, (A) internally prepared consolidated and consolidating balance sheets, statements of operations and retained earnings and statements of cash flows as at the end of such fiscal month, for the period commencing at the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and ending with the end of such fiscal month, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding date or period set forth in (1) the financial statements for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and (2) the Projections, all in reasonable detail (including such consolidating information as is necessary to eliminate the portion of Consolidated EBITDA attributable to the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries) and certified by an Authorized Officer of the Parent as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal month and the results of operations, retained earnings and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal month and for such year-to-date period, in accordance with GAAP applied in a manner consistent with that of the most recent audited financial statements furnished to the Agents and the Lenders, subject to the absence of footnotes and normal year-end adjustments, (B) a summary of the Parent’s capital structure as of the last day of such month, including a list of the outstanding Revolving Loans, Term Loans and any other Permitted Indebtedness, (C) [reserved] and (D) such other financial information as any Agent may from time to time reasonably request;

(ii) as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries commencing with the first Fiscal Quarter ending after the Effective Date, consolidated and consolidating balance sheets, statements of operations and retained earnings and statements of cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and for the period commencing at the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and ending with the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding date or period set forth in (A) the financial statements for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and (B) the Projections, all in reasonable detail (including such consolidating information as is necessary to eliminate the portion of Consolidated EBITDA attributable to the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries) and certified by an Authorized Officer of the Parent as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and the results of operations and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such quarter and for such year-to-date period, in accordance with GAAP applied in a manner consistent with that of the most recent audited financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries furnished to the Agents and the Lenders, subject to the absence of footnotes and normal year-end adjustments;

(iii) as soon as available, and in any event (x) within 150 days after the end of the Fiscal Year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries ending December 31, 2024 and (y) within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries ending on and after December 31, 2025, consolidated and consolidating balance sheets, statements of operations and retained earnings and statements of cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding date or period set forth in (A) the financial statements for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and (B) the Projections, all in reasonable detail (including such consolidating information as is necessary to eliminate the portion of Consolidated EBITDA attributable to the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries) and prepared in accordance with GAAP, and accompanied by a report and an opinion, prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, of independent certified public accountants of recognized standing selected by the Parent and satisfactory to the Agents (which report and opinion shall not include (1) any qualification, exception or explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about the ability of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to continue

 

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as a going concern or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (except to the extent such “going concern” qualification is solely attributable to the maturity of any Permitted Indebtedness within the immediately succeeding 12 month period) or (2) any qualification which relates to the treatment or classification of any item and which, as a condition to the removal of such qualification, would require an adjustment to such item, the effect of which would be to cause any noncompliance with the provisions of Section 7.03), together with a written statement of such accountants (x) to the effect that, in making the examination necessary for their certification of such financial statements, they have not obtained any knowledge of the existence of an Event of Default or a Default under Section 7.03 and (y) if such accountants shall have obtained any knowledge of the existence of an Event of Default or such Default, describing the nature thereof;

(iv) simultaneously with the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries required by clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 7.01(a), a Compliance Certificate:

(A) stating that such Authorized Officer has reviewed the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and has made or caused to be made under his or her supervision a review of the condition and operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries during the period covered by such financial statements with a view to determining whether the Parent and its Subsidiaries were in compliance with all of the provisions of this Agreement and such Loan Documents at the times such compliance is required hereby and thereby, and that such review has not disclosed, and such Authorized Officer has no knowledge of, the occurrence and continuance during such period of an Event of Default or Default or, if an Event of Default or Default had occurred and continued or is continuing, describing the nature and period of existence thereof and the action which the Parent and its Subsidiaries propose to take or have taken with respect thereto,

(B) in the case of the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries required by clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 7.01(a), (1) attaching (x) a schedule showing the calculation of the financial covenants specified in Section 7.03, (y) the calculation of the Leverage Ratio for the applicable period for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof and (z) the calculation of the Excess Cash Flow for the applicable period in accordance with the terms of Section 2.05(c)(i), and (2) including a management discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the portion of the Fiscal Year then elapsed and discussing the reasons for any significant variations from the Projections for such period and the figures for the corresponding period in the previous Fiscal Year

(C) in the case of the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries required by clause (iii) of this Section 7.01(a), attaching (1) a summary of all material insurance coverage maintained as of the date thereof by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and evidence that such insurance coverage meets the requirements set forth in Section 7.01, each Security Agreement and each Mortgage, together with such other related documents and information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require, (2) the calculation of the Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Year in accordance with the terms of Section 2.05(c)(i), (3) attaching the third party appraisal required pursuant to Section 7.01(q), and (4) confirmation that there have been no changes to the information contained in each of the Perfection Certificates delivered on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date or the date of the most recently updated Perfection Certificate delivered pursuant to this clause (iv) and/or attaching an updated Perfection Certificate identifying any such changes to the information contained therein; and

 

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(D) in the case of the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries required by clause (i) of this Section 7.01(a), attaching (1) a summary of sales of recycled water (including information on a per customer basis as to the number of barrels of recycled water sold, the average price per barrel paid by such customer, and the monthly revenue attributable to each such customer), (2) a summary of sales of fresh water (including information on a per customer basis (including each Merchant Ranch) as to the number of barrels of fresh water sold, the average price per barrel paid by such customer, and the monthly revenue attributable to each such customer), and (3) such other information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request regarding key performance indicators relating to the sales of fresh water and recycled water by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, together with such other related documents and information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require;

(v) promptly after the same is sent or received by the Parent or its Subsidiaries, a copy of each material report, notice, projection or other document under each Material Contract, including, without limitation, the statements delivered by Hydrosource under Sections 2.1(a) and 4.8(a) of the NGL Water Supply Agreement;

(vi) as soon as available, and in any event within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Parent (A) attaching Projections for the Parent and its Subsidiaries, supplementing and superseding the Projections previously required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, prepared on a monthly basis and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents, for the immediately succeeding Fiscal Year for the Parent and its Subsidiaries and (B) certifying that the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6.01(aa)(ii) are true and correct with respect to the Projections;

(vii) promptly after submission to any Governmental Authority, all documents and information furnished to such Governmental Authority in connection with any investigation of any Loan Party or Subsidiary other than routine inquiries by such Governmental Authority;

(viii) as soon as possible, and in any event within three Business Days after the occurrence of an Event of Default or Default or the occurrence of any event or development that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the written statement of an Authorized Officer of the Administrative Borrower setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default or other event or development having a Material Adverse Effect and the action which the affected Loan Party or Subsidiary proposes to take with respect thereto;

(ix) within 5 Business Days after the occurrence of any termination, cancellation or material limitation of, or material adverse modification to or material adverse change in, the business relationship (in each case, in the good faith determination of the Loan Parties) between the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any material customer or supplier of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries (for which aggregate consideration payable to or by such customer or supplier pursuant to contractual relationships between such customer or supplier and the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries exceeds $1,000,000 in any Fiscal Year), on the other hand, the written statement of an Authorized Officer of the Administrative Borrower setting forth the details of such event and the action which the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries propose to take with respect thereto;

(x) promptly after the commencement thereof but in any event not later than five Business Days after service of process with respect thereto on, or the obtaining of knowledge thereof by, any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, notice of each action, suit or proceeding before any court or other Governmental Authority or other regulatory body or any arbitrator which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(xi) as soon as possible and in any event within five Business Days after execution and delivery thereof, copies of any new Material Contract or any amendment, supplement or modification to any Material Contract;

(xii) as soon as possible and in any event within five Business Days after the delivery thereof to the Parent’s or the Borrower’s Board of Directors, copies of all reports or other information so delivered;

(xiii) promptly after the receipt thereof, a copy of any material notice any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries receives from any holder of its Indebtedness;

(xiv) promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all financial reports (including, without limitation, management letters), if any, submitted to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries by its auditors in connection with any annual or interim audit of the books thereof;

(xv) promptly upon request, any certification or other evidence requested from time to time by any Lender in its sole discretion, confirming the Borrowers’ compliance with Section 7.02(r);

(xvi) simultaneously with the delivery of the financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries required by clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 7.01(a), if, as a result of any change in accounting principles and policies from those used in the preparation of the initial financial statements required by clause (iii) of this Section 7.01(a) that is permitted by Section 7.02(q), the consolidated financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 7.01(a) will differ from the consolidated financial statements that would have been delivered pursuant to such subdivisions had no such change in accounting principles and policies been made, then, together with the first delivery of such financial statements after such change, one or more statements of reconciliation for all such prior financial statements in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents; and

(xvii) promptly upon request, such other information concerning the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance information) as any Agent may from time to time may reasonably request.

(b) Additional Borrowers, Guarantors and Collateral Security. Cause:

(i) each Subsidiary of any Loan Party not in existence on the Effective Date (other than the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries) to execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent promptly and in any event within ten days after the formation or acquisition thereof (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion), (A) a Joinder Agreement, pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall be made a party to this Agreement as a Borrower or a Guarantor, (B) a supplement to the Security Agreement, together with (1) certificates evidencing all of the Equity Interests of any Person owned by such Subsidiary required to be pledged under the terms of the Security Agreement, (2) undated stock powers for such Equity Interests executed in blank, and (3) such opinions of counsel as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, (C) to the extent required under the terms of this Agreement, one or more Mortgages creating on the real property of such Subsidiary a perfected, first priority Lien (in terms of priority, subject only to Permitted Specified Liens) on such real property and such other Mortgaged Property Deliverables as may be required by the Collateral Agent with respect to each such real property, and (D) such other agreements, instruments, opinions, approvals or other documents reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent in order to create, perfect, establish the first priority of or otherwise protect any Lien purported to be covered by any such Security Agreement or Mortgage or otherwise to effect the intent that such Subsidiary shall become bound by all of the terms, covenants and agreements contained in the Loan Documents and that all property and assets of such Subsidiary shall become Collateral for the Obligations; and

 

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(ii) each owner of the Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries) to execute and deliver promptly and in any event within ten days after the formation or acquisition of such Subsidiary (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) a Pledge Amendment (as defined in the Security Agreement), together with (A) certificates evidencing all of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary required to be pledged under the terms of the Security Agreement, (B) undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of assignment for such Equity Interests executed in blank, (C) such opinions of counsel as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and (D) such other agreements, instruments, opinions, approvals or other documents requested by the Collateral Agent.

(c) Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes.

(i) Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects, with all Requirements of Law, judgments and awards (including any settlement of any claim that, if breached, could give rise to any of the foregoing).

(ii) Pay, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, in full before delinquency or before the expiration of any extension period, all Taxes imposed upon any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any property of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, except Taxes contested in good faith by proper proceedings which stay the imposition of any Lien resulting from the non-payment thereof and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in accordance with GAAP.

(d) Preservation of Existence, Etc. (i) Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, its existence, rights and privileges, and (ii) become or remain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to become or remain, duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary, except in the case of this clause (ii) to the extent that the failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Keeping of Records and Books of Account. Keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, adequate records and books of account, with complete entries made to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

(f) Inspection Rights. Permit, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to permit, the agents and representatives of any Agent at any time and from time to time during normal business hours, at the expense of the Borrowers, to examine and make copies of and abstracts from its records and books of account, to visit and inspect its properties, to verify materials, leases, notes, accounts receivable, deposit accounts and its other assets, to conduct audits, physical counts, valuations, appraisals or examinations and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with any of its directors, officers, managerial employees, independent accountants or any of its other representatives. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Loan Party hereby authorizes its independent accountants, and the independent accountants of each of its Subsidiaries, to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of such Person (independently or together with representatives of such Person) with the agents and representatives of any Agent in accordance with this Section 7.01(f).

 

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(g) Maintenance of Properties, Etc. Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties (including the Effective Date Assets, the AWR Acquired Assets, the Intrepid Acquired Assets and the Midstream Properties) which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and casualty excepted, and comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, at all times with the provisions of all Leases to which it is a party as lessee or under which it occupies property, so as to prevent any loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder, except to the extent the failure to so maintain and preserve or so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(h) Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations (including, without limitation, comprehensive general liability insurance) with respect to the Collateral and its other properties (including all real property leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks as is (i) carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies in similar businesses similarly situated, (ii) required by any Requirement of Law, (iii) required by any Material Contract and (iv) in any event in amount, adequacy and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. All policies covering the Collateral are to be made payable to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, as their interests may appear, in case of loss, under a standard non contributory “lender” or “secured party” clause and are to contain such other provisions as the Collateral Agent may require to fully protect the Lenders’ interest in the Collateral and to any payments to be made under such policies. All certificates of insurance are to be delivered to the Collateral Agent and the policies are to be premium prepaid, with the lender’s loss payable and additional insured endorsement in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, as their respective interests may appear, and such other Persons as the Collateral Agent may designate from time to time, and shall provide for not less than 30 days’ (ten days’ in the case of non-payment) prior written notice to the Collateral Agent of the exercise of any right of cancellation. If any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries fails to maintain such insurance, the Collateral Agent may arrange for such insurance, but at the Borrowers’ expense and without any responsibility on the Collateral Agent’s part for obtaining the insurance, the solvency of the insurance companies, the adequacy of the coverage, or the collection of claims. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall have the sole right, in the name of the Lenders, any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries, to file claims under any insurance policies, to receive, receipt and give acquittance for any payments that may be payable thereunder, and to execute any and all endorsements, receipts, releases, assignments, reassignments or other documents that may be necessary to effect the collection, compromise or settlement of any claims under any such insurance policies.

(i) Obtaining of Permits, Etc. Obtain, maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to obtain, maintain and preserve, and take all necessary action to timely renew, all permits, licenses, authorizations, approvals, entitlements and accreditations that are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business, in each case, except to the extent the failure to obtain, maintain, preserve or take such action could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(j) Environmental.

(i) Keep the Collateral free of any Environmental Lien;

(ii) Obtain, maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to obtain, maintain and preserve, and take all necessary action to timely renew, all permits required by Environmental Law that are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business, and comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with all Environmental Laws and permits required by Environmental Law in all material respects;

 

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(iii) Take all commercially reasonable steps to prevent any Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials in violation of any Environmental Law or permits required by Environmental Law at, in, on, under or from any property owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to result in a material Environmental Claim or Environmental Liability;

(iv) Provide the Collateral Agent with written notice within five (5) days of any of the following: (A) discovery of any Release of a Hazardous Material or environmental condition at, in, on, under or from any Property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party, Subsidiary or predecessor in interest (including the Effective Date Assets, and the AWR Acquired Assets and the Intrepid Acquired Assets) or any violation of Environmental Law or permits required by Environmental Law that in any case could reasonably be expected to result in any material Environmental Claim or Environmental Liability; (B) notice that an Environmental Lien has been filed against any Collateral; or (C) any material Environmental Claim or Environmental Liabilities; and provide such reports, documents and information as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time with respect to any of the foregoing.

(k) Fiscal Year. Cause the Fiscal Year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries to end on December 31 of each calendar year unless the Agents consent to a change in such Fiscal Year (and appropriate related changes to this Agreement).

(l) Landlord Waivers. Use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a written subordination or waiver, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, with respect to (i) each headquarters location of each Loan Party and (ii) each location where books and records of any Loan Party are stored or maintained; provided, that such subordination or waiver shall not be required with respect to any such location if the Collateral Agent is reasonably satisfied that such subordination or waiver will not be obtained after the Loan Parties have use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the same.; provided further that, to the extent such locations referenced in clauses (i) and (ii) above have changed as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall have one-hundred and twenty (120) days from the Sixth Amendment Effective Date (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree) to comply with this clause (l) for such locations.

(m) After-Acquired Real Property. Upon the acquisition by it or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof of any real property (wherever located) with a Current Value (as defined below) in excess of $200,000, immediately so notify the Collateral Agent, setting forth with specificity a description of the interest acquired, the location of the real property, and either an appraisal or such Loan Party’s good faith estimate of the current value of such real property (for purposes of this Section, the “Current Value”). The Collateral Agent shall notify such Loan Party whether it intends to require a Mortgage (and any other Mortgaged Property Deliverables) with respect to such real property. Upon receipt of such notice requesting a Mortgage (and any other Mortgaged Property Deliverables), the Person that has acquired such Properties shall promptly furnish the same to the Collateral Agent. The Borrowers shall pay all fees and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, in connection with each Loan Party’s obligations under this Section 7.01(m).

(n) Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Sanctions.

(i) Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by each Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with all Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

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(ii) Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions.

(iii) No Loan Party nor, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any director, officer, employee or any Person acting on behalf of any Loan Party or Subsidiary will engage in any activity that would breach any Anti-Corruption Law.

(iv) Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any action, suit or investigations by any court or Governmental Authority in relation to an alleged breach of the Anti-Corruption Law.

(v) Not directly or indirectly use, lend or contribute the proceeds of any Loan for any purpose that would breach any Anti-Corruption Law.

(vi) Each Loan Party and Affiliate, officer, employee or director, acting on behalf of the Loan Party is (and will take no action which would result in any such Person not being) in compliance with (A) all applicable OFAC rules and regulations, (B) all applicable United States of America, United Kingdom, United Nations, European Union, German, Canadian, Australian and all other reasonable internationally respected national autonomous sanctions, embargos and trade restrictions and (C) all applicable provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. In addition, none of the activities or business of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries includes any kind of activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that is subject to any Sanctions.

(vii) In order to comply with the “know your customer/borrower” requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering Laws, promptly provide to the Administrative Agent upon its reasonable request from time to time (A) information relating to individuals and entities affiliated with any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries that maintain a business relationship with the Administrative Agent and (B) such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such Loan Party or Subsidiary in order to enable the Administrative Agent or any Lender to comply with Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

(o) Lender Meetings. Upon the request of any Agent or the Required Lenders (which request, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, shall not be made more than once during each Fiscal Year), participate in a meeting with the Agents and the Lenders at the Borrowers’ corporate offices (or at such other location as may be agreed to by the Administrative Borrower and such Agent or the Required Lenders) at such time as may be agreed to by the Administrative Borrower and such Agent or the Required Lenders.

(p) Board Observation Rights. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to designate one observer (the “Board Observer”) to attend any regular meeting (a “BOD Meeting”) of the Board of Directors of the Parent (or its direct or indirect ultimate parent holding company) or any of its Subsidiaries (or, in each case, any relevant committees thereof), except that the Board Observer shall not be entitled to vote on matters presented to or discussed by the Board of Directors (or any relevant committee thereof) of the Parent (or its direct or indirect ultimate parent holding company) or any of its Subsidiaries at any such meetings. The Board Observer shall be timely notified of the time and place of any BOD Meetings (which shall be held no less than once per quarter) and will be given written notice of all proposed actions to be taken by the Board of Directors (or any relevant committee thereof) of the Parent (or its direct or indirect ultimate parent holding company) and any of its Subsidiaries at such meeting as if the Board Observer were a member thereof. Such notice shall describe in reasonable detail the nature and substance of the matters to be discussed and/or voted upon at such meeting (or the proposed actions to be taken by written consent without a meeting). The Board Observer shall have the right to receive all information

 

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provided to the members of the Board of Directors or any similar group performing an executive oversight or similar function (or any relevant committee thereof) of the Parent (or its direct or indirect ultimate parent holding company) and any of its Subsidiaries in anticipation of or at such meeting (regular or special and whether telephonic or otherwise), in addition to copies of the records of the proceedings or minutes of such meeting, when provided to the members, and the Board Observer shall keep such materials and information confidential in accordance with Section 12.19.

(p) [Reserved].

(q) Real Property Appraisal. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (which request, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, shall not be made more than once during each Fiscal Year), a third party appraisal of the Mortgaged Property prepared by a third party appraiser acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(r) Further Assurances. Take such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to take such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver, at its sole cost and expense, such agreements, instruments or other documents as any Agent may require from time to time in order (i) to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) to subject to valid and perfected first priority Liens any of the Collateral or any other property of any Loan Party, (iii) to establish and maintain the validity and effectiveness of any of the Loan Documents and the validity, perfection and priority of the Liens intended to be created thereby, and (iv) to better assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer and confirm unto each Secured Party the rights now or hereafter intended to be granted to it under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. In furtherance of the foregoing, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each Loan Party (i) authorizes each Agent to execute any such agreements, instruments or other documents in such Loan Party’s name and to file such agreements, instruments or other documents in any appropriate filing office, (ii) authorizes each Agent to file any financing statement required hereunder or under any other Loan Document, and any continuation statement or amendment with respect thereto, in any appropriate filing office without the signature of such Loan Party, and (iii) ratifies the filing of any financing statement, and any continuation statement or amendment with respect thereto, filed without the signature of such Loan Party prior to the date hereof.

(s) Lender Call. On the last Business Day of each calendar month (or such earlier date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its discretion), and upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will participate in a telephonic meeting with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to discuss the business, operations, assets and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Parent and the Subsidiaries.

Section 7.02 Negative Covenants. So long as any principal of or interest on any Loan or any other Obligation (whether or not due) shall remain unpaid (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, each Loan Party shall not, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries not to, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

(a) Liens, Etc. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien upon or with respect to any of its properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; file or suffer to exist under the Uniform Commercial Code or any Requirement of Law of any jurisdiction, a financing statement (or the equivalent thereof) that names it or any of its Subsidiaries as debtor; sign or suffer to exist any security agreement authorizing any secured party thereunder to file such financing statement (or the equivalent thereof) other than, as to all of the above, Permitted Liens.

 

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(b) Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume, guarantee or suffer to exist, or otherwise become or remain liable with respect to, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume, guarantee or suffer to exist or otherwise become or remain liable with respect to, any Indebtedness other than Permitted Indebtedness.

(c) Fundamental Changes; Dispositions.

(i) Wind up, liquidate or dissolve, or merge, consolidate or amalgamate with any Person, including by means of a “plan of division” under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or any comparable transaction under any similar law, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do (or agree to do) any of the foregoing; provided, however, that any wholly-owned Subsidiary of any Loan Party (other than a Borrower) may be merged into such Loan Party or another wholly-owned Subsidiary of such Loan Party, or may consolidate or amalgamate with another wholly-owned Subsidiary of such Loan Party, so long as (A) no other provision of this Agreement would be violated thereby, (B) such Loan Party gives the Agents at least 10 days’ prior written notice of such merger, consolidation or amalgamation accompanied by true, correct and complete copies of all material agreements, documents and instruments relating to such merger, consolidation or amalgamation, including, without limitation, the certificate or certificates of merger or amalgamation to be filed with each appropriate Secretary of State (with a copy as filed promptly after such filing), (C) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing either before or after giving effect to such transaction, (D) the Lenders’ rights in any Collateral, including, without limitation, the existence, perfection and priority of any Lien thereon, are not adversely affected by such merger, consolidation or amalgamation, (E) the surviving Subsidiary, if any, if not already a Loan Party, is joined as a Loan Party hereunder pursuant to a Joinder Agreement and is a party to a Security Agreement and the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary is the subject of a Security Agreement, in each case, which is in full force and effect on the date of and immediately after giving effect to such merger, consolidation or amalgamation and (F) if a Borrower is a party to such merger, consolidation or amalgamation, such Borrower shall be the surviving entity in such merger, consolidation or amalgamation; and

(ii) Make any Disposition, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or any part of its business, property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (or agree to do any of the foregoing), or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries may make Permitted Dispositions.

(d) Change in Nature of Business.

(i) Make, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any change in the nature of its business as described in Section 6.01(l) (or, for the avoidance of doubt, permit the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries to engage in any line of business other than as described in Section 6.01(l)(iv)).

(ii) Permit the Parent to have any material liabilities (other than liabilities arising under the Loan Documents and liabilities incidental to the ownership of its Subsidiaries), own any material assets (other than the Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries) or engage in any operations or business (other than incidental to the ownership of its Subsidiaries).

(e) Loans, Advances, Investments, Etc. Make or commit or agree to make, or permit any of its Subsidiaries make or commit or agree to make, any Investment in any other Person except for Permitted Investments.

 

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(f) Real Property Acquisitions; Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

(i) After the Effective Date, purchase or otherwise acquire, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire, any interest in real property (whether fee or leasehold interest) other than the Effective Date Assets, or the AWR Acquired Assets or the Intrepid Acquired Assets.

(ii) Enter into, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into, any Sale and Leaseback Transaction.

(g) Capital Expenditures. Make or commit or agree to make, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make or commit or agree to make, any Capital Expenditure (by purchase or Capitalized Lease) that would cause the aggregate amount of all Capital Expenditures made by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in any Fiscal Year to exceed the Maximum Capital Expenditure Amount for such Fiscal Year.

(h) Restricted Payments. Make or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make any Restricted Payment other than Permitted Restricted Payments.

(i) Federal Reserve Regulations. Permit any Loan or the proceeds of any Loan under this Agreement to be used for any purpose that would cause such Loan to be a margin loan under the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board.

(j) Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into, renew, extend or be a party to, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into, renew, extend or be a party to, any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease, transfer or exchange of property or assets of any kind or the rendering of services of any kind) with any Affiliate, except (i) transactions solely among Loan Parties, (ii) [reserved] and (iii) transactions permitted by Section 7.02(e) and Section 7.02(h).

(k) Limitations on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. Create or otherwise cause, incur, assume, suffer or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability of any Subsidiary of any Loan Party (i) to pay dividends or to make any other distribution on any shares of Equity Interests of such Subsidiary owned by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) to pay or prepay or to subordinate any Indebtedness owed to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) to make loans or advances to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) to transfer any of its property or assets to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that nothing in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 7.02(k) shall prohibit or restrict compliance with:

(A) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(B) any agreement in effect on the date of this Agreement and described on Schedule 7.02(k) hereto, or any extension, replacement or continuation of any such agreement; provided that, any such encumbrance or restriction contained in such extended, replaced or continued agreement is no less favorable to the Agents and the Lenders than the encumbrance or restriction under or pursuant to the agreement so extended, replaced or continued;

(C) any applicable law, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, applicable currency control laws and applicable state corporate statutes restricting the payment of dividends in certain circumstances);

 

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(D) in the case of clause (iv), (1) customary restrictions on the subletting, assignment or transfer of any specified property or asset set forth in a lease, license, asset, sale agreement or similar contract for the conveyance of such property or asset and (2) instrument or other document evidencing a Permitted Lien (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) from restricting on customary terms the transfer of any property or assets subject thereto;

(E) customary restrictions on dispositions of real property interests in reciprocal easement agreements;

(F) customary restrictions in agreements for the sale of assets on the transfer or encumbrance of such assets during an interim period prior to the closing of the sale of such assets; or

(G) customary restrictions in contracts that prohibit the assignment of such contract.

(l) Limitations on Negative Pledges. Enter into, incur or permit to exist, or permit any Subsidiary to enter into, incur or permit to exist, directly or indirectly, any agreement, instrument, deed, lease or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon the ability of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or that requires the grant of any security for an obligation if security is granted for another obligation, except the following: (i) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.02(b) if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (iii) any customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale or other disposition of assets or of a Subsidiary pending such sale or other disposition, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the assets or Subsidiary to be sold or disposed of and such sale or disposition is permitted hereunder, (iv) customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment or sublet thereof and (v) solely with respect to the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries, restrictions set forth in the Governing Documents of the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries as of the Third Amendment Effective Date (without giving effective to any amendment, supplement or modification thereto).

(m) Modifications of Indebtedness, Organizational Documents and Certain Other Agreements; Etc.

(i) Amend, modify or otherwise change (or permit the amendment, modification or other change in any manner of) any of the provisions of any of its or its Subsidiaries’ Indebtedness or of any instrument or agreement (including, without limitation, any purchase agreement, indenture, loan agreement or security agreement) relating to any such Indebtedness if such amendment, modification or change would shorten the final maturity or average life to maturity of, or require any payment to be made earlier than the date originally scheduled on, such Indebtedness, would increase the interest rate applicable to such Indebtedness, would add any covenant or event of default, would change the subordination provision, if any, of such Indebtedness, or would otherwise be adverse to the Lenders or the issuer of such Indebtedness in any respect;

(ii) except for the Obligations, (A) make any voluntary or optional payment (including, without limitation, any payment of interest in cash that, at the option of the issuer, may be paid in cash or in kind), prepayment, redemption, defeasance, sinking fund payment or other acquisition for value of any of its or its Subsidiaries’ Indebtedness (including, without limitation, by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee therefor before the date required for the purpose of paying any portion

 

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of such Indebtedness when due), (B) refund, refinance, replace or exchange any other Indebtedness for any such Indebtedness (other than with respect to Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) or (C) make any payment, prepayment, redemption, defeasance, sinking fund payment or repurchase of any Indebtedness as a result of any asset sale, change of control, issuance and sale of debt or equity securities or similar event, or give any notice with respect to any of the foregoing;

(iii) amend, modify or otherwise change any of its Governing Documents (including, without limitation, by the filing or modification of any certificate of designation, or any agreement or arrangement entered into by it) with respect to any of its Equity Interests (including any shareholders agreement), or enter into any new agreement with respect to any of its Equity Interests, except any such amendments, modifications or changes or any such new agreements or arrangements pursuant to this clause (iii) that are not adverse to the interest of the Agents or the Lenders; or

(iv) agree to any amendment, modification or other change to or waiver or assignment of any of its rights under any Material Contract, any Effective Date Acquisition Document, or any AWR Acquisition Document or any Intrepid Acquisition Document if such amendment, modification, change or waiver or assignment would be adverse to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or the Agents and the Lenders.

(n) Investment Company Act of 1940. Engage in any business, enter into any transaction, use any securities or take any other action or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing, that would cause it or any of its Subsidiaries to become subject to the registration requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by virtue of being an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” not entitled to an exemption within the meaning of such Act.

(o) ERISA.

(i) adopt, or permit any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates to adopt or incur any liability under or with respect to, any Employee Plan.

(ii) engage, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to engage, any individual to perform services for such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

(p) Environmental. Permit the use, handling, generation, storage, treatment, Release or disposal of Hazardous Materials on, in, at, under or from any assets or property owned, leased or operated by it or any of its Subsidiaries, except in compliance in all material respects with Environmental Laws.

(q) Accounting Methods. Modify or change, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to modify or change, its method of accounting or accounting principles from those utilized in the preparation of the initial financial statements required by clause (iii) of this Section 7.01(a) (other than as may be required to conform to GAAP).

(r) Sanctioned Persons; Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

(i) Conduct, nor permit any of its Subsidiaries to conduct, any business or engage in any transaction or deal with or for the benefit of any Sanctioned Person, including the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods or services to, from or for the benefit of any Sanctioned Person; or

 

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(ii) Use, nor permit any of its Subsidiaries to use, directly or indirectly, any of the proceeds of any Loan, (A) to fund any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person or in any other manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any Person (including by any Person participating in any Loan, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise), or (B) for the purpose of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law.

(s) Firm Commitments. Enter into, nor permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into, any Contractual Obligation pursuant to which the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries are obligated to deliver minimum volumes of recycled water to customers on a firm basis, except to the extent that the Parent or such Subsidiary has entered into a corresponding firm supply agreement for the equivalent number of barrels of water. In connection with the foregoing, the Parent and the Subsidiaries acknowledge and agree that the NGL Water Supply Agreement does not contain a firm supply agreement for water.

(t) Sale Proceeds Sharing Agreement. (i) Enter into or permit to exist any Sale Proceeds Sharing Agreement, except for those listed on Schedule 6.01(bb) or (ii) amend, modify or otherwise change (or permit the amendment, modification or other change of) any Sale Proceeds Sharing Agreement listed on Schedule 6.01(bb).

Section 7.03 Financial Covenants. So long as any principal of or interest on any Loan or any other Obligation (whether or not due) shall remain unpaid (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, each Loan Party shall not, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

(a) Asset Coverage Ratio. Permit the Asset Coverage Ratio as of each December 31 to be less than 1.00:1.00.

(b) Leverage Ratio. Permit the Leverage Ratio of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2024, to be greater than the Required Leverage Ratio for such Fiscal Quarter.

ARTICLE VIII

CASH MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

AND OTHER COLLATERAL MATTERS

Section 8.01 Cash Management Arrangements.

(a) The Loan Parties shall (i) establish and maintain cash management services of a type and on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Agents at one or more of the banks set forth on Schedule 8.01 hereto (each a “Cash Management Bank”) and (ii) except as otherwise provided under Section 8.01(b), deposit or cause to be deposited promptly, and in any event no later than the next Business Day after the date of receipt thereof, all proceeds in respect of any Collateral, all Collections (of a nature susceptible to a deposit in a bank account) and all other amounts received by any Loan Party (including payments made by Account Debtors directly to any Loan Party) into a Cash Management Account.

(b) On or prior to the Post-Closing Control Agreement Delivery Date with respect to each Cash Management Account listed on Schedule 8.01 on the Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall, with respect to each Cash Management Account (other than Excluded Accounts), deliver to the Collateral Agent a Control Agreement with respect to such Cash Management Account. With respect to

 

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each Cash Management Account listed on Schedule 8.01 on the Third Amendment Effective Date that is an account of the AWR Acquired Companies (other than the AWR Excluded Subsidiaries), the Loan Parties shall, with respect to each such Cash Management Account (other than Excluded Accounts), deliver to the Collateral Agent a Control Agreement with respect to such Cash Management Account as required pursuant to Section 4(a) of the Third Amendment. The Loan Parties shall not maintain, and shall not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to maintain, cash, Cash Equivalents or other amounts in any deposit account or securities account, unless the Collateral Agent shall have received a Control Agreement in respect of each such Cash Management Account (other than Excluded Accounts).

(c) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in a Control Agreement with respect to a Cash Management Account, all amounts received in such Cash Management Account shall at the Administrative Agent’s direction be wired each Business Day into the Administrative Agent’s Accounts, except that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent will not direct the Cash Management Bank to transfer funds in such Cash Management Account to the Administrative Agent’s Accounts.

(d) So long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers may amend Schedule 8.01 to add or replace a Cash Management Bank or Cash Management Account; provided, however, that prior to the time of the opening of such Cash Management Account, each Loan Party and such prospective Cash Management Bank shall have executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent a Control Agreement.

(e) From and after the Sixth Amendment Effective Date until the Termination Date, the Loan Parties shall (i) not permit the balance of cash in the Sixth Amendment Account to be less than the Sixth Amendment Account Required Balance, and (ii) cause such Sixth Amendment Account to at all times be subject to a Control Agreement in favor of the Collateral Agent and continue to maintain a valid and perfected first priority Lien on the Sixth Amendment Account in favor of the Collateral Agent.

ARTICLE IX

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 9.01 Events of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an event of default (each, an “Event of Default”):

(a) any Borrower shall fail to pay, when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), (i) any interest on any Loan, any Collateral Agent Advance, or any fee, indemnity or other amount payable under this Agreement (other than any portion thereof constituting principal of the Loans) or any other Loan Document, and such failure continues for a period of three (3) Business Days or (ii) all or any portion of the principal of the Loans;

(b) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or by any officer of the foregoing under or in connection with any Loan Document or under or in connection with any certificate or other writing delivered to any Secured Party pursuant to any Loan Document shall have been incorrect in any material respect (or in any respect if such representation or warranty is qualified or modified as to materiality or “Material Adverse Effect” in the text thereof) when made or deemed made;

 

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(c) (i) any Loan Party shall fail to perform or comply with any covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.03, Sections 7.01(a)(viii) and (x), 7.01(c), 7.01(d), 7.01(f), 7.01(h), 7.01(k), 7.01(o), 7.02 or 7.03, or Article VIII, (ii) any Loan Party shall fail to perform or comply with any covenant or agreement contained in any Security Agreement to which it is a party or any Mortgage to which it is a party or (iii) any Loan Party shall fail to perform or comply with any other covenant or agreement contained in Section 7.01(a) (other than Section 7.01(a)(viii) and (x)) or Article VIII to be performed or observed by it and, such failure, if capable of being remedied, shall remain unremedied for more than 5 Business Days;

(d) any Loan Party shall fail to perform or comply with any other term, covenant or agreement contained in any Loan Document to be performed or observed by it and, except as set forth in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 9.01, such failure, if capable of being remedied, shall remain unremedied for more than 20 days;

(e) the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) any principal, interest or other amount payable in respect of Indebtedness (excluding Indebtedness evidenced by this Agreement) having an aggregate amount outstanding in excess of $100,000, and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness, or any other default under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness, or any other event, shall occur and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such default or event is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment), redeemed, purchased or defeased or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case, prior to the stated maturity thereof;

(f) the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (i) shall institute any proceeding or voluntary case seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, liquidation, winding-up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for any such Person or for any substantial part of its property, (ii) shall be generally not paying its debts as such debts become due or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, (iii) shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (iv) shall take any action to authorize or effect any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (f);

(g) any proceeding shall be instituted against the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for any such Person or for any substantial part of its property, and either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 30 days or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against any such Person or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur;

(h) any material provision of any Loan Document shall at any time for any reason (other than pursuant to the express terms thereof) cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against any Loan Party intended to be a party thereto, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party thereto, or a proceeding shall be commenced by any Loan Party or any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any of them, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof, or any Loan Party shall deny in writing that it has any liability or obligation purported to be created under any Loan Document;

 

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(i) any Security Agreement, any Mortgage or any other security document, after delivery thereof pursuant hereto, shall for any reason fail or cease to create a valid and perfected and, except to the extent permitted by the terms hereof or thereof, first priority Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders on any Collateral purported to be covered thereby (except to the extent arising solely by action or inaction on the part of the Agents and the Lenders not resulting in any manner from any act or omission on the part of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries);

(j) one or more judgments, orders or awards (or any settlement of any litigation or other proceeding that, if breached, could result in a judgment, order or award) for the payment of money exceeding $100,000 in the aggregate (except to the extent fully covered (other than to the extent of customary deductibles) by insurance pursuant to which the insurer has been notified and has not denied coverage) shall be rendered against the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and remain unsatisfied and (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon any such judgment, order, award or settlement or (ii) there shall be a period of 30 consecutive days after entry thereof during which (A) a stay of enforcement thereof is not be in effect or (B) the same is not vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal;

(k) the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by the order of any court or any Governmental Authority from conducting, or otherwise ceases to conduct for any reason whatsoever, all or any material part of its business for more than 30 days;

(l) the loss, suspension or revocation of, or failure to renew, any license or permit now held or hereafter acquired by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, if such loss, suspension, revocation or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(m) the indictment, or the threatened indictment of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any senior officer thereof under any criminal statute, or commencement or threatened commencement of criminal or civil proceedings against the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any senior officer thereof, pursuant to which statute or proceedings the penalties or remedies sought or available include forfeiture to any Governmental Authority of any material portion of the property of such Person;

(n) a default or event of default shall have occurred under any Material Contract which has not been cured within any applicable grace period and which default or event of default, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in uninsured liability or uninsured economic loss to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $500,000, (ii) any Material Contract shall have been terminated prior to its stated or scheduled expiration, (iii) any party under any Material Contract fails to make a payment when due thereunder (after giving effect to any applicable grace period) in an aggregate amount in excess of $500,000 or (iv) any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries that is a party to a Material Contract shall repudiate its obligations thereunder, contest the validity or enforceability of any Material Contract, otherwise claim that any Material Contract is invalid, or fail to enforce any of its material rights or privileges thereunder;

(o) a Change of Control shall have occurred; or

(p) an event or development occurs which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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then, and in any such event, the Collateral Agent may, and shall at the request of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Administrative Borrower, (i) terminate or reduce all Commitments, whereupon all Commitments shall immediately be so terminated or reduced, (ii) declare all or any portion of the Loans then outstanding to be accelerated and due and payable, whereupon all or such portion of the aggregate principal of all Loans, all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all fees and all other amounts payable under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall become due and payable immediately, together with the payment of the Applicable Premium, if any, with respect to the Commitments so terminated and the Loans so repaid, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Loan Party and (iii) exercise any and all of its other rights and remedies under applicable law, hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in subsection (f) or (g) of this Section 9.01 with respect to any Loan Party, without any notice to any Loan Party or any other Person or any act by any Agent or any Lender, all Commitments shall automatically terminate and all Loans then outstanding, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all fees and all other amounts due under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the Applicable Premium, if any, shall be accelerated and become due and payable automatically and immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Loan Party.

Section 9.02 Cure Right. In the event that the Loan Parties fail to comply with the requirements of any financial covenant set forth in Section 7.03(b), during the period from the date on which the applicable financial statements are required to be delivered with respect to the applicable Fiscal Quarter hereunder until the expiration of the 10th day after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered with respect to such Fiscal Quarter, the Parent shall have the right to issue Permitted Cure Equity for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to the capital of the Parent, and, in each case, to contribute such cash to the capital of the Borrowers, and apply the amount of the proceeds thereof to increase Consolidated EBITDA with respect to such Fiscal Quarter (collectively, the “Cure Right”); provided that (i) such proceeds are actually received by the Borrowers no later than 10 days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered with respect to such Fiscal Quarter, (ii) such proceeds do not exceed the aggregate amount necessary to cure the breach of Section 7.03(b), (iii) the Cure Right shall not be exercised more than three times during the term of this Agreement, (iv) the Cure Right shall not be exercised in any two consecutive Fiscal Quarter periods or more than once in any four consecutive Fiscal Quarter period, (v) there shall be no pro forma reduction in Indebtedness with the proceeds of the Cure Right for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants in Section 7.03 or for determining any pricing, financial covenant based conditions or baskets with respect to the covenants contained in this Agreement, in each case in the Fiscal Quarter in which the Cure Right is used or subsequent periods that include such Fiscal Quarter, and (vi) such proceeds shall be applied to prepay the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(c)(v). If, after giving effect to the foregoing pro forma adjustment (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, giving pro forma adjustment to any repayment of Indebtedness in connection therewith (other than as set forth in clause (v) above)), the Loan Parties are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.03(b), the Loan Parties shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of such Section as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply on such date, and the applicable breach or default of such Section that had occurred shall be deemed cured for purposes of this Agreement. The parties hereby acknowledge that this Section may not be relied on for purposes of calculating any financial ratios other than as applicable to Section 7.03(b) and shall not result in any adjustment to any amounts, ratios or calculations other than as set forth above.

ARTICLE X

AGENTS

Section 10.01 Appointment. Each Lender (and each subsequent maker of any Loan by its making thereof) hereby irrevocably appoints, authorizes and empowers the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to perform the duties of each such Agent as set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, including:

 

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(i) to receive on behalf of each Lender any payment of principal of or interest on the Loans outstanding hereunder and all other amounts accrued hereunder for the account of the Lenders and paid to such Agent, and, subject to Section 2.02, to distribute promptly to each Lender its Pro Rata Share of all payments so received; (ii) to distribute to each Lender copies of all material notices and agreements received by such Agent and not required to be delivered to each Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, provided that the Agents shall not have any liability to the Lenders for any Agent’s inadvertent failure to distribute any such notices or agreements to the Lenders; (iii) to maintain, in accordance with its customary business practices, ledgers and records reflecting the status of the Obligations, the Loans, and related matters and to maintain, in accordance with its customary business practices, ledgers and records reflecting the status of the Collateral and related matters; (iv) to execute or file any and all financing or similar statements or notices, amendments, renewals, supplements, documents, instruments, proofs of claim, notices and other written agreements with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (v) to make the Loans and Collateral Agent Advances, for such Agent or on behalf of the applicable Lenders as provided in this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (vi) to perform, exercise, and enforce any and all other rights and remedies of the Lenders with respect to the Loan Parties, the Obligations, or otherwise related to any of same to the extent reasonably incidental to the exercise by such Agent of the rights and remedies specifically authorized to be exercised by such Agent by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (vii) to incur and pay such fees necessary or appropriate for the performance and fulfillment of its functions and powers pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (viii) subject to Section 10.03, to take such action as such Agent deems appropriate on its behalf to administer the Loans and the Loan Documents and to exercise such other powers delegated to such Agent by the terms hereof or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the power to give or to refuse to give notices, waivers, consents, approvals and instructions and the power to make or to refuse to make determinations and calculations); and (ix) to act with respect to all Collateral under the Loan Documents, including for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the Loans), the Agents shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of 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), and such instructions of 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) shall be binding upon all Lenders and all makers of Loans; provided, however, the Agents shall not be required to take any action which, in the reasonable opinion of any Agent, exposes such Agent to liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law.

Section 10.02 Nature of Duties; Delegation.

(a) The Agents shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents. The duties of the Agents shall be mechanical and administrative in nature. The Agents shall not have by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, express or implied, is intended to or shall be construed to impose upon the Agents any obligations in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except as expressly set forth herein or therein. Each Lender shall make its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Loan Parties in connection with the making and the continuance of the Loans hereunder and shall make its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and the value of the Collateral without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties, and neither the Agents nor any of their Related Parties shall have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any Lender with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into their possession before the initial Loan hereunder or at any time or times thereafter, provided

 

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that upon the reasonable request of a Lender, each Agent shall provide to such Lender any documents or reports delivered to such Agent by the Loan Parties pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. If any Agent seeks the consent or approval of 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) to the taking or refraining from taking any action hereunder, such Agent shall send notice thereof to each Lender. Each Agent shall promptly notify each Lender any time that 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) have instructed such Agent to act or refrain from acting pursuant hereto.

(b) Each Agent may, upon any term or condition it specifies, delegate or exercise any of its rights, powers and remedies under, and delegate or perform any of its duties or any other action with respect to, any Loan Document by or through any of its Related Parties or any other trustee, co-agent or other Person (including any Lender). Any such Related Party, trustee, co-agent or other Person shall benefit from this Article X to the extent provided by the applicable Agent.

Section 10.03 Rights, Exculpation, Etc. The Agents and their Related Parties shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by them under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agents (i) may treat the payee of any Loan as the owner thereof until the Collateral Agent receives written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof, pursuant to Section 12.07, signed by such payee and in form satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; (ii) may consult with legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to any Agent or counsel to the Loan Parties), independent public accountants, and other experts selected by any of them and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by any of them in accordance with the advice of such counsel or experts; (iii) make no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, certificates, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; (iv) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents on the part of any Person, the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of Default, or to inspect the Collateral or other property (including, without limitation, the books and records) of any Person; (v) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; and (vi) shall not be deemed to have made any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectibility of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Collateral Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Agents be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral. The Agents shall not be liable for any apportionment or distribution of payments made in good faith pursuant to Section 4.03, and if any such apportionment or distribution is subsequently determined to have been made in error, and the sole recourse of any Lender to whom payment was due but not made shall be to recover from other Lenders any payment in excess of the amount which they are determined to be entitled. The Agents may at any time request instructions from the Lenders with respect to any actions or approvals which by the terms of this Agreement or of any of the other Loan Documents the Agents are permitted or required to take or to grant, and if such instructions are promptly requested, the Agents shall be absolutely entitled to refrain from taking any action or to withhold any approval under any of the Loan Documents until they shall have received such instructions from the Required Lenders. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against any Agent as a result of such Agent acting or refraining from acting under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents in accordance with the instructions of 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).

 

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Section 10.04 Reliance. Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any written notices, statements, certificates, orders or other documents or any telephone message believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person, and with respect to all matters pertaining to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and its duties hereunder or thereunder, upon advice of counsel selected by it.

Section 10.05 Indemnification. To the extent that any Agent or any Related Party of the foregoing is not reimbursed and indemnified by any Loan Party, and whether or not such Agent has made demand on any Loan Party for the same, the Lenders will, within five days of written demand by such Agent, reimburse such Agent and such Related Parties for and indemnify such Agent and such Related Parties from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, client charges and expenses of counsel or any other advisor to such Agent and such Related Parties), advances or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Agent and the Related Parties in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or any action taken or omitted by such Agent and such Related Parties under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, in proportion to each Lender’s Pro Rata Share, including, without limitation, advances and disbursements made pursuant to Section 10.08; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, advances or disbursements for which there has been a final non-appealable judicial determination that such liability resulted from such Agent’s or such Related Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 10.05 shall survive the payment in full of the Loans and the termination of this Agreement.

Section 10.06 Agents Individually. With respect to its Commitment hereunder and the Loans made by it, each Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or maker of a Loan. The terms “Lenders” or “Required Lenders” or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include each Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender or one of the Required Lenders. Each Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with any Borrower as if it were not acting as an Agent pursuant hereto without any duty to account to the other Lenders.

Section 10.07 Successor Agent.

(a) Any Agent may at any time give at least 30 days prior written notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Administrative Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent. If no such successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent. Whether or not a successor Agent has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

(b) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date, (i) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through such retiring Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as a successor Agent shall have been appointed as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s Agent’s appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents. After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article, Sections 12.04 and 12.15 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while the retiring Agent was acting as Agent.

 

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Section 10.08 Collateral Matters.

(a) The Collateral Agent may from time to time make such disbursements and advances (“Collateral Agent Advances”) which the Collateral Agent, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or desirable to preserve, protect, prepare for sale or lease or dispose of the Collateral or any portion thereof, to enhance the likelihood or maximize the amount of repayment by the Borrowers of the Loans and other Obligations or to pay any other amount chargeable to the Borrowers pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, costs, fees and expenses as described in Section 12.04. The Collateral Agent Advances shall be repayable on demand and be secured by the Collateral and shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate then applicable to Revolving Loans that are Reference Rate Loans. The Collateral Agent Advances shall constitute Obligations hereunder which may be charged to the Loan Account in accordance with Section 4.01. The Collateral Agent shall notify each Lender and the Administrative Borrower in writing of each such Collateral Agent Advance, which notice shall include a description of the purpose of such Collateral Agent Advance. Without limitation to its obligations pursuant to Section 10.05, each Lender agrees that it shall make available to the Collateral Agent, upon the Collateral Agent’s demand, in Dollars in immediately available funds, the amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of each such Collateral Agent Advance. If such funds are not made available to the Collateral Agent by such Lender, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to recover such funds on demand from such Lender, together with interest thereon for each day from the date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to the Collateral Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for three Business Days and thereafter at the Reference Rate.

(b) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Collateral Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Collateral Agent upon any Collateral upon the termination in full of the Commitments and payment and satisfaction of all Loans and all other Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) in accordance with the terms hereof; or constituting property being sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of any Loan Party’s business or otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; or constituting property in which the Loan Parties owned no interest at the time the Lien was granted or at any time thereafter; or if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Lenders in accordance with Section 12.02. Upon request by the Collateral Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Collateral Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant to this Section 10.08(b).

(c) Without in any manner limiting the Collateral Agent’s authority to act without any specific or further authorization or consent by the Lenders (as set forth in Section 10.08(b)), each Lender agrees to confirm in writing, upon request by the Collateral Agent, the authority to release Collateral conferred upon the Collateral Agent under Section 10.08(b). Upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of confirmation from the Lenders of its authority to release any particular item or types of Collateral, and upon prior written request by any Loan Party, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Lenders to) execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the release of the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders upon such Collateral; provided, however, that (i) the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which, in the Collateral Agent’s opinion, would expose the Collateral Agent to liability or create any obligations or entail any consequence other than the release of such Liens without recourse or warranty, and (ii) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Obligations or any Lien upon (or obligations of any Loan Party in respect of) all interests in the Collateral retained by any Loan Party.

 

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(d) Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, the Loan Parties, each Agent and each Lender hereby agree that (i) no Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral under any Loan Document or to enforce any Guaranty, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in accordance with the terms thereof, (ii) in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale and (iii) the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Agents and the Lenders (but not any other Agent or any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral to be sold (A) at any public or private sale, (B) at any sale conducted by the Collateral Agent under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (including pursuant to Section 9-610 or 9-620 of the Uniform Commercial Code), (C) at any sale or foreclosure conducted by the Collateral Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with applicable law or (D) any sale conducted pursuant to the provisions of any Debtor Relief Law (including Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code), to use and apply all or any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any Collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale.

(e) The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to any Lender to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the Loan Parties or is cared for, protected or insured or has been encumbered or that the Lien granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document has been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected or enforced or is entitled to any particular priority, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent in this Section 10.08 or in any other Loan Document, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, the Collateral Agent may act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its sole discretion, given the Collateral Agent’s own interest in the Collateral as one of the Lenders and that the Collateral Agent shall have no duty or liability whatsoever to any other Lender, except as otherwise provided herein.

Section 10.09 Agency for Perfection. Each Agent and each Lender hereby appoints each other Agent and each other Lender as agent and bailee for the purpose of perfecting the security interests in and liens upon the Collateral in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, can be perfected only by possession or control (or where the security interest of a secured party with possession or control has priority over the security interest of another secured party) and each Agent and each Lender hereby acknowledges that it holds possession of or otherwise controls any such Collateral for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders as secured party. Should the Administrative Agent or any Lender obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Collateral Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions. In addition, the Collateral Agent shall also have the power and authority hereunder to appoint such other sub-agents as may be necessary or required under applicable state law or otherwise to perform its duties and enforce its rights with respect to the Collateral and under the Loan Documents. Each Loan Party by its execution and delivery of this Agreement hereby consents to the foregoing.

Section 10.10 No Reliance on any Agent’s Customer Identification Program. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that neither such Lender, nor any of its Affiliates, participants or assignees, may rely on any Agent to carry out such Lender’s, Affiliate’s, participant’s or assignee’s customer identification program, or other requirements imposed by the USA PATRIOT Act or the regulations issued thereunder, including the regulations set forth in 31 C.F.R. §§ 1010.100(yy), (iii),

 

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1020.100, and 1020.220 (formerly, 31 C.F.R. § 103.121), as hereafter amended or replaced (“CIP Regulations”), or any other Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including any programs involving any of the following items relating to or in connection with any of the Loan Parties, their Affiliates or their agents, the Loan Documents or the transactions hereunder or contemplated hereby: (1) any identity verification procedures, (2) any recordkeeping, (3) comparisons with government lists, (4) customer notices or (5) other procedures required under the CIP Regulations or other regulations issued under the USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender, Affiliate, participant or assignee subject to Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act will perform the measures necessary to satisfy its own responsibilities under the CIP Regulations.

Section 10.11 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and no Loan Party shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

Section 10.12 No Fiduciary Relationship. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Document (or any other similar term) with reference to any 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.

Section 10.13 Reports; Confidentiality; Disclaimers. By becoming a party to this Agreement, each Lender:

(a) is deemed to have requested that each Agent furnish such Lender, promptly after it becomes available, a copy of each field audit or examination report with respect to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Report”) prepared by or at the request of such Agent, and each Agent shall so furnish each Lender with each such Report;

(b) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Agents (i) do not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any Reports, and (ii) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Reports;

(c) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are not comprehensive audits or examinations, that any Agent or other party performing any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Parent and its Subsidiaries and will rely significantly upon the Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ books and records, as well as on representations of their personnel;

(d) agrees to keep all Reports and other material, non-public information regarding the Parent and its Subsidiaries and their operations, assets, and existing and contemplated business plans in a confidential manner in accordance with Section 12.19; and

(e) without limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, agrees: (i) to hold any Agent and any other Lender preparing a Report harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or fail to take or any conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report in connection with any loans or other credit accommodations that the indemnifying Lender has made or may make to the Borrowers, or the indemnifying Lender’s participation in, or the indemnifying Lender’s purchase of, a loan or loans of the Borrowers, and (ii) to pay and protect, and indemnify, defend and hold any Agent and any other Lender preparing a Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and other amounts (including, attorneys’ fees and costs) incurred by any such Agent and any such other Lender preparing a Report as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.

 

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Section 10.14 Collateral Custodian. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Default or Event of Default, the Collateral Agent or its designee may at any time and from time to time employ and maintain on the premises of any Loan Party a custodian selected by the Collateral Agent or its designee who shall have full authority to do all acts necessary to protect the Agents’ and the Lenders’ interests. Each Loan Party hereby agrees to, and to cause its Subsidiaries to, cooperate with any such custodian and to do whatever the Collateral Agent or its designee may reasonably request to preserve the Collateral. All costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent or its designee by reason of the employment of the custodian shall be the responsibility of the Borrowers and charged to the Loan Account.

Section 10.15 Collateral Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, the Collateral 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 any Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations 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 Secured Parties (including any claim for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Secured Parties and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Secured Parties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents) 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 Secured Party to make such payments to the Collateral Agent and, in the event that the Collateral Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Secured Parties, to pay to the Collateral Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Collateral Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

Section 10.16 Erroneous Distribution. If all or any part of any payment or other distribution by or on behalf of any Agent to any Borrower, any Lender, or any other Person is determined by such Agent in its sole discretion to have been made in error as determined by such Agent (any such payment or other distribution, an “Erroneous Distribution”), then the relevant Borrower, Lender, or other Person shall forthwith on written demand (accompanied by a reasonably detailed calculation of such Erroneous Distribution) repay to such Agent the amount of such Erroneous Distribution received by such Person. Any determination by any Agent, in its sole discretion, that all or a portion of any payment or other distribution to any Borrower, any Lender, or any other Person was an Erroneous Distribution shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Borrower, each Lender, and each other potential recipient of an Erroneous Distribution hereunder waives any claim of discharge for value and any other claim of entitlement to, or in respect of, any Erroneous Distribution.

 

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ARTICLE XI

GUARANTY

Section 11.01 Guaranty. Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally and unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all Obligations of the Borrowers now or hereafter existing under any Loan Document, whether for principal, interest (including, without limitation, all interest that accrues after the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding of any Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such Insolvency Proceeding) fees, commissions, expense reimbursements, indemnifications or otherwise (such obligations, to the extent not paid by the Borrowers, being the “Guaranteed Obligations”), and agrees to pay any and all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Secured Parties in enforcing any rights under the guaranty set forth in this Article XI. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor’s liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of the Guaranteed Obligations and would be owed by the Borrowers to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of an Insolvency Proceeding involving any Borrower. In no event shall the obligation of any Guarantor hereunder exceed the maximum amount such Guarantor could guarantee under any Debtor Relief Law.

Section 11.02 Guaranty Absolute. Each Guarantor jointly and severally guarantees that the Guaranteed Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto. Each Guarantor agrees that this Article XI constitutes a guaranty of payment when due and not of collection and waives any right to require that any resort be made by any Agent or any Lender to any Collateral. The obligations of each Guarantor under this Article XI are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against each Guarantor to enforce such obligations, irrespective of whether any action is brought against any Loan Party or whether any Loan Party is joined in any such action or actions. The liability of each Guarantor under this Article XI shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional irrespective of, and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now or hereafter have in any way relating to, any or all of the following:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any Loan Document, including, without limitation, any increase in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from the extension of additional credit to any Loan Party or otherwise;

(c) any taking, exchange, release or non-perfection of any Collateral, or any taking, release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guaranty, for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations;

(d) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that any Guarantor may have at any time against any Person, including, without limitation, any Secured Party;

(e) any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate, limited liability company or partnership structure or existence of any Loan Party; or

(f) any other circumstance (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations) or any existence of or reliance on any representation by the Secured Parties that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party or any other guarantor or surety.

 

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This Article XI shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by Secured Parties or any other Person upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

Section 11.03 Waiver. Each Guarantor hereby waives (i) promptness and diligence, (ii) notice of acceptance and any other notice with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations and this Article XI and any requirement that the Secured Parties exhaust any right or take any action against any Loan Party or any other Person or any Collateral, (iii) any right to compel or direct any Secured Party to seek payment or recovery of any amounts owed under this Article XI from any one particular fund or source or to exhaust any right or take any action against any other Loan Party, any other Person or any Collateral, (iv) any requirement that any Secured Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest or Lien on any property subject thereto or exhaust any right to take any action against any Loan Party, any other Person or any Collateral, and (v) any other defense available to any Guarantor. Each Guarantor agrees that the Secured Parties shall have no obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Guarantor or against, or in payment of, any or all of the Obligations. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated herein and that the waiver set forth in this Section 11.03 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to revoke this Article XI, and acknowledges that this Article XI is continuing in nature and applies to all Guaranteed Obligations, whether existing now or in the future.

Section 11.04 Continuing Guaranty; Assignments. This Article XI is a continuing guaranty and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until the later of the cash payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) and all other amounts payable under this Article XI and the Final Maturity Date, (b) be binding upon each Guarantor, its successors and assigns and (c) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Secured Parties and their successors, pledgees, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (c), any Lender may pledge, assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or any portion of its Commitments, its Loans owing to it) to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted such Lender herein or otherwise, in each case as provided in Section 12.07.

Section 11.05 Subrogation. No Guarantor will exercise any rights that it may now or hereafter acquire against any Loan Party or any other guarantor that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of such Guarantor’s obligations under this Article XI, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Secured Parties against any Loan Party or any other guarantor or any Collateral, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any Loan Party or any other guarantor, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security solely on account of such claim, remedy or right, unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) and all other amounts payable under this Article XI shall have been paid in full in cash and the Final Maturity Date shall have occurred; provided, however, that such claims, remedies and rights of any Guarantor shall remain waived and released at any time the Collateral Agent or any of the other Secured Parties (with or through their designees) have acquired all or any portion of the Collateral by credit bid, strict foreclosure or through any other exercise of remedies available to the Collateral Agent or the other Secured Parties pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to the later of the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) and all other amounts payable under this Article XI and the Final Maturity Date, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Secured Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Secured Parties to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Article XI, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this

 

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Agreement, or to be held as Collateral for any Guaranteed Obligations or other amounts payable under this Article XI thereafter arising. If (i) any Guarantor shall make payment to the Secured Parties of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Article XI shall be paid in full in cash and (iii) the Final Maturity Date shall have occurred, the Secured Parties will, at such Guarantor’s request and expense, execute and deliver to such Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an interest in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from such payment by such Guarantor.

Section 11.06 Contribution. All Guarantors desire to allocate among themselves, in a fair and equitable manner, their obligations arising under this Guaranty. Accordingly, in the event any payment or distribution is made on any date by a Guarantor under this Guaranty such that its Aggregate Payments exceeds its Fair Share as of such date, such Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each of the other Guarantors in an amount sufficient to cause each Guarantor’s Aggregate Payments to equal its Fair Share as of such date. “Fair Share” means, with respect to any Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the ratio of (i) the Fair Share Contribution Amount with respect to such Guarantor to (ii) the aggregate of the Fair Share Contribution Amounts with respect to all Guarantors multiplied by (b) the aggregate amount paid or distributed on or before such date by all Guarantors under this Guaranty in respect of the obligations Guaranteed. “Fair Share Contribution Amount” means, with respect to any Guarantor as of any date of determination, the maximum aggregate amount of the obligations of such Guarantor under this Guaranty that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any comparable applicable provisions of state law; provided solely for purposes of calculating the “Fair Share Contribution Amount” with respect to any Guarantor for purposes of this Section 11.06, any assets or liabilities of such Guarantor arising by virtue of any rights to subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification or any rights to or obligations of contribution hereunder shall not be considered as assets or liabilities of such Guarantor. “Aggregate Payments” means, with respect to any Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (A) the aggregate amount of all payments and distributions made on or before such date by such Guarantor in respect of this Guaranty (including, without limitation, in respect of this Section 11.06), minus (B) the aggregate amount of all payments received on or before such date by such Guarantor from the other Guarantors as contributions under this Section 11.06. The amounts payable as contributions hereunder shall be determined as of the date on which the related payment or distribution is made by the applicable Guarantor. The allocation among Guarantors of their obligations as set forth in this Section 11.06 shall not be construed in any way to limit the liability of any Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor is a third-party beneficiary to the contribution agreement set forth in this Section 11.06.

Section  11.07 Maximum Parent Liability. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the recourse against Parent in its capacity as a Guarantor shall be limited solely to the Parent Collateral. Whenever Parent is referred to as a Guarantor for purposes of this Agreement, such reference shall be to its status as a Guarantor of the Obligations of the Loan Parties with recourse solely limited to the Parent Collateral. No judgment in the nature of a deficiency judgment shall be enforced against Parent, in its capacity as a Guarantor of the Obligations, out of any of its property other than the Parent Collateral. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between this Section 11.07 and any other provision in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, this Section 11.07 shall control.

 

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ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01 Notices, Etc.

(a) Notices Generally. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand, sent by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), overnight courier, or telecopier. In the case of notices or other communications to any Loan Party, Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, they shall be sent to the respective address set forth below (or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties complying as to delivery with the terms of this Section 12.01):

 

If to any Loan Party, to it at the following address:

600 N. Marienfeld, Ste 800

EagleRock Land Operating, LLC

9655 Katy Freeway, Suite 375

Midland, Texas 79701Houston, TX 77024

Attention:    Dale Redman, Vice PresidentGeneral Counsel
Email:    dale@redmanranches[***]

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Jackson Walker L.L.P.

1900 Broadway, Suite 1200

San Antonio, Texas 78215

Attention: Reagan Marble

Telephone: (210) 978-7770

Email: [email protected]

if to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, to it at the following address:

 

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TCW Asset Management Company LLC

200 Clarendon St., 51st Floor

Boston, MA 02116

Attention: Jason Andreotes

Telephone: 781-956-5810

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

in each case, with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Paul Hastings LLP

1999 Avenue of the Stars, 27th Floor

Century City, CA 90067

  

Attention:  Justin Rawlins

Telephone:   (310) 620-5760

Email:     [email protected]

and

 

Paul Hastings LLP

609 Main Street, Suite 2500

Houston, TX 77002

Attention:  Jason Busch

Telephone:   (713) 860-7346

Email:     [email protected]

All notices or other communications sent in accordance with this Section 12.01, shall be deemed received on the earlier of the date of actual receipt or three Business Days after the deposit thereof in the mail; provided that (i) notices sent by overnight courier service shall be deemed to have been given when received and (ii) notices 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), provided, further, that notices to any Agent pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until received by such Agent.

(b) Electronic Communications.

(i) Each Agent and the Administrative Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Agents, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Agents that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.

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

 

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Section 12.02 Amendments, Etc.

(a) No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed (x) in the case of an amendment, consent or waiver to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency or granting a new Lien for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders or extending an existing Lien over additional property, by the Agents and the Borrowers (or by the Administrative Borrower on behalf of the Borrowers), (y) in the case of any other waiver or consent, by the Required Lenders (or by the Collateral Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and (z) in the case of any other amendment, by the Required Lenders (or by the Collateral Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Borrowers (or by the Administrative Borrower on behalf of the Borrowers), with a copy provided to the Administrative Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) increase the Commitment of any Lender, reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Loans payable to any Lender, reduce the amount of any fee payable for the account of any Lender, or postpone or extend any scheduled date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest or fees on, the Loans payable to any Lender, in each case, without the written consent of such Lender;

(ii) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans that is required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;

(iii) amend the definition of “Required Lenders” or “Pro Rata Share” without the written consent of each Lender;

(iv) release all or a substantial portion of the Collateral (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents), subordinate any Lien granted in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, subordinate the Obligations in right of payment to any other Indebtedness, or release any Borrower or any Guarantor (except in connection with a Disposition of the Equity Interests thereof permitted by Section 7.02(c)(ii)), in each case, without the written consent of each Lender; or

(v) amend, modify or waive Section 4.02, Section 4.03 or this Section 12.02 without the written consent of each Lender.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 12.02(a):

(i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by an Agent, affect the rights or duties of such Agent (but not in its capacity as a Lender) under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents;

 

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(ii) any Control Agreement, Guaranty, Mortgage, Security Agreement, collateral access agreement, landlord waiver, or other agreement or document purporting to create or perfect a security interest in any of the Collateral (a “Collateral Document”) may be amended, waived or otherwise modified with the consent of the applicable Agent and the applicable Loan Party without the need to obtain the consent of any Lender or any other Person if such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver is delivered in order (A) to comply with local Requirements of Law (including foreign law or regulatory requirements) or advice of local counsel, (B) to cure any ambiguity, inconsistency, omission, mistake or defect, or (C) to cause such Collateral Document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and if the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower shall have jointly identified an ambiguity, inconsistency, omission, mistake or defect, in each case, in any provision of any Loan Document (other than a Collateral Document), then the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower shall be permitted to amend such provision; any amendment, waiver or modification pursuant to this paragraph shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders within five Business Days following receipt of notice thereof;

(iii) no consent of any Loan Party shall be required to change any order of priority set forth in Section 2.05(d) or Section 4.03;

(iv) the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower may enter into an amendment to this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.07(h) to reflect an alternate service or index rate and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable; and

(v) no Defaulting Lender, Loan Party, Permitted Holder or any of their respective Affiliates that is a Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent under the Loan Documents and any Loans held by such Person for purposes hereof shall be automatically deemed to be voted pro rata according to the Loans of all other Lenders in the aggregate (other than such Defaulting Lender, Loan Party, Permitted Holder or Affiliate).

Section 12.03 No Waiver; Remedies, Etc. No failure on the part of any Agent or any Lender to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right under any Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The rights and remedies of the Agents and the Lenders provided herein and in the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies provided by law. The rights of the Agents and the Lenders under any Loan Document against any party thereto are not conditional or contingent on any attempt by the Agents and the Lenders to exercise any of their rights under any other Loan Document against such party or against any other Person.

Section 12.04 Expenses; Attorneys’ Fees. The Borrowers will pay on demand, all costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of each Agent (and, in the case of clauses (b) through (m) below, each Lender), regardless of whether the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, including, without limitation, reasonable and documented fees, costs, client charges and expenses of one firm of counsel for each Agent (and, in the case of clauses (c) through (m) below, each Lender that is not affiliated with any Agent) and one local counsel to the Agents and the Lenders in each jurisdiction deemed reasonably necessary by the Agents (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional primary counsel and, if necessary, one additional local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to the affected Persons, taken as a whole), accounting, due diligence, periodic field audits, physical counts, valuations, investigations, searches and filings, monitoring of assets, appraisals of Collateral, the rating of the Loans, title searches and reviewing environmental assessments, miscellaneous disbursements, examination, travel, lodging and meals, arising from or relating to: (a) the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery, performance and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the preparation of any additional Loan Documents pursuant to Section 7.01(b) or the review of any of the agreements, instruments and documents referred to in Section 7.01(f)), (b) any requested

 

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amendments, waivers or consents to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents whether or not such documents become effective or are given, (c) the preservation and protection of the Agents’ or any of the Lenders’ rights under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (d) the defense of any claim or action asserted or brought against any Agent or any Lender by any Person that arises from or relates to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Agents’ or the Lenders’ claims against any Loan Party, or any and all matters in connection therewith, (e) the commencement or defense of, or intervention in, any court proceeding arising from or related to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (f) the filing of any petition, complaint, answer, motion or other pleading by any Agent or any Lender, or the taking of any action in respect of the Collateral or other security, in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (g) the protection, collection, lease, sale, taking possession of or liquidation of any Collateral or other security in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (h) any attempt to enforce any Lien or security interest in any Collateral or other security in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (i) any attempt to collect from any Loan Party, (j) any Environmental Claim, Environmental Liability or Remedial Action arising from or in connection with the past, present or future operations of, or any assets or property currently, formerly or in the future owned, leased or operated by, any Loan Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor in interest (including the Effective Date Assets), (k) any Environmental Lien, (l) the rating of the Loans by one or more rating agencies in connection with any Lender’s Securitization, or (m) the receipt by any Agent or any Lender of any advice from professionals with respect to any of the foregoing. Without limitation of the foregoing or any other provision of any Loan Document: (x) the Borrowers agree to pay all broker fees that may become due in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (y) if the Borrowers fail to perform any covenant or agreement contained herein or in any other Loan Document, any Agent may itself perform or cause performance of such covenant or agreement, and the expenses of such Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be reimbursed on demand by the Borrowers. The obligations of the Borrowers under this Section 12.04 shall survive the repayment of the Obligations and discharge of any Liens granted under the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, clauses (d) through (l) of this Section 12.04 shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

Section 12.05 Right of Set-off. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, any Agent or any Lender may, and is hereby authorized to, at any time and from time to time, without notice to any Loan Party (any such notice being expressly waived by the Loan Parties) and to the fullest extent permitted by law, set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other Indebtedness at any time owing by such Agent or such Lender or any of their respective Affiliates to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all obligations of the Loan Parties either now or hereafter existing under any Loan Document, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender shall have made any demand hereunder or thereunder and although such obligations may be contingent or unmatured; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of set-off, (a) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.04 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 Agents and the Lenders, and (b) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of set-off. Each Agent and each Lender agrees to notify such Loan Party promptly after any such set-off and application made by such Agent or such Lender or any of their respective Affiliates provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of the Agents and the Lenders under this Section 12.05 are in addition to the other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) which the Agents and the Lenders may have under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents of law or otherwise.

 

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Section 12.06 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 12.07 Assignments and Participations.

(a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Loan Party and each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that none of the Loan Parties may assign or transfer any of its rights hereunder or under the other Loan Documents without the prior written consent of each Lender and any such assignment without the Lenders’ prior written consent shall be null and void.

(b) Subject to the conditions set forth in clause (c) below, each Lender may assign to one or more other lenders or other entities all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to:

(i) all or a portion of its Initial Term Loan Commitment, Third Amendment Term Loan Commitment and/or FifthThird Amendment Term Loan Commitment and any Term Loan made by it with the written consent of the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Borrower, and

(ii) all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and the Revolving Loans made by it with the written consent of each Agent and the Administrative Borrower;

provided, however, that (A) no written consent of either Agent or the Administrative Borrower shall be required (1) in connection with any assignment by any Lender to any Agent or any Lender, any Affiliate of any Agent or any Lender or any Related Fund of any Agent or any Lender or (2) if such assignment is in connection with any merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or any substantial portion of the business or loan portfolio of any Lender and (B) the written consent of the Administrative Borrower (1) shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, (2) shall not be required upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, (3) shall be deemed given if not denied in writing by the Administrative Borrower within 5 Business Days of the date of the written request therefor and, with respect to any denial, shall be accompanied by a written explanation thereof and (4) shall not be required for up to $120,000,000 of the principal amount of the Third Amendment Term Loans that are assigned to one or more Persons (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 business, so long as any such assignment pursuant to this clause (4) occurs within 180 days of the Third Amendment Effective Date.

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

(i) Each such assignment shall be in an amount which is at least $5,000,000 or a multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or the remainder of such Lender’s Commitment) (except such minimum amount shall not apply to an assignment by any Lender to (A) any Agent or any Lender, any Affiliate of any Agent or any Lender or any Related Fund of any Agent or any Lender or (B) a group of new Lenders, each of whom is an Affiliate or Related Fund of each other to the extent the aggregate amount to be assigned to all such new Lenders is at least $5,000,000 or a multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof).

 

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(ii) The parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent (and the Administrative Agent, if applicable), for its acceptance, an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any promissory note subject to such assignment and such parties shall deliver to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, a processing and recordation fee of $5,000 (except the payment of such fee shall not be required in connection with an assignment by a Lender to a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or a Related Fund of such Lender).

(iii) No such assignment shall be made to (A) any Loan Party, any Permitted Holder or any of their respective Affiliates, or (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Affiliates, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B).

(d) Upon such execution, delivery and acceptance, from and after the date of recordation on the Register, which recordation date shall be at least three Business Days after the delivery thereof to the Collateral Agent (or such shorter period as shall be agreed to by the Collateral Agent and the parties to such assignment), (A) the assignee thereunder shall become a “Lender” hereunder and, in addition to the rights and obligations hereunder held by it immediately prior to such effective date, have the rights and obligations hereunder that have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and (B) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto).

(e) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other Loan Document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) the assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or the performance or observance by any Loan Party of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other documents and information it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the assigning Lender, any Agent or any 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 this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (v) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agents to take such action as agents on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Agents by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental hereto and thereto; and (vi) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(f) The Administrative Agent shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain, or cause to be maintained at the Payment Office, a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register (the “Register”) for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitments of, and the principal amount of the Loans (and stated interest thereon) (the “Registered Loans”) owing to each Lender from time to time.

 

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The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Agents and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Administrative Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior written notice.

(g) Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of a completed Assignment and Acceptance, and subject to any consent required from the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 12.07(b) (which consent of the applicable Agent must be evidenced by such Agent’s execution of an acceptance to such Assignment and Acceptance), the Administrative Agent shall accept such assignment, record the information contained therein in the Register (as adjusted to reflect any principal payments on or amounts capitalized and added to the principal balance of the Loans and/or Commitment reductions made subsequent to the effective date of the applicable assignment, as confirmed in writing by the corresponding assignor and assignee in conjunction with delivery of the assignment to the Administrative Agent) and provide to the Collateral Agent a copy of the fully executed Assignment and Acceptance.

(h) A Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) may be assigned or sold in whole or in part only by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register (and each registered note shall expressly so provide). Any assignment or sale of all or part of such Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) may be effected only by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register, together with the surrender of the registered note, if any, evidencing the same duly endorsed by (or accompanied by a written instrument of assignment or sale duly executed by) the holder of such registered note, whereupon, at the request of the designated assignee(s) or transferee(s), one or more new registered notes in the same aggregate principal amount shall be issued to the designated assignee(s) or transferee(s).

(i) If any Lender sells participations in a Registered Loan, such Lender shall, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent on behalf of the Borrowers, maintain, or cause to be maintained, a register, on which it enters the name of all participants in the Registered Loans held by it and the principal amount (and stated interest thereon) of the portion of the Registered Loan that is the subject of the participation (the “Participant Register”). A Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) may be participated in whole or in part only by registration of such participation on the Participant Register (and each registered note shall expressly so provide). Any participation of such Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) may be effected only by the registration of such participation on the Participant Register. The Participant Register shall be available for inspection by the Administrative Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(j) Any Non-U.S. Lender who purchases or is assigned or participates in any portion of such Registered Loan shall comply with Section 2.09(d).

(k) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks or other entities in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans made by it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement (including without limitation, its Commitments hereunder) and the other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged; (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and the Borrowers, the Agents and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; and (iii) a participant shall not be entitled to require such Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder except

 

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(A) action directly effecting an extension of the maturity dates or decrease in the principal amount of the Loans, (B) action directly effecting an extension of the due dates or a decrease in the rate of interest payable on the Loans or the fees payable under this Agreement, or (C) actions directly effecting a release of all or a substantial portion of the Collateral or any Loan Party (except as set forth in Section 10.08 or any other Loan Document). The Loan Parties agree that each participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.09 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.09(d) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.09(d) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) and Section 2.10 with respect to its participation in any portion of the Commitments and the Loans as if it was a Lender; provided that such Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.09, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.

(l) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or loans made to, or other indebtedness issued by, such Lender pursuant to a securitization transaction (including any structured warehouse credit facility, collateralized loan obligation transaction or similar facility or transaction, and including any further securitization of the indebtedness or equity issued under such a transaction) (a “Securitization”); 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. The Loan Parties shall cooperate with such Lender and its Affiliates to effect a Securitization, including, without limitation, by providing such information as may be reasonably requested by such Lender in connection with the rating of its Loans or any Securitization.

Section 12.08 Counterparts; Electronic Execution.

(a) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telecopier or electronic mail shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telecopier or electronic mail also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Agreement but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding effect of this Agreement. The foregoing shall apply to each other Loan Document mutatis mutandis.

(b) The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including any Assignment and Acceptance shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or electronic records each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signature in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

Section 12.09 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY IN ANOTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN RESPECT OF SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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Section 12.10 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS AND VENUE.

(a) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS AND IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY ANY MEANS PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE BORROWER AT ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 12.01, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE 10 DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. THE LOAN PARTIES AGREE THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENTS AND THE LENDERS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE JURISDICTION OR LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY LOAN PARTY HAS OR HEREAFTER MAY ACQUIRE ANY IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER THROUGH SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE) WITH RESPECT TO ITSELF OR ITS PROPERTY, EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.

(b) Each Loan Party irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against any Agent, any Lender or any Related Party of the foregoing in any way relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof.

Section 12.11 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC. EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM CONCERNING ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR UNDER ANY AMENDMENT, WAIVER, CONSENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR OTHER AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH IN THE FUTURE MAY BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, OR ARISING FROM ANY FINANCING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, PROCEEDINGS OR COUNTERCLAIM SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY. EACH LOAN PARTY CERTIFIES THAT NO OFFICER, REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY AGENT OR ANY LENDER HAS

 

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REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT ANY AGENT OR ANY LENDER WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS. EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE AGENTS AND THE LENDERS ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT.

Section 12.12 Consent by the Agents and Lenders. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein to the contrary or in any other Loan Document, if the consent, approval, satisfaction, determination, judgment, acceptance or similar action (an “Action”) of any Agent or any Lender shall be permitted or required pursuant to any provision hereof or any provision of any other agreement to which any Loan Party is a party and to which any Agent or any Lender has succeeded thereto, such Action shall be required to be in writing and may be withheld or denied by such Agent or such Lender, in its sole discretion, with or without any reason, and without being subject to question or challenge on the grounds that such Action was not taken in good faith.

Section 12.13 No Party Deemed Drafter. Each of the parties hereto agrees that no party hereto shall be deemed to be the drafter of this Agreement.

Section 12.14 Reinstatement; Certain Payments. If any claim is ever made upon any Secured Party for repayment or recovery of any amount or amounts received by such Secured Party in payment or on account of any of the Obligations, such Secured Party shall give prompt notice of such claim to each other Agent and Lender and the Administrative Borrower, and if such Secured Party repays all or part of such amount by reason of (i) any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative body having jurisdiction over such Secured Party or any of its property, or (ii) any good faith settlement or compromise of any such claim effected by such Secured Party with any such claimant, then and in such event each Loan Party agrees that (A) any such judgment, decree, order, settlement or compromise shall be binding upon it notwithstanding the cancellation of any Indebtedness hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or the termination of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and (B) it shall be and remain liable to such Secured Party hereunder for the amount so repaid or recovered to the same extent as if such amount had never originally been received by such Secured Party.

Section 12.15 Indemnification; Limitation of Liability for Certain Damages.

(a) In addition to each Loan Party’s other Obligations under this Agreement, each Loan Party agrees to, jointly and severally, defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless each Secured Party and all of their respective Related Parties (collectively called the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties, fees, reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses for one primary counsel for all Indemnitees, and if reasonably necessary, a single outside local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional primary counsel and, if necessary, one additional local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to the affected Indemnitees, taken as a whole)) incurred by such Indemnitees, whether prior to or from and after the Effective Date, whether direct, indirect or consequential, as a result of or arising from or relating to or in connection with any of the following: (i) the negotiation, preparation, execution or performance or enforcement of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or of any other document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) any Agent’s or any Lender’s furnishing of funds to the Borrowers under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the management of any such Loans or the Borrowers’ use of the proceeds thereof, (iii) the Agents and the Lenders relying on any instructions of the Administrative Borrower or the handling of the Loan Account and Collateral of the Borrowers as herein provided, (iv) any matter relating to the financing transactions

 

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contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or by any document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or (v) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto (collectively, the “Indemnified Matters”); provided, however, that the Loan Parties shall not have any obligation to any Indemnitee under this subsection (a) for any Indemnified Matter (A) caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or for any dispute that does not involve any action or omission by the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates and is solely among the Indemnitees (other than any claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity as an Agent) or (B) with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc., arising from any non-Tax claim.

(b) The indemnification for all of the foregoing losses, damages, fees, costs and expenses of the Indemnitees set forth in this Section 12.15 are chargeable against the Loan Account. To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section 12.15 may be unenforceable because it is violative of any law or public policy, each Loan Party shall, jointly and severally, contribute the maximum portion which it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law, to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Matters incurred by the Indemnitees.

(c) No Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim against the Indemnitees, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) (whether or not the claim therefor is based on contract, tort or duty imposed by any applicable legal requirement) arising out of, in connection with, as a result of, or in any way related to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or omission or event occurring in connection therewith, and each Loan Party hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim or seek any such damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

(d) The indemnities and waivers set forth in this Section 12.15 shall survive the repayment of the Obligations and discharge of any Liens granted under the Loan Documents.

(e) All such amounts payable under this Section 12.15 shall be due and payable within 10 days of written demand.

Section 12.16 Records. The unpaid principal of and interest on the Loans, the interest rate or rates applicable to such unpaid principal and interest, the duration of such applicability, the Commitments, and the accrued and unpaid fees payable pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof, shall at all times be ascertained from the records of the Agents, which shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.

Section 12.17 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by each Loan Party, each Agent and each Lender and when the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.01 have been satisfied or waived in writing by the Agents, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Loan Party, each Agent and each Lender, and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Loan Parties shall not have the right to assign their rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of each Agent and each Lender, and any assignment by any Lender shall be governed by Section 12.07.

 

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Section 12.18 Highest Lawful Rate. It is the intention of the parties hereto that each Agent and each Lender shall conform strictly to usury laws applicable to it. Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby or by any other Loan Document would be usurious as to any Agent or any Lender under laws applicable to it (including the laws of the United States of America and the State of New York or any other jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable to such Agent or such Lender notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement), then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement entered into in connection with or as security for the Obligations, it is agreed as follows: (i) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under law applicable to any Agent or any Lender that is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Agent or such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or agreements or otherwise in connection with the Obligations shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, any excess shall be canceled automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited by such Agent or such Lender on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Agent or such Lender, as applicable, to the Borrowers); and (ii) in the event that the maturity of the Obligations is accelerated by reason of any Event of Default under this Agreement or otherwise, or in the event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable to any Agent or any Lender may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and excess interest, if any, provided for in this Agreement or otherwise shall, subject to the last sentence of this Section 12.18, be canceled automatically by such Agent or such Lender, as applicable, as of the date of such acceleration or prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited by such Agent or such Lender, as applicable, on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Agent or such Lender to the Borrowers). All sums paid or agreed to be paid to any Agent or any Lender for the use, forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by law applicable to such Agent or such Lender, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full term of the Loans until payment in full so that the rate or amount of interest on account of any Loans hereunder does not exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law. If at any time and from time to time (x) the amount of interest payable to any Agent or any Lender on any date shall be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Agent or such Lender pursuant to this Section 12.18 and (y) in respect of any subsequent interest computation period the amount of interest otherwise payable to such Agent or such Lender would be less than the amount of interest payable to such Agent or such Lender computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Agent or such Lender, then the amount of interest payable to such Agent or such Lender in respect of such subsequent interest computation period shall continue to be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Agent or such Lender until the total amount of interest payable to such Agent or such Lender shall equal the total amount of interest which would have been payable to such Agent or such Lender if the total amount of interest had been computed without giving effect to this Section 12.18.

For purposes of this Section 12.18, the term “applicable law” shall mean that law in effect from time to time and applicable to the loan transaction between the Borrowers, on the one hand, and the Agents and the Lenders, on the other, that lawfully permits the charging and collection of the highest permissible, lawful non-usurious rate of interest on such loan transaction and this Agreement, including laws of the State of New York and, to the extent controlling, laws of the United States of America.

The right to accelerate the maturity of the Obligations does not include the right to accelerate any interest that has not accrued as of the date of acceleration.

Section 12.19 Confidentiality. Each Agent and each Lender agrees (on behalf of itself and its Related Parties) to use reasonable precautions to keep confidential, in accordance with its customary procedures for handling confidential information of this nature and in accordance with safe and sound practices of comparable commercial finance companies, any non-public information supplied to it by the Loan Parties pursuant to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents which is identified in writing by the Loan Parties as being confidential at the time the same is delivered to such Person (and which at the time is not, and does not thereafter become, publicly available or available to such Person from another source

 

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not known to be subject to a confidentiality obligation to such Person not to disclose such information), provided that nothing herein shall limit the disclosure by any Agent or any Lender of any such information (i) to its Affiliates, its Related Parties or the Related Parties of any Person described in clause (ii) or (iii) below) (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made either will be informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed to keep such information confidential in accordance with this Section 12.19 or is subject to other customary confidentiality obligations); (ii) to any other party hereto; (iii) to any assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) or any party to a Securitization, so long as such assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) or party to a Securitization agrees, in writing, to be bound by or is otherwise subject to customary confidentiality obligations (including, without limitation, confidentiality provisions similar in substance to this Section 12.19); (iv) to the extent required by any Requirement of Law or judicial process or as otherwise requested by any Governmental Authority; (v) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization, any examiner, auditor or accountant or any nationally recognized rating agency; (vi) in connection with any litigation to which any Agent or any Lender is a party; (vii) 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; (viii) to any other Person if such information is general portfolio information that does not identity the Loan Parties; or (ix) with the consent of the Administrative Borrower. In addition, the Agents 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 any Agent or any Lender in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Commitments.

Section 12.20 Public Disclosure. Each Loan Party agrees that neither it nor any of its Affiliates will now or in the future issue any press release or other public disclosure using the name of an Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of such Agent or such Lender, except to the extent that such Loan Party or such Affiliate is required to do so under applicable law (in which event, such Loan Party or such Affiliate will consult with such Agent or such Lender before issuing such press release or other public disclosure). Each Loan Party hereby authorizes each Agent and each Lender, after consultation with the Borrowers, to advertise the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to make appropriate announcements of the financial arrangements entered into among the parties hereto, as such Agent or such Lender shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, on a home page or similar place for dissemination of information on the Internet or worldwide web, or in announcements commonly known as tombstones, in such trade publications, business journals, newspapers of general circulation and to such selected parties as such Agent or such Lender shall deem appropriate.

Section 12.21 Integration. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, reflects the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be contradicted or qualified by any other agreement, oral or written, before the date hereof.

Section 12.22 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the entities composing the Borrowers, which information includes the name and address of each such entity and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the entities composing the Borrowers in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. Each Loan Party agrees to take such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver at its sole cost and expense, such instruments and documents as any Lender may reasonably require from time to time in order to enable such Lender to comply with the USA PATRIOT Act.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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[Signature pages intentionally omitted]

 


Schedule 1.01(A)

Lenders and Lenders’ Commitments

(See Attached)


Lender

   Initial Term
Loan
Commitment
     Initial Term Loan
Commitment
Percentage
    Third Amendment
Term Loan
Commitment
     Third Amendment Term
Loan Commitment
Percentage
    Fifth
Amendment
Term Loan
Commitment
     Fifth Amendment
Term Loan
Commitment
Percentage
    Revolving
Credit
Commitment
     Revolving Credit
Commitment
Percentage
 

TCW DL VIII Financing LLC

   $ 27,333,774.11        37.963575153   $ 42,822,745.50        20.991541913   $ 20,120,514.51        28.743592157 %    $ 2,847,268.12        37.963574933

TCW Direct Lending Structured Solutions 2022 LLC

   $ 9,765,217.56        13.562802167   $ 31,848,358.38        15.611940381   $ 5,189,303.77        7.413291100 %    $ 1,017,210.17        13.562802267

TCW Brazos Fund LLC

   $ 7,096,299.37        9.855971347   $ 9,179,818.50        4.499911028   $ 4,693,493.81        6.704991157 %    $ 739,197.84        9.855971200

TCW Skyline Lending LP

   $ 7,095,589.74        9.854985750   $ 9,178,900.53        4.499461044   $ 8,806,824.17        12.581177386 %    $ 739,123.93        9.854985733

TCW Star Direct Lending LLC

   $ 5,273,484.45        7.324283958   $ 6,821,813.39        3.344026170        $ 549,321.29        7.324283867

TCW WV Financing LLC

   $ 4,790,002.07        6.652780653   $ 6,579,471.83        3.225231288   $ 495,084.99        0.707264271 %    $ 498,958.55        6.652780667

Safety National Casualty Corporation

   $ 3,091,148.00        4.293261111   $ 3,998,728.92        1.960161233   $ 2,044,485.90        2.920694143 %    $ 321,994.59        4.293261200

Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company

   $ 3,091,148.00        4.293261111   $ 3,998,728.92        1.960161233   $ 2,044,485.90        2.920694143 %    $ 321,994.59        4.293261200

TCW Direct Lending Private Fund VIII LP

   $ 2,917,762.70        4.052448194   $ 4,572,069.56        2.241210570   $ 2,148,031.62        3.068616600 %    $ 303,933.61        4.052448133


Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company

   $ 1,545,574.00        2.146630556   $ 1,999,364.47        0.980080622   $ 1,022,242.95        1.460347071 %    $ 160,997.31        2.146630800

CCLF Holdings (D41) LLC

        $ 12,499,999.99        6.127450977          

TCW Marina SL Financing I LLC

        $ 12,500,000.00        6.127450982   $ 8,682,886.79        12.404123986 %      

AWC Cayman B, LLC

        $ 58,000,000.01        28.431372559   $
 
14,752,645.59
 
 
     21.075207986 %      
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 72,000,000.00        100.000000000   $ 204,000,000.00        100.000000000   $ 70,000,000.00        100.000000000 %    $ 7,500,000.00        100.000000000
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

JOINDER AGREEMENT

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of May 15, 2026 (this “Agreement”), to the Financing Agreement referred to below is entered into by and among EagleRock Land Operating, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “New Parent”), the Borrowers (as defined below), the Guarantors (as defined below), TCW Asset Management Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TCW”), as collateral agent for the Lenders (as defined below) (in such capacity, together with any successors and assigns, if any, the “Collateral Agent”), and TCW, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with any permitted successors and assigns, if any, the “Administrative Agent” and together with the Collateral Agent, each an “Agent” and collectively, the “Agents”).

WHEREAS, Lea & Eddy Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Lea & Eddy Holdings”), each subsidiary of Lea & Eddy Holdings listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto (together with each other Person that executes a joinder agreement and becomes a “Borrower” thereunder, each a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Borrowers”), each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto (together with the Parent and each other Person that executes a joinder agreement and becomes a “Guarantor” thereunder, each a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”), the lenders from time to time party thereto (each a “Lender” and collectively, the “Lenders”), and the Agents have entered into that certain Financing Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2024 (such agreement, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including by the Sixth Amendment (as defined below), the “Financing Agreement”), pursuant to which the Lenders have agreed to make certain term loans and revolving loans (each a “Loan” and collectively the “Loans”), to the Borrowers;

WHEREAS, pursuant to each Guaranty entered into in connection with the Financing Agreement, the Borrowers’ obligation to repay the Loans and all other Obligations are guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Sixth Amendment to the Financing Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2026 (the “Sixth Amendment”), by and among Lea & Eddy Holdings, the Borrowers and Guarantors party thereto, the Agents, and the Lenders party thereto, the Agents and Lenders have agreed to replace Lea & Eddy Holdings in its capacities as “Parent” and a “Guarantor” under the Loan Documents with New Parent;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) of the Sixth Amendment, the New Parent is required to become the “Parent” and a “Guarantor” under the Loan Documents by, among other things, executing and delivering this Agreement to the Agents and the Lenders; and

WHEREAS, the New Parent has determined that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement directly benefit, and are within the corporate purposes and in the best interests of the New Parent.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Definitions. Reference is hereby made to the Financing Agreement for a statement of the terms thereof. All terms used in this Agreement which are defined therein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as set forth therein.


SECTION 2. Joinder of New Parent. Pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) of the Sixth Amendment, by its execution of this Agreement, the New Parent hereby agrees that, from and after the effective date of this Agreement, the New Parent shall be a party to the Financing Agreement and shall be bound as the Parent and a Guarantor by all the provisions thereof and shall comply with and be subject to all of the terms, conditions, covenants, agreements and obligations set forth therein and applicable to the Parent and the Guarantors, as applicable, including, without limitation, the guaranty of the Obligations made by the Guarantors jointly and severally, in favor of the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to the Guaranty in Article XI of the Financing Agreement (subject in each case to the limitations set forth in Section 11.07 of the Financing Agreement). The New Parent hereby agrees that from and after the effective date of this Agreement and the occurrence of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date each reference to the “Parent” or “Guarantor” or a “Loan Party” and each reference to the “Guarantors” or the “Loan Parties” in the Financing Agreement and any other Loan Document shall include the New Parent. The New Parent acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Financing Agreement and each other Loan Document and that it has read and understands the terms thereof.

SECTION 3. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon its execution by the Collateral Agent and receipt by the Collateral Agent of counterparts to this Agreement, duly executed by the Borrowers, each Guarantor and the New Parent.

SECTION 4. Notices, Etc. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand, sent by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), overnight courier, or telecopier, if to any Borrower, any Guarantor, any Lender or any Agent, to it at its address specified in the Financing Agreement; or as to any such Person at such other address as shall be designated by such Person in a written notice to such other Person complying as to delivery with the terms of this Section 4. All such notices and other communications shall be deemed received on the earlier of the date of actual receipt or 3 Business Days after the deposit thereof in the mail; provided, that (i) notices sent by overnight courier service shall be deemed to have been given when received and (ii) notices 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), provided, further that notices to any Agent pursuant to Article II of the Financing Agreement shall not be effective until received by such Agent.

SECTION 5. General Provisions.

(a) Except as supplemented hereby, the Financing Agreement and each other Loan Document shall continue to be, and shall remain, in full force and effect. This Agreement shall not be deemed (i) to be a waiver of, or consent to, or a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of the Financing Agreement or any other Loan Document or (ii) to prejudice any right or rights which the Agents or the Lenders may now have or may have in the future under or in connection with the Financing Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

(b) The New Parent hereby expressly (i) authorizes the Collateral Agent to file appropriate financing statements or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, in such office or offices as may be necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to perfect the Liens to be created by this Agreement and each of the Loan Documents and (ii) ratifies such authorization to the extent that the Collateral Agent has filed any such financing or continuation statements or amendments thereto, prior to the date hereof. A photocopy or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement covering the Collateral or any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by law.

(c) The terms and conditions of Section 12.04 of the Financing Agreement are incorporated herein, mutatis mutandis.

 

- 2 -


(d) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telecopier or electronic transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or electronic records each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signature in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(e) Section headings in this Agreement are included herein for the convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose.

(f) GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS AND VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC. THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SECTIONS 12.09, 12.10 AND 12.11 OF THE FINANCING AGREEMENT ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN, MUTATIS MUTANDIS.

(g) This Agreement, together with the Financing Agreement and the other Loan Documents, reflects the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and shall not be contradicted or qualified by any other agreement, oral or written, before the date hereof.

(h) This Agreement constitutes a “Loan Document” under and as defined in the Financing Agreement and is subject to the terms and provisions therein regarding Loan Documents.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

 

- 3 -


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

 

BORROWERS:
     DESERT RAM HOLDINGS, LLC,
  as Administrative Borrower
  By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

  Name: Neal Shah
  Title: President, Chief Financial Officer
  ACCELERATED WATER RESOURCES, LLC,
  as a Borrower
  By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

  Name: Neal Shah
  Title: President, Chief Financial Officer

 

- 4 -

[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]


GUARANTORS:
     DESERT RAM SOUTH, INCORPORATED
  By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

  Name: Neal Shah
  Title: President, Chief Financial Officer
  DESERT RAM SOUTH RANCH, INC. (F/K/A NGL SOUTH RANCH, INC.)
  By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

  Name: Neal Shah
  Title: President, Chief Financial Officer
  DESERT RAM NORTH RANCH, LLC (F/K/A NGL NORTH RANCH, LLC)
  By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

  Name: Neal Shah
  Title: President, Chief Financial Officer
  HYDROSOURCE LOGISTICS WASTE MANAGEMENT, LLC
  By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

  Name: Neal Shah
  Title: President, Chief Financial Officer

 

- 5 -

[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]


LIMESTONE BASIN PROPERTIES RANCH, LLC
By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

Name: Neal Shah
Title: President, Chief Financial Officer
BASIN PROPERTIES RANCHES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

Name: Neal Shah
Title: President, Chief Financial Officer
AWR EQUIPMENT, LLC
By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

Name: Neal Shah
Title: President, Chief Financial Officer
ACCELERATED SWD, LLC
By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

Name: Neal Shah
Title: President, Chief Financial Officer

 

- 6 -

[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT:
TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Ryan Carroll

Name: Ryan Carroll
Title: Managing Director

 

- 7 -

[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]


NEW PARENT:
EAGLEROCK LAND OPERATING, LLC, as New Parent
By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

Name: Neal Shah
Title: President, Chief Financial Officer

 

- 8 -

[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

 

 

CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND REPLACED WITH “[***]”. SUCH IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS BOTH (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT EAGLEROCK LAND, LLC TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL.

 

LOGO

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

May 4, 2026

among

EAGLEROCK LAND OPERATING, LLC,

as Borrower

The Lenders Party Hereto

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Sole Bookrunner and Sole Lead Arranger

 

 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms

     1  

SECTION 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings

     50  

SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally

     50  

SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP

     50  

SECTION 1.05 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notifications

     51  

SECTION 1.06 Pro Forma Adjustments

     51  

SECTION 1.07 Letters of Credit

     51  

SECTION 1.08 Divisions

     52  

ARTICLE II THE CREDITS

     52  

SECTION 2.01 Revolving Commitments

     52  

SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings

     52  

SECTION 2.03 Requests for Borrowings

     53  

SECTION 2.04 [Section Intentionally Omitted.]

     53  

SECTION 2.05 [Section Intentionally Omitted.]

     54  

SECTION 2.06 Letters of Credit

     54  

SECTION 2.07 Funding of Borrowings

     59  

SECTION 2.08 Interest Elections

     59  

SECTION 2.09 Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in Revolving Commitments

     61  

SECTION 2.10 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

     62  

SECTION 2.11 Prepayment of Loans

     63  

SECTION 2.12 Fees

     64  

SECTION 2.13 Interest

     65  

SECTION 2.14 Alternate Rate of Interest

     65  

SECTION 2.15 Increased Costs

     68  

SECTION 2.16 Break Funding Payments

     69  

SECTION 2.17 Withholding of Taxes; Gross-Up

     69  

SECTION 2.18 Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Setoffs

     73  

SECTION 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

     75  

SECTION 2.20 Defaulting Lenders

     76  

SECTION 2.21 Returned Payments

     78  

SECTION 2.22 Banking Services and Swap Agreements

     78  

ARTICLE III CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

     78  

SECTION 3.01 Conditions to Signing

     78  

SECTION 3.02 Conditions to Effectiveness

     80  

SECTION 3.03 Each Credit Event

     82  

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     83  

SECTION 4.01 Existence; Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

     83  

SECTION 4.02 Authorization; No Contravention

     83  

SECTION 4.03 Governmental Approvals

     84  

SECTION 4.04 Binding Effect

     84  

SECTION 4.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

     84  

SECTION 4.06 Litigation

     84  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION 4.07 Use of Proceeds

     85  

SECTION 4.08 Ownership of Property; Insurance

     85  

SECTION 4.09 Environmental Matters

     86  

SECTION 4.10 Taxes

     87  

SECTION 4.11 ERISA Compliance

     87  

SECTION 4.12 Subsidiaries

     88  

SECTION 4.13 Margin Regulations

     88  

SECTION 4.14 Disclosure

     88  

SECTION 4.15 Labor Matters

     89  

SECTION 4.16 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

     89  

SECTION 4.17 Solvency

     89  

SECTION 4.18 Default

     89  

SECTION 4.19 USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA; Anti-Corruption Laws

     89  

SECTION 4.20 Collateral Documents

     89  

SECTION 4.21 Deposit and Disbursement Accounts

     90  

SECTION 4.22 Affected Financial Institutions

     90  

SECTION 4.23 Outbound Investment Rules

     90  

SECTION 4.24 Material Agreements

     91  

ARTICLE V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     91  

SECTION 5.01 Financial Statements and Other Information

     91  

SECTION 5.02 Certificates; Other Information

     92  

SECTION 5.03 Notices

     94  

SECTION 5.04 Payment of Tax Obligations

     94  

SECTION 5.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.

     95  

SECTION 5.06 Maintenance of Properties

     95  

SECTION 5.07 Maintenance of Insurance

     95  

SECTION 5.08 Compliance with Laws

     95  

SECTION 5.09 Books and Records

     95  

SECTION 5.10 Inspection Rights

     96  

SECTION 5.11 Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors

     96  

SECTION 5.12 Environmental Matters

     98  

SECTION 5.13 Further Assurances

     98  

SECTION 5.14 Designation of Subsidiaries

     98  

SECTION 5.15 Outbound Investment Rules

     99  

SECTION 5.16 USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Corruption Laws

     99  

SECTION 5.17 Nature of Business

     99  

SECTION 5.18 Use of Proceeds

     99  

SECTION 5.19 Accounting Changes

     99  

SECTION 5.20 Post-Closing Deliveries

     99  

SECTION 5.21 Qualified ECP Guarantor

     100  

SECTION 5.22 Loan Party Accounts

     100  

SECTION 5.23 Material Agreements

     100  

ARTICLE VI FINANCIAL COVENANTS

     100  

ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     100  

SECTION 7.01 Liens

     100  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION 7.02 Investments

     104  

SECTION 7.03 Indebtedness

     106  

SECTION 7.04 Fundamental Changes

     109  

SECTION 7.05 Dispositions

     110  

SECTION 7.06 Restricted Payments

     112  

SECTION 7.07 Transactions with Affiliates

     114  

SECTION 7.08 Burdensome Agreements

     115  

SECTION 7.09 Holding Company Covenant

     116  

SECTION 7.10 Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness

     116  

SECTION 7.11 Amendments to Material Agreements

     117  

ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     117  

SECTION 8.01 Events of Default

     117  

SECTION 8.02 Application of Proceeds from Collateral

     119  

SECTION 8.03 Exclusion of Certain Excluded Subsidiaries

     120  

SECTION 8.04 Right to Cure

     121  

ARTICLE IX THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     122  

SECTION 9.01 Authorization and Action

     122  

SECTION 9.02 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc.

     124  

SECTION 9.03 Posting of Communications

     125  

SECTION 9.04 The Administrative Agent Individually

     126  

SECTION 9.05 Successor Administrative Agent

     127  

SECTION 9.06 Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks

     128  

SECTION 9.07 Collateral Matters

     130  

SECTION 9.08 Credit Bidding

     130  

SECTION 9.09 Certain ERISA Matters

     131  

SECTION 9.10 Flood Laws

     132  

SECTION 9.11 Borrower Communications

     133  

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

     134  

SECTION 10.01 Notices

     134  

SECTION 10.02 Waivers; Amendments

     135  

SECTION 10.03 Expenses; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity; Etc.

     138  

SECTION 10.04 Successors and Assigns

     140  

SECTION 10.05 Survival

     144  

SECTION 10.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution

     144  

SECTION 10.07 Severability

     145  

SECTION 10.08 Right of Setoff

     145  

SECTION 10.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

     146  

SECTION 10.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     146  

SECTION 10.11 Headings

     147  

SECTION 10.12 Confidentiality

     147  

SECTION 10.13 Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law

     148  

SECTION 10.14 USA PATRIOT Act

     148  

SECTION 10.15 Disclosure

     148  

SECTION 10.16 Appointment for Perfection

     148  

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION 10.17 Interest Rate Limitation

     149  

SECTION 10.18 No Fiduciary Duty, etc.

     149  

SECTION 10.19 Marketing Consent

     150  

SECTION 10.20 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions

     150  

SECTION 10.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs

     150  

 

iv


SCHEDULES:       
Schedule 1.01        Commitment Schedule
Schedule 3.02(b)(viii)        Collateral Documents
Schedule 4.08(b)        Material Real Property
Schedule 4.09        Environmental Matters
Schedule 4.12        Subsidiaries
Schedule 4.21        Deposit and Other Accounts
Schedule 5.13        Restricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 5.20        Post-Closing Deliverables
Schedule 7.01(b)        Existing Liens
Schedule 7.02(e)        Existing Investments
Schedule 7.03(b)        Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 7.07        Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule 7.08        Burdensome Agreements

 

EXHIBITS:   
Exhibit A    Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B-1    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit B-2    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit B-3    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit B-4    U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit C-1    Compliance Certificate
Exhibit C-2    Solvency Certificate
Exhibit D    [Reserved]
Exhibit E    Intercompany Note

 

 

v


CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 4, 2026 (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among EAGLEROCK LAND OPERATING, LLC, as Borrower, the other Loan Parties party hereto, the Lenders party hereto, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

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

ABR”, when used in reference to (a) a rate of interest, refers to the Alternate Base Rate, and (b) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA were references to such Acquired Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or to such Converted Restricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), as applicable, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable.

Acquired Entity or Business” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means an interest rate per annum equal to the Daily Simple SOFR; provided that if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower or any Lender, as the context requires.

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

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

Agent-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.03(d).

 

1


Aggregate Revolving Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate Revolving Exposure of all the Lenders at such time.

Agreement” has the meaning specified in introductory paragraph hereof.

ALTA” means the American Land Title Association.

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus 0.5%, and (c) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for a one-month Interest Period as published two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day) plus 1.00%; provided that, for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m. Chicago time on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.14(b)), then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

Ancillary Document” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.06(b).

Ancillary Fees” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.02(b).

Annualized” means, for any period as set forth in the table below, the Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Interest Expense, as applicable, for such period is multiplied by the factor for such period as set forth in the table below.

 

Period

   Factor  

One fiscal quarter period ending June 30, 2026

     4  

Two consecutive fiscal quarter period ending September 30, 2026

     2  

Three consecutive fiscal quarter period ending December 31, 2026

     4/3  

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

Applicable Net Debt Amount” means, as of any date of determination, (i) if no Loans are outstanding as of such date (or if the Net Total Leverage Ratio is being determined on a Pro Forma Basis for determining the permissibility of any transaction, if any Loans outstanding will be fully repaid in connection with such transaction on such date), cash and Cash Equivalents (excluding Restricted Cash) on the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date or (ii) if any Loans are outstanding as of such date (or if the Net Total Leverage Ratio is being determined on a Pro Forma Basis for determining the permissibility of any transaction, if any Loans would be outstanding in connection with such transaction on such date), up to $25,000,000 of cash and Cash Equivalents (excluding Restricted Cash) as of such date, in each case, after giving effect to all transactions occurring on such date.

 

2


Applicable Parties” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(c).

Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Revolving Commitment represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided that, in the case of Section 2.20 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the total Revolving Commitment (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. If the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

Applicable Rate” means a percentage per annum to be determined in accordance with the pricing grid set forth below, based on the Borrower’s Net Total Leverage Ratio; provided, however, that the Applicable Rate indicated by Level IV shall be in effect from the Effective Date through the date of delivery of the Borrower’s financial statements and compliance certificate for the first fiscal quarter ending after the Effective Date:

 

Level

  

Net Total Leverage Ratio

   Term
Benchmark
Loans
    ABR
Loans
    Commitment
Fee
 
I   

Greater than or equal to 3.0 to 1.0

     3.00     2.00     0.50
II   

Less than 3.0 to 1.0 but greater than or equal to 2.5 to 1.0

     2.75     1.75     0.50
III   

Less than 2.5 to 1.0 but greater than or equal to 2.0 to 1.0

     2.50     1.50     0.375
IV   

Less than 2.0 to 1.0

     2.25     1.25     0.375

For purposes of the foregoing, (a) the Applicable Rate shall be determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, based upon the Borrower’s annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 and (b) each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Net Total Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period commencing on and including the third Business Day following the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of such consolidated financial statements indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change, provided that at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders, if the Borrower fails to deliver the annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.01, the Net Total Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Level IV during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until the third Business Day following the date on which such consolidated financial statements are delivered.

If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that the financial statements upon which the Applicable Rate was determined were incorrect (whether based on a restatement, fraud or otherwise), or any ratio or compliance information in a Compliance Certificate or other certification was incorrectly calculated, relied on incorrect information or was otherwise not accurate, true or correct, the Borrower shall be required to retroactively pay any additional amount that the Borrower would have been required to pay if such financial statements, Compliance Certificate or other information had been accurate and/or computed correctly at the time they were delivered.

 

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Approved Borrower Portal” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.11(a).

Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(a).

Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to the term in Section 10.04(b).

Arranger” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as sole bookrunner and sole lead arranger hereunder.

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized 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.

Availability” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate Revolving Commitments minus (b) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure (calculated, with respect to any Defaulting Lender, as if such Defaulting Lender had funded its Applicable Percentage of all outstanding Borrowings).

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments (and, if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day).

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, when such Person becomes the subject of a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business, appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, or has had any order for relief in such proceeding entered in respect thereof, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, unless such ownership interest results in or provides such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the U.S. or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permits such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any (i) RFR Loan, the Daily Simple SOFR or (ii) Term Benchmark Loan, the Term SOFR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR or Term SOFR Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.14.

Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

  (i)

the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR; or

 

  (ii)

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

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

5


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

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

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

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) have been, determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

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

 

6


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

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

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

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14.

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

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

 

7


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

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

Borrower” means EagleRock Land Operating, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02.

Borrower Redemption” means any exchange or redemption of Equity Interests of Borrower, and any transactions related thereto, in connection with any exercise of a Redemption (as defined in the LLC Agreement of Borrower as in effect on the date hereof) to the extent that all of the common stock of Parent or cash used to effect such exchange or redemption is directly or indirectly provided by Parent.

Borrowing” means each Revolving Borrowing.

Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03, which shall be substantially in the form approved by the Administrative Agent and separately provided to the Borrower.

Business Day” means any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in New York City; provided that, in addition to the foregoing, a Business Day shall be any such day that is only a U.S. Government Securities Business Day (a) in relation to RFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings of such RFR Loan and (b) in relation to Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or any other dealings of such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capitalized Leases) by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as capital expenditures on the consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Capitalized Lease Obligations” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease.

Capitalized Leases” means all leases that have been or are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as financings or capital leases (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not a straight-line or operating lease) on both the balance sheet and income statement for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Capitalized Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP; provided, further, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the definitions of “GAAP” or of “Capitalized Leases”, for purposes of calculations made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or compliance with any covenant (x) in no event will any lease that would have been categorized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP prior to giving effect to (1) the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), issued in February

 

8


2016 and (2) any modifications or interpretive changes of GAAP that may occur after the Signing Date, be considered a Capitalized Lease or capital lease for purposes of this Agreement or any Loan Document and (y) any lease that would have been categorized as a financing or capital lease as determined in accordance with GAAP prior to giving effect to (1) the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), issued in February 2016 and (2) any modifications or interpretive changes of GAAP that may occur after the Signing Date, shall be considered a Capitalized Lease and capital lease for purposes of this Agreement and any Loan Document.

Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(a) Dollars, Euros or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(b) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(c) Certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $1,000,000,000 in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(d) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (b), (d), (e), (f) and (g) entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications applicable to banks specified in clause (c) above;

(e) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes rated at least P-2 by Moody’s, at least A-2 by S&P, or at least F-2 by Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P, nor Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;

(f) marketable short-term money market and similar funds having a rating of at least P-2 by Moody’s, A-2 by S&P, or F-2 by Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P, nor Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency);

(g) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an investment grade rating from any of Moody’s, S&P, or Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P, nor Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(h) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case having an investment grade rating from any of Moody’s, S&P, or Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P, nor Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

9


(i) Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P, Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, or AAA (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Fitch (or, if at any time none of Moody’s, S&P, nor Fitch shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency);

(j) investments in “money market funds” within the meaning of Rule 2a7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, substantially all of whose assets are invested in investments issued by a financial institution having total assets in excess of $5,000,000,000;

(k) securities with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (l) below;

(l) Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P, “A2” or higher from Moody’s, or “A” or higher from Fitch with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition; and

(m) investment funds investing at least 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (l) above.

In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States of America, Cash Equivalents shall also include (i) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (a) through (h) and clauses (j), (k), (l) and (m) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (ii) other short-term investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments of a type analogous to the foregoing investments in clauses (a) through (m) and in this paragraph.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clause (a) above; provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clause (a) as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

For the avoidance of doubt, any items identified as Cash Equivalents under this definition will be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for all purposes regardless of the treatment of such items under GAAP.

Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.

CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as subsequently amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

 

10


Change in Law” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of any of the following: (a) the adoption of or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) compliance by any Lender or Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof, and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the U.S. 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 the occurrence of any of the following: (i) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Signing Date), other than Permitted Holders, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, capital stock of the Parent representing at least 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Parent, (ii) the occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Parent by persons who were neither (x) nominated, appointed or approved for consideration by shareholders for election by the board of directors of the Parent or (y) appointed by directors so nominated, appointed or approved, or (iii) the Parent ceases to (x) be the sole managing member of Borrower or (y) have, in its capacity as sole managing member of Borrower, the power to exercise control over and direct the management policies and decisions of Borrower.

Charges” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.17.

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

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

Collateral” means all now owned, leased or held or at any time hereafter acquired tangible and intangible property, real and personal, of any Loan Party (other than Excluded Assets) that is or purports to be the subject of a Lien to the Administrative Agent to secure the whole or any part of the Secured Obligations or any Guaranty thereof, and shall include, without limitation, all casualty insurance proceeds and condemnation awards with respect to any of the foregoing.

Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, the requirement that:

(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered on the Effective Date pursuant to Section 3.02(b)(vii) or from time to time pursuant to Section 5.11, Section 5.13 or Section 5.20, subject to the limitations and exceptions of this Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party party thereto;

(b) the Secured Obligations shall have been guaranteed by the Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than Excluded Subsidiaries);

(c) the Secured Obligations and the Guaranty shall have been secured pursuant to the Security Agreement by a first-priority security interest, subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01, in all Equity Interests of each Subsidiary Guarantor and any other Restricted Subsidiary directly owned by any Loan Party, subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction) (and the Administrative Agent shall have received certificates or other instruments representing all such Equity Interests (if any), together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank);

 

11


(d) [reserved];

(e) the Intercompany Note (if any) shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with an undated allonge with respect thereto, endorsed in blank;

(f) the Secured Obligations and the Guaranty shall have been secured by a perfected security interest in, and Mortgages (to the extent perfection may be accomplished by a Mortgage) on, substantially all now owned or at any time hereafter acquired tangible and intangible assets of each Loan Party (including Equity Interests, accounts receivable, documents, goods, instruments, intercompany debt, deposit, securities and commodity accounts, inventory, equipment, investment property, contract rights, other general intangibles, Material Real Property and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, subject to exceptions and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents (to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction); provided, however, that in no event shall this clause (e) require any perfected security interest or Mortgage on any Excluded Assets or any Real Property that is not Material Real Property;

(g) subject to limitations and exceptions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, to the extent a security interest in and Mortgages on any Material Real Property are required pursuant to clause (f) above or under Section 5.11, 5.13 or 5.20 (each such Material Real Property to be encumbered by a Mortgage pursuant to the terms hereof, a “Mortgaged Property”), the Administrative Agent shall have received:

(i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to such Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such property in form suitable for filing or recording in all filing or recording offices that the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to create a valid and subsisting perfected Lien (subject only to Liens permitted by Section 7.01) on the property and/or rights described therein in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and evidence that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that if a mortgage tax will be owed on the entire amount of the indebtedness evidenced hereby, then the amount secured by the Mortgage shall be limited to the lesser of (x) 100% of the fair market value of the property (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) and (y) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments, in each case, at the time the Mortgage is entered into);

(ii) to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, customary opinions from local counsel in each jurisdiction (1) where a Mortgaged Property is located regarding the enforceability of the Mortgage and stating that the applicable Mortgage and any related fixture filing, if any, is in the proper form to create a lien against the interests of the record owner or lessee thereof, as applicable, in the Mortgaged Property described therein and is in proper form for recording in the real property records of the county in which such Mortgaged Property is located and (2) where the applicable Loan Party granting the Mortgage on said Mortgaged Property is organized, regarding the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Loan Party delivering such Mortgage, and in each case, such other reasonable and customary matters as may be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

 

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(iii) to the extent the applicable Loan Party received as part of its diligence on Material Real Property acquired after the Effective Date, an ownership and encumbrance report (or similar documentation) for such Material Real Property, then it shall provide such report to the Administrative Agent; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Loan Party shall be under no obligation to affirmatively create such a report to the extent one is not produced as part of the diligence process prior to acquiring such Material Real Property.

(h) except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or any Collateral Document, all certificates, agreements, documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, required by the Collateral Documents to be filed, delivered, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Collateral Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Collateral Documents and the other provisions of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”, shall have been filed, registered or recorded; and

(i) after the Effective Date, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not then a Subsidiary Guarantor and not an Excluded Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor and signatory to the Security Agreement pursuant to a joinder agreement (Security Agreement Supplement) in accordance with Section 5.11, 5.13 or Section 5.20 and a party to the Collateral Documents in accordance with Section 5.11; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any Subsidiary of the Borrower that Guarantees (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary or a Subsidiary of any Foreign Subsidiary by any Foreign Subsidiary, Subsidiary of any Foreign Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary described in clause (vi) of the definition thereof) any Junior Financing of the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any Permitted Refinancing thereof shall be a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder for so long as it Guarantees such Indebtedness.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary:

(A) the foregoing definition shall not require (i) the creation or perfection of pledges of, security interests in, Mortgages on any Excluded Assets or the taking of any other actions with respect to any Excluded Assets, or (ii) the obtaining of mortgage or title policies or other title insurance;

(B) (1) no actions other than the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, filing of mortgages and deeds of trust, as applicable, as to Material Real Property, delivery and pledge of the Intercompany Note (if any) (together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank), delivery of all certificated Pledged Equity as required under the Security Agreement (together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank), and entry into Control Agreements as to deposit, securities and commodities accounts (other than Excluded Accounts), shall be required to perfect security interests in any Collateral, and (2) no landlord waivers, bailee letters, estoppels, warehouseman waivers or other collateral access or similar letters or agreements shall be required;

(C) the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion may grant extensions of time for the creation or perfection of security interests in, and Mortgages on, or taking other actions with respect to, particular assets (including extensions beyond the Effective Date) or any other compliance with the requirements of this definition where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that the creation or perfection of security interests and Mortgages on, or taking other actions, or any other compliance with the requirements of this definition cannot be accomplished without undue delay, burden or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents; provided that the Administrative Agent shall have received on or prior to the Effective Date (1) Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in appropriate form for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code in the

 

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jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party and (2) any certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Equity Interests of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries (other than Equity Interests constituting Excluded Assets) accompanied by instruments of transfer and stock powers undated and endorsed in blank (or confirmation in lieu thereof reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or its counsel that such certificates, powers and instruments have been sent for overnight delivery to the Administrative Agent or its counsel);

(D) no Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Laws) or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Laws) owned by any Loan Party shall be encumbered by the Mortgages; provided that, the exclusion of Buildings and Manufactured (Mobile) Homes from the definition of “Collateral” shall not be construed as excluding from such definition any other Collateral that is located in, on or adjacent to such Buildings and Manufactured (Mobile) Homes; and

(E) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, each Control Agreement, each of the Mortgages, collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements, or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.02, Section 5.11, Section 5.13 or Section 5.20, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Commercial Operation Date” means the date on which a Material Project is substantially complete and commercially operable.

Commitment Schedule” means Schedule 1.01 attached hereto.

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

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

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of a Responsible Officer that is the chief financial officer, treasurer, or other financial officer of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit C-1 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus:

(a) without duplication and, except with respect to clauses (x) and (xvi) below, to the extent already deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries:

(i) (1) Consolidated Interest Expense, (2) any losses on interest rate Hedging Obligations or other interest rate derivative instruments entered into in the ordinary course of business, net of interest income and gains on such Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments, (3) net payments, if any, pursuant to interest rate Hedging Transactions with respect to Indebtedness and (4) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities (whether amortized or immediately expensed in such period);

 

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(ii) provision for taxes based on income, profits (including any margin tax related thereto), revenue or capital gains of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, federal, state, franchise and similar taxes based on revenue and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued during such period, including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations, in each case, during such period;

(iii) depreciation and amortization expenses and capitalized fees, including, without limitation, the amortization of intangible assets, contributions in aid of construction costs, deferred financing costs, contract acquisition costs, prepaid cash items, debt issuance costs, commissions, and fees and expenses of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP;

(iv) extraordinary losses and unusual or non-recurring charges (including any unusual or non-recurring operating expenses attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives or any extraordinary losses and unusual or non-recurring charges or expenses attributable to legal and judgment settlements and costs and expenses in respect of contract acquisition costs and structured bonus payments in connection with contract acquisitions, synthetic joint ventures or otherwise), severance, relocations costs and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans and restructuring charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring costs related to acquisitions and to closure or consolidation of facilities) and other related charges; provided that the aggregate amount of restructuring charges, accruals or reserves and other related charges added back pursuant to this clause (iv), together with amounts added back pursuant to clause (xvii) below shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period (calculated without giving effect to any such charges, accruals, reserves, cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies); provided further that the aggregate amount of all add backs and adjustments to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (iv), together with clause (xvii) and clause (xviii) below, and clause (y) and clause (z) of the last paragraph of this definition, shall not exceed 30% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period (which total Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any such add backs or adjustments);

(v) the amount of any non-controlling interest or minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary;

(vi) (x) indemnities and expenses paid or accrued in such period to any member of the board of directors of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s parent entities, in each case to the extent permitted under Section 7.07 and (y) the amount of any fees and other compensation paid to the members of the board of directors (or the equivalent thereof) of the Borrower or any of its parent entities;

(vii) any costs or expenses incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or a parent entity of the Borrower to the extent paid by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Equity Interests);

 

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(viii) [reserved];

(ix) any net loss from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations;

(x) cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not representing Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Net Income in any period to the extent non-cash gains relating to such income were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to paragraph (b) below for any previous period and not added back;

(xi) non-cash expenses, charges and losses (including impairment charges or asset write-offs, losses from investments recorded using the equity method, stock-based awards compensation expense), in each case other than any non-cash charge relating to write-offs, write-downs or reserves with respect to accounts receivable in the normal course or inventory; provided that if any non-cash charges referred to in this clause (xi) represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (1) the Borrower may elect not to add back such non-cash charge in the current period and (2) to the extent the Borrower elects to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA in such future period to such extent paid;

(xii) any earn-out payment permitted hereunder to the extent paid and to the extent such earn-out payments reduce Consolidated Net Income;

(xiii) the amount of any Permitted Tax Distributions made during such period;

(xiv) any costs and expenses incurred, or amounts received, by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (1) pursuant to any outages and (2) from insurance proceeds for unplanned outage;

(xv) any cost and expense incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the operation and maintenance of its assets, to the extent such costs and expenses are paid for with the proceeds of cash contributions to the common equity of the Borrower and/or purchases of or investments in Equity Interests of the Borrower other than Disqualified Equity Interests;

(xvi) reasonable and customary transaction expenses incurred and paid in cash during such period in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition which is consummated;

(xvii) cost savings associated with synergies or reductions and/or restructurings in force made within twelve (12) months after the closing date for a Permitted Acquisition calculated on a pro-forma, adjusted basis, to the extent such cost savings are factually supportable, calculated in good faith based upon reasonable assumptions and reasonably expected to be realized within twelve (12) months following the applicable Permitted Acquisition; provided that the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (xvii) together with the restructuring charges, accruals or reserves and other related charges added back pursuant to clause (iv) above shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period (calculated without giving effect to any such charges, accruals, reserves, cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies); provided further that the aggregate amount of all add backs and adjustments to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (xvii), together with clause (iv) above, clause (xviii) below and clause (y) and clause (z) of the last paragraph of this definition, shall not exceed 30% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period (which total Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any such add backs or adjustments);

 

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(xviii) (1) fees, costs, expenses, and charges incurred in connection with initial SEC compliance costs in connection with and after the initial public offering of the Parent, and (2) any reasonable fees, costs and expenses, including audit expenses, related to the initial public offering of the Parent and the Contribution Transactions; provided that the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (xviii) shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period (calculated without giving effect to any such fees, costs, expenses and charges); provided further that the aggregate amount of all add backs and adjustments to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (xviii), together with clause (iv) and clause (xvii) above and clause (y) and clause (z) of the last paragraph of this definition, shall not exceed 30% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period (which total Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any such add backs or adjustments);

(xix) expenses, charges and fees (including expenses, charges and fees paid to the Administrative Agent and Lenders) incurred during such period and after the Effective Date in connection with the administration (including in connection with any waiver, amendment, supplementation or other modification thereto of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) of this Agreement;

(xx) expenses arising during such period from litigation (actual or threatened) to the extent covered by liability insurance (including general liability, professional liability or errors and omissions coverage) with respect to which the Administrative Agent has been provided evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that such expenses have been reimbursed during such period; and

(xxi) all costs and expenses associated with the retirement, remediation or decommissioning of any asset owned by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

less (b) without duplication and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, (i) non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period) (it being understood that, for the avoidance of doubt, any gain representing the reversal of any non-cash charge referred to in clause (a)(xi) above for a prior period shall be added (together with, without duplication, any amounts received in respect thereof to the extent not increasing Consolidated Net Income) to Consolidated EBITDA in any subsequent period to such extent so reversed (or received)), (ii) any net after-tax gain or income from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations and (iii) the amount of any interest income consisting of Restricted Subsidiary gains attributable to minority or non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary; provided that:

(A) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA currency translation gains and losses related to currency re-measurements of Indebtedness (including the net loss or gain (1) resulting from Hedging Transactions for currency exchange risk and (2) resulting from intercompany indebtedness),

(B) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period any adjustments resulting from the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification section 815 and International Accounting Standard No. 39 and their respective related pronouncements and interpretations, and

 

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(C) there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period any after-tax effect of non-recurring items (including gains or losses and all fees and expenses relating thereto), and curtailments or modifications to pension and postretirement employee benefit plans for such period.

There shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, without duplication, (w) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired), to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired and not subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”) and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Restricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition), (x) an adjustment in respect of each Acquired Entity or Business equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) as specified in a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer and delivered to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, (y) for each fiscal quarter when the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary enters into a Qualified Commercial Contract and for the three immediately succeeding fiscal quarters, an adjustment in respect of such Qualified Commercial Contract equal to the amount of the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to such Qualified Commercial Contract for the balance of the first four-fiscal-quarter period starting from the fiscal quarter when the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary enters into such Qualified Commercial Contract, net of any actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Commercial Contract and without duplication of any Material Project Consolidated EBITDA Adjustment and any other adjustments and add-backs, so long as (1) such adjustment shall have been determined in good faith by the Borrower as if the Qualified Commercial Contract had been entered into by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiary on the first day of the applicable period, based on historical volumes and pro forma rate structure and assumptions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and specified in a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer and delivered to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and (2) the Administrative Agent shall have promptly received such written documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, supporting such adjustment; provided that the aggregate amount of all adjustments pursuant to this clause (y) during any period does not exceed 20% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (which total Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any such adjustments) and (z) at the Borrower’s option, any Material Project Consolidated EBITDA Adjustments, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing clause (z), no Material Project Consolidated EBITDA Adjustment shall be allowed with respect to any Material Project unless (x) not later than 30 days or such lesser number of days as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion prior to the delivery of any Compliance Certificate required by Section 5.02(a), to the extent Material Project Consolidated EBITDA Adjustments will be made to Consolidated EBITDA in determining compliance with Article VI, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent written pro forma projections of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project, and prior to the date such Compliance Certificate is required to be delivered, the Administrative Agent shall have approved (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) such projections and shall have received such other information and documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided further that the aggregate amount of all adjustments pursuant to this clause (z) during any period does not exceed 20% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (which total Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any such adjustments) and provided further

 

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that the aggregate amount of all add backs and adjustments to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (z) , together with clause (iv), clause (xvii) and clause (xviii) above and clause (y) of the last paragraph of this definition, shall not exceed 30% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (which total Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any such add backs or adjustments). There shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or its property, business or assets) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of or, closed or classified as discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold or disposed of, a “Sold Entity or Business”) and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition). For purposes of calculating the Net Total Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio, Consolidated EBITDA shall be Annualized for the first three Test Periods hereunder.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, the total cash interest expense, including, without limitation, the interest component of any payments in respect of Attributable Indebtedness, capitalized or expensed during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period) net of cash interest income (it being understood and agreed that underwriting fees, structuring fees, arrangement fees, upfront fees, fronting fees, other fees similar to the foregoing shall not be included in the calculation of Consolidated Interest Expense). For purposes of calculating the Net Total Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be Annualized for the first three Test Periods hereunder.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that, without duplication,

(a) any after-tax effect of extraordinary items (including gains or losses and all fees and expenses relating thereto) for such period shall be excluded,

(b) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income shall be excluded,

(c) any fees and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of equity securities, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including the Transactions and any such transaction consummated on or prior to the Effective Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the effects of expensing all transaction-related expenses in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 805 and gains or losses associated with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 460) shall be excluded,

(d) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted within twelve months after the Effective Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions (or within twelve months after the closing of any acquisition that are so required to be established as a result of such acquisition) in accordance with GAAP or changes as a result of adoption or modification of accounting policies in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded,

 

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(e) any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations shall be excluded,

(f) any net after-tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees, expenses and charges) attributable to asset dispositions or abandonments or the sale or other disposition of any Equity Interests of any Person in each case other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, shall be excluded,

(g) the net income (loss) for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or to the extent subsequently converted into cash or Cash Equivalents) to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period,

(h) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down, including impairment charges or asset write-offs or write-downs related to intangible assets, long-lived assets, investments in debt and equity securities or as a result of a change in law or regulation, in each case, pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded,

(i) any non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge or expense arising from the grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights or equity incentive programs or any other equity based compensation shall be excluded, and any cash charges associated with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests by management of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents in connection with the Transactions, shall be excluded,

(j) any expenses, charges or losses that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement, to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement and only to the extent that such amount is in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days), shall be excluded,

(k) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 days), expenses, charges or losses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded,

(l) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification section 715, and any other items of a similar nature, shall be excluded,

 

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(m) the income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded (except to the extent required for any calculation of Consolidated EBITDA on a Pro Forma Basis),

(n) any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment of (1) Indebtedness, (2) obligations under any Hedging Transaction or (3) other derivative instruments shall be excluded, and

(o) Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by the amount of any Permitted Tax Distribution made during such period.

There shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income for any period the purchase accounting effects of adjustments in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP (including in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue and debt line items thereof) and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of the Transactions, any acquisition consummated prior to or after the Effective Date or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof.

Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of: (a) Total Assets as of the end of the fiscal quarter preceding the date of determination; plus (b) any increase in Total Assets following the end of such quarter determined on a pro forma basis, including any pro forma increase in Total Assets resulting from the application of the proceeds of any additional Indebtedness, minus (c) any decrease in Total Assets following the end of such quarter determined on a pro forma basis, including any pro forma decrease in Total Assets resulting from the application of cash to repay Indebtedness.

Consolidated Total Net Funded Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Loan Parties outstanding on such date, in an amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Attributable Indebtedness or purchase money debt, debt obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, and letters of credit that have been drawn and not reimbursed or cash collateralized within two (2) Business Days after the date of such drawing, minus the Applicable Net Debt Amount; provided that Consolidated Total Net Funded Debt shall not include Indebtedness (i) in respect of letters of credit, except to the extent of amounts drawn and unreimbursed thereunder (provided that any unreimbursed amount under letters of credit shall not be counted as Consolidated Total Net Funded Debt until two (2) Business Days after such amount is drawn), bank guaranties, and performance or similar bonds, (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, Non-Capitalized Lease Obligations, (iii) of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (iv) constituting earn-out and deferred purchase price obligations unless not paid when due, and (v) debt for borrowed money between or among any of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that unused revolving commitments and Hedging Obligations do not constitute Consolidated Total Net Funded Debt.

Contributed Assets” has the meaning set forth in the Contribution Agreement.

Contributed Entities” has the meaning set forth in the Contribution Agreement.

Contribution Agreement” means the Contribution and Assignment Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2026, by and among Parent, Borrower and the Contributors.

 

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Contribution Transactions” means (a) the multi-survivor mergers of certain Contributed Entities with certain Contributors in order to transfer certain Contributed Assets to such Contributed Entities, (b) the contribution of certain Contributed Assets by certain Contributors to certain Contributed Entities, (c) the contribution by the Contributors of the Contributed Entities and Contributed Assets to the Borrower, each as contemplated by the Contribution Agreement and (d) the other transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement.

Contributors” means (a) Lea & Eddy Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, (b) Double Eagle IV Midco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (c) OWL Exploration, L.L.C., a Texas limited liability company, (d) Shallow Valley Land, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, (e) Cactus Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation, (f) Abyss Inc., a Texas corporation, (g) Mark T. Dehlinger, an individual residing in Midland County, Texas, and (h) Richard H. Coats, an individual residing in Midland County, Texas.

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.

Control Agreement” means one or more control agreements entered into by a Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and a securities intermediary, depositary bank or commodity intermediary (as applicable), which (i) provides that such securities intermediary, depositary bank or commodity intermediary (as applicable) shall comply with any entitlement order or other instruction originated by a Loan Party and, upon delivery of written notice that an Event of Default has occurred, the Administrative Agent (but not, after such notice (unless rescinded), a Loan Party) and (ii) is otherwise sufficient to establish the Administrative Agent’s control per Section 9-104 or 9-106 (as applicable) of the UCC.

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

Contractual Obligation” of any Person means any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or undertaking under which such Person is obligated or by which it or any of the property in which it has an interest is bound.

Converted Restricted Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”.

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. § 46.01(b); or

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

 

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Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.21(b).

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

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day, a “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower. If by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the second (2nd) U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately following any SOFR Determination Date, SOFR in respect of such SOFR Determination Date has not been published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR has not occurred, then SOFR for such SOFR Determination Date will be SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.

Deeds” means fee deeds, real property leases, or other instruments in favor of the Borrower or any other applicable Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary.

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

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 46.04 or 382.1, as applicable.

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a Loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by a Credit Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations as of the date of certification) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (i) a Bankruptcy Event or (ii) a Bail-In Action.

Disposed EBITDA” means, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or any Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA (and in the component definitions used therein) were references to such Sold Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries.

 

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Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, 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 and any issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary of such Person), 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” and “Dispose” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by the Borrower of any of its Equity Interests to another Person or the expiration of a lease, license or other agreement.

Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control, event of loss, or asset sale or event of default so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control, event of loss, asset sale or event of default shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Revolving Commitments), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and other than as a result of a change of control, event of loss, asset sale or event of default so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control, event of loss, asset sale or event of default shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Revolving Commitments), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Stated Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Equity Interests; provided that (x) if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of future, current or former employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Restricted Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations and (y) any Equity Interests that would not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof (or the holders of any security into or for which such Equity Interests are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable) the right to require the issuer thereof to redeem such Equity Interests upon the occurrence of a change in control, initial public offering or a Disposition occurring prior to ninety-one (91) days following the Stated Maturity Date at the time such Equity Interests are issued shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests if such Equity Interests provide that the issuer thereof will not redeem any such Equity Interests pursuant to such provisions prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

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.

Division Successor” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division. A Dividing Person which retains any of its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 3.02 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02).

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

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

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

Environmental Laws” means any applicable Law relating to the prevention of pollution or the protection of the Environment, and the protection of human health and safety as it relates to the exposure to Hazardous Materials, including any applicable Laws relating to the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment, Release, or threatened Release of, or human exposure to, any Hazardous Materials.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of investigation and remediation, fines, or penalties), of the Loan Parties or any Restricted Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (i) violation of any Environmental Law, (ii) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials in violation of Environmental Laws, (iii) human exposure to any Hazardous Materials, or (iv) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials.

 

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Environmental Permit” means any Permit issued or required under any applicable Environmental Law.

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests or units in) such Person and all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase, acquisition or exchange from such Person of any of the foregoing (including through convertible securities).

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

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with any Loan Party, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or Section 4001(14) of ERISA or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event” means (i) a reportable event (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to a Pension Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (ii) a withdrawal by a Loan Party 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; (iii) a complete or partial withdrawal by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; (iv) the filing by the PBGC of a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or Section 4041A of ERISA, respectively, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (v) 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; (vi) with respect to a Pension Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Pension Plan, whether or not waived; (vii) the occurrence of a nonexempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) with respect to any Pension Plan; (viii) the imposition of any material liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate; (ix) the receipt by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in critical status, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; (x) the imposition of a lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA or Section 430(k) of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan; (xi) the engagement by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; or (xii) the determination that any Plan is in at-risk status (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA) or that a Multiemployer Plan is in endangered or critical status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA).

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

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.

 

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Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time.

Excluded Accounts” means (i) segregated deposit accounts constituting (and the balance of which consists solely of funds set aside in connection with) payroll accounts and accounts dedicated to the payment of accrued employee benefits, medical, dental and employee benefits claims to employees of any Loan Party, (ii) deposit accounts, commodity accounts and securities accounts containing cash or other property with a value at all times of less than $1,000,000 individually and $3,000,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts, (iii) deposit accounts which are used solely as an escrow account or as a fiduciary or trust account that is contractually obligated to be segregated from the other assets of the Loan Parties, in each case, for the benefit of unaffiliated third parties, (iv) operator suspense accounts to the extent the deposits therein are solely amounts owing to royalty and working interest owners and (v) zero-balance accounts and cash collateral accounts subject to Liens permitted under the Financing Documentation.

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

Excluded Contribution Asset” means any asset that is used or useful in, or Equity Interests of any Person engaged in, Permitted Business Activities, in each case, received by the Borrower since the Effective Date from (a) the issuance or sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Borrower or the Parent) of its Qualified Equity Interests or of the Qualified Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower to the extent contributed as common equity to the Borrower and/or (b) contributions to its common equity, in each case, only to the extent designated as an Excluded Contribution Asset in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent within sixty (60) days after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Qualified Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be.

Excluded Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary that is not a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) any Subsidiary of a Guarantor that does not have total assets or annual revenues in excess of $5,000,000, individually, or in the aggregate together with all other Subsidiaries excluded via this clause (ii) (other than, at the option of the Borrower, any such subsidiary designated as a Guarantor), (iii) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law (whether on the Effective Date or thereafter) or Contractual Obligations existing on the Effective Date (or, in the case of any newly acquired Subsidiary, in existence at the time of acquisition but not entered into in contemplation thereof), from guaranteeing the Secured Obligations or if guaranteeing the Secured Obligations would require governmental (including regulatory) or other third party (other than Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained), (iv) any other Subsidiary with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower mutually agree that the burden or cost or other consequences (including any material adverse tax consequences) of providing a Guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, (v) any direct or indirect Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower, (vi) any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary that is (x) a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or (y) a FSHCO, (vii) any Subsidiary that is a CFC with respect to which the provision of a guarantee by it would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries, in each case, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (viii) any not-for-profit Subsidiaries, (ix) any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (x) any captive insurance subsidiaries, and (xi) any joint ventures; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) any Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees any Junior Financing shall not be an “Excluded Subsidiary” and (2) any Subsidiary of the Borrower as of either the Signing Date or the Effective Date shall not be an “Excluded Subsidiary”.

 

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

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Revolving Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Revolving Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender 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 2.17(f), and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Existing Facility” means that certain Financing Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2024, by and among Lea & Eddy Holdings, LLC, the other borrowers and guarantors from time to time party thereto, TCW Asset Management Company LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Existing Liens” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.02(b).

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

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions (as determined in such manner as shall be set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate.

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

Fee Letter” means that certain Fee Letter dated as of April 9, 2026 by and between the Borrower and JPMCB.

 

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Financial Covenants” means the financial covenants set forth in Article VI.

Flood Insurance Laws” means, collectively,(a) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (d) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (e) Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor thereto, in each case, together with all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing, implementing or interpreting any of the foregoing, as amended or modified from time to time.

Flood Laws” means the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Act of 2012, as such statutes may be amended or re-codified from time to time, any substitutions, any regulations promulgated under such Flood Laws, and all other legal requirements relating to flood insurance.

Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial Floor for each of the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR shall be 0.00%.

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

Foreign Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

FSHCO” means any Subsidiary substantially all of the assets of which consist of (a) Equity Interests or Indebtedness of one or more CFCs or (b) Equity Interests or Indebtedness of Subsidiaries described in clause (a), and any other assets incidental thereto.

Funding Account” account number ending in xxxx9519 or such other account(s) in compliance with Section 5.22 designated from time to time by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the U.S., any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, without duplication, (i) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary 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, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (c) 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 monetary obligation, or (d) entered into for

 

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the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (ii) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Signing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or is then in effect 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.

Guarantors” means, collectively, (i) the wholly owned Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower on the Effective Date, (ii) those wholly owned Domestic Subsidiaries that issue a Guaranty of the Secured Obligations after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.11, (iii) at the option of the Borrower, any Domestic Subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary, that issues a Guaranty of the Secured Obligations after the Effective Date, in each case, until the Guaranty thereof is released in accordance with this Agreement and (iv) the Borrower (other than with respect to its own Secured Obligations).

Guaranty” means, collectively, the guaranty of the Secured Obligations by the Guarantors pursuant to the Security Agreement.

Hazardous Materials” means any materials, pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, substances or wastes, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, explosives, radioactive materials, friable asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in each case, that are regulated due to their dangerous or deleterious properties or characteristics, or for which liability may be imposed, by any Governmental Authority under Environmental Laws.

Hedge Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Hedging Transactions, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedging Transactions, (i) for any date on or after the date such Hedging Transactions have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (ii) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (i), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedging Transactions, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedging Transactions (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Hedging Obligations” of any Person means any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired under (i) any and all Hedging Transactions, (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Hedging Transactions and (iii) any and all renewals, extensions and modifications of any Hedging Transactions and any and all substitutions for any Hedging Transactions.

Hedging Transaction” of any Person means (a) any transaction (including an agreement with respect to any such transaction) now existing or hereafter entered into by such Person that is a rate swap transaction, swap option, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap or option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option, spot transaction, credit protection transaction, credit swap, credit default swap,

 

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credit default option, total return swap, credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reverse repurchase transaction, buy/sell-back transaction, securities lending transaction, or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, 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.

Historical Financial Statements” means the financial statements provided in the Form S-1 Registration Statement filed with the SEC on April 16, 2026.

Holding Company Condition” means that the Parent consolidates the financial results of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under GAAP, there are no more than nominal differences between the financial statements of the Parent and the Borrower and the non-financial disclosures of the Parent and the Borrower are substantially similar.

Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following:

(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) the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all outstanding letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;

(c) net obligations of such Person under any Hedging Transaction;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (1) trade accounts and accrued expenses payable in the ordinary course of business and (2) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and (3) accruals for payroll and other liabilities accrued in the ordinary course);

(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 and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness;

(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests;

(h) if and to the extent that the foregoing would constitute indebtedness or a liability in accordance with GAAP; provided that Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower appearing on the balance sheet of the Borrower solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded; and

 

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(i) to the extent not otherwise included above, all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall (a) 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, except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise expressly limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Net Funded Debt, (b) in the case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, exclude all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business, (c) exclude obligations under or in respect of Non-Capitalized Lease Obligations or sale lease-back transactions (except any resulting Capitalized Lease Obligations) and (d) exclude obligations in respect of contract acquisition costs and structured bonus payments in connection with contract acquisitions, synthetic joint ventures or otherwise. The amount of any net obligation under any Hedging Transaction on any date shall be deemed to be the Hedge Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (d) above shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (1) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness (not to exceed the maximum amount of such Indebtedness for which such Person could be liable) and (2) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith. Notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose hereunder as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

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

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.03(c).

Ineligible Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(b).

Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.12.

Intercompany Note” means a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08, which shall be substantially in the form approved by the Administrative Agent and separately provided to the Borrower.

Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of the last day of each Test Period, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such date to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for the four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such date.

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the first Business Day of each calendar quarter and the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any RFR Loan, (1) each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and (2) the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, and (c) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

 

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Interest Period” means with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to the availability for the Benchmark applicable to the relevant Loan or Revolving Commitment), as the Borrower may elect; provided that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (b) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period, and (c) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.14(e) shall be available for specification in such Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (i) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or debt or other securities of another Person, (ii) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of Indebtedness of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person excluding, in the case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, intercompany loans, advances, or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business or (iii) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person (including pursuant to any merger with, or as a Division Successor pursuant to the Division of, such Person). For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment at any time shall be the amount actually invested (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

IP Rights” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.16.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Issuing Bank” means each of JPMCB and any other Revolving Lender from time to time designated by the Borrower as an Issuing Bank (in each case, through itself or through one of its designated affiliates or branch offices), with the consent of such Revolving Lender and the Administrative Agent, each in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06. Any Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by its Affiliates, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate (it being agreed that such Issuing Bank shall, or shall cause such Affiliate to, comply with the requirements of Section 2.06 with respect to such Letters of Credit). At any time there is more than one Issuing Bank, all singular references to the Issuing Bank shall mean any Issuing Bank, either Issuing Bank, each Issuing Bank, the Issuing Bank that has issued the applicable Letter of Credit, or both (or all) Issuing Banks, as the context may require.

Junior Financing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.10.

Junior Financing Documentation” means any documentation governing any Junior Financing.

 

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JPMCB” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association, in its individual capacity, and its successors.

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local laws (including common law), statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents, orders, decrees, writs, injunctions 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.

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

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

LC Exposure” means, at any time, (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements relating to Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate LC Exposure at such time.

LC Sublimit” means $10,000,000.

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

Lender-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.03(b).

Lenders” means the Persons listed on the Commitment Schedule and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.09 or an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise, other than any such Person that ceases to be a Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Issuing Banks.

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

Letter of Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder. The initial amount of each Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment is set forth on the Commitment Schedule, or if an Issuing Bank has entered into an Assignment and Assumption or has otherwise assumed a Letter of Credit Commitment after the Effective Date, the amount set forth for such Issuing Bank as its Letter of Credit Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent. The Letter of Credit Commitment of an Issuing Bank may be modified from time to time by agreement between such Issuing Bank and the Borrower, and notified to the Administrative Agent.

Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement, and the term “Letter of Credit” means any one of them or each of them singularly, as the context may require.

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

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 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 Capitalized Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

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Liquidity” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (i) the amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the Loan Parties plus (ii) Availability.

Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Collateral Documents, the Letter of Credit Agreements, the Fee Letters, all Borrowing Requests, all Interest Election Requests, all Compliance Certificates, any intercreditor agreement to the extent then in effect, any promissory notes issued hereunder, all officer’s certificates delivered pursuant hereto, and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings either executed on the Signing Date or the Effective Date, or executed after the Effective Date and designated as a “Loan Document”, in each case, by a Loan Party in connection with any of the foregoing, except that the term “Loan Documents” shall not include any Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor and their respective successors and assigns, and the term “Loan Party” shall mean any one of them or all of them individually, as the context may require.

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

Margin Stock” means margin stock within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X, as applicable.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations, or financial condition of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its Obligations, (c) the Collateral, or the Administrative Agent’s Liens (on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties) on the Collateral or the priority of such Liens, or (d) the rights of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents.

Material Agreement” means each of (a) the Water System Management Agreement, by and between DE IV Flow, LLC and DEF Operating, LLC, substantially in the form filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Parent and (b) the Produced Water Recycling Rights Agreement, by and between the Borrower and Hydrosource Logistics, LLC, substantially in the form filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Parent.

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount equal to or exceeding $15,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

Material Permitted Acquisition” means any Permitted Acquisition with aggregate consideration over $50,000,000.

Material Project” means the construction or expansion of any capital project of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, which satisfies the following: (a) the aggregate capital cost of which exceeds, or is reasonably expected by the Borrower to exceed, $25,000,000 and (b) such construction or expansion project is a discrete project for which there is a defined start date and reasonably identifiable completion date.

 

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Material Project Consolidated EBITDA Adjustment” means with respect to each Material Project of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary:

(a) prior to the Commercial Operation Date of a Material Project (but including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs), a percentage (equal to the then-current completion percentage of such Material Project) of an amount to be approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion as the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to such Material Project for the first 12-month period following the scheduled Commercial Operation Date of such Material Project (such amount to be determined based on predominantly fee based contracts relating to such Material Project, the creditworthiness of the other parties to such contracts, and projected revenues from such contracts, capital costs and expenses, scheduled Commercial Operation Date, and other factors reasonably deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent), which may, at the Borrower’s option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for the fiscal quarter in which construction of the Material Project commences and for each fiscal quarter thereafter until the Commercial Operation Date of such Material Project (including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs, but net of any actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project following such Commercial Operation Date); provided that if the actual Commercial Operation Date does not occur by the scheduled Commercial Operation Date, then the foregoing amount shall be reduced, for quarters ending after the scheduled Commercial Operation Date to (but excluding) the first full quarter after its actual Commercial Operation Date, by the following percentage amounts depending on the period of delay (based on the period of actual delay or then-estimated delay, whichever is longer): (i) 90 days or less, 0%, (ii) longer than 90 days, but not more than 180 days, 25%, (iii) longer than 180 days, but not more than 270 days, 50% and (iv) longer than 270 days, 100%; and

(b) beginning with the first full fiscal quarter following the Commercial Operation Date of a Material Project and for two immediately succeeding fiscal quarters, an amount to be approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion as the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project (determined in the same manner as set forth in clause (a) above) for the balance of the four (4) full fiscal quarter period following such Commercial Operation Date, which may, at the Borrower’s option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarters (but net of any actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project following such Commercial Operation Date).

Material Real Property” means any land or acreage leased or owned in fee simple (or related tracts acquired in one transaction or a series of related transactions) with a fair market value exceeding, as of the Signing Date or at the time of its acquisition by one or more Loan Parties, $15,000,000.

Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.17.

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

Mortgaged Property” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

 

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Mortgages” means, collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds to secure debt, hypothecs and mortgages made by the Loan Parties pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof in favor or for the benefit of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties creating and evidencing a Lien on a Mortgaged Property in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent with such terms and provisions as may be required by the applicable Laws of the relevant jurisdiction, in each case, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified.

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding six years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Total Leverage Ratio” means the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Net Funded Debt as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period.

Non-Capitalized Lease Obligation” means a lease obligation that is not a Capitalized Lease Obligation. For the avoidance of doubt, a straight-line or operating lease shall be considered a Non-Capitalized Lease Obligation.

Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.02(d).

NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

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

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

Obligations” means all amounts owing by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender, or any Arranger or any indemnified party, individually or collectively, pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or LC Exposure, including, without limitation, all principal, interest (including any interest and fees accruing after the filing of, and during the pendency of, any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization, receivership or like proceeding relating to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest or fees is allowed in such proceeding), reimbursement obligations, obligations pursuant to Section 9.06, fees, expenses, indemnification and reimbursement payments, sums advanced to third parties for the maintenance, insurance, operations or safe-keeping of any Collateral or to create, perfect, continue or protect any Collateral or any security interest of the Secured Parties therein, costs and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Arranger and any Lender incurred pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document), whether direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, now existing or hereafter arising hereunder or thereunder.

 

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Organization Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

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

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19).

Outbound Investment Rules” means the regulations administered and enforced, together with any related public guidance issued, by the United States Treasury Department under U.S. Executive Order 14105 of August 9, 2023, or any similar law or regulation, as of the Signing Date, and as codified at 31 C.F.R. § 850.101 et seq.

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

Paid in Full” or “Payment in Full” means, (a) the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all outstanding Loans and LC Disbursements, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (b) the termination, expiration, or cancellation and return of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or alternatively, with respect to each such Letter of Credit, the furnishing to the Administrative Agent of a cash deposit, or at the discretion of the Administrative Agent a back-up standby letter of credit satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, in an amount equal to 105% of the LC Exposure as of the date of such payment), (c) the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the accrued and unpaid fees, (d) the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all reimbursable expenses and other Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations for which no claim has been made and other obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination of this Agreement), together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (e) the termination of all Revolving Commitments, and (f) the termination of the Swap Agreement Obligations and the Banking Services Obligations or entering into other arrangements satisfactory to the Secured Parties counterparties thereto.

Parent” means EagleRock Land, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(c).

Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04.

 

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Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.06(b)(i).

Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.06(b)(ii).

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

Permit” means any approval, consent, waiver, exception, license, filing, registration, ruling, permit, tariff, certification, exemption, franchise, concession or other authorization of or with any Governmental Authority.

Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(h)(i).

Permitted Business Activities” means with respect to any Person, (i) any business or activity related to ownership of land and development thereof, (ii) any business or activity related to the development or provision of services or infrastructure or land related to ownership or operation of oil and gas exploration and development activities, solar or wind energy, power generation, distribution or storage, digital infrastructure, wastewater storage or handling or recycling, solid waste handling, reclamation or storage, or water production, marketing and handling, (iii) any business or activity related to the gathering, marketing, treating, processing, storage, selling, transporting, transmission, compression, fractionation, dehydration, stabilization or treatment of hydrocarbons, other minerals, carbon dioxide or water, (iv) any business or activity related to the abatement, capture or sequester of greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide or water, (v) any business of directly or indirectly owning and investing in interests in hydrocarbons, including royalty and leased mineral fee interests, including lessor royalties, overriding royalty interests, non-participating royalty interests, net profit interests, production payments and any other similar non-participatory interests; (vi) any business relating to oilfield sales and service, (vii) any business or other activities relating to energy or power generation, energy storage, mobility, advanced fuels, carbon mitigation, hydrocarbon technologies, fuel cells, electric vehicle infrastructure and other related sectors, and (viii) any activity that is ancillary to, arising from, incidental to, or necessary or appropriate for the activities described in clauses (i) through (vii) of this definition.

Permitted Hedging Transaction” means any Hedging Transaction entered into from time to time by any of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof has actual exposure in the conduct of its business and not for speculative purposes, and/or (b) to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any Indebtedness of such Person.

Permitted Holders” means (x) any combination of Lea & Eddy Holdings, LLC, Shallow Valley Land, LLC and Double Eagle IV Midco, LLC and/or their respective affiliates (in each case, other than any portfolio company thereof) and (y) any person with which one or more of the persons described in clause (x) form a “group” (within the meaning of Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Signing Date) so long as, in the case of this clause (y), the relevant person or persons beneficially own more than 50% of the relevant voting stock beneficially owned by this group.

Permitted Intercompany Activities” means any transactions between or among Parent, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are entered into in the ordinary course of business of Parent, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and, in the reasonable and good faith judgment of the Borrower are necessary or advisable in connection with the ownership or operation of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, (i) payroll, cash management, purchasing, insurance and hedging arrangements, (ii) management, technology and licensing arrangements and (iii) customer loyalty and rewards programs.

 

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Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (i) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest, premium and penalties thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (ii) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e) and such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, (iii) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e), at the time thereof, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (iv) if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is Junior Financing, (a) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) to the Lenders taken as a whole, as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, and (b) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is incurred by the Person who is the obligor of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended.

Permitted Tax Distributions” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.06(g).

Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA that is maintained or is contributed to by any Loan Party and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

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

Plan” means any Pension Plan or any other “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any Loan Party or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

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

Pledged Equity” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

Post-Acquisition Period” means, with respect to any acquisition permitted under Section 7.02 or Section 7.04 hereof or the conversion of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Restricted Subsidiary, the period beginning on the date such acquisition or conversion is consummated and ending on the first anniversary of the date on which such acquisition or conversion is consummated.

 

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Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

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

Pro Forma Adjustment” means, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by the Borrower in good faith as a result of (a) actions taken during such Post-Acquisition Period for the purposes of realizing reasonably identifiable and factually supportable cost savings or (b) any additional costs incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, in each case in connection with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that so long as such actions are taken during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, it may be assumed that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such Test Period, or such additional costs, as applicable, will be incurred during the entirety of such Test Period; provided further that any such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, shall be without duplication for cost savings or additional costs already included in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, for such Test Period.

Pro Forma Basis”, “Pro Forma Compliance” and “Pro Forma Effect” mean, with respect to compliance with any test hereunder, that (a) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (b) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test: (i) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (A) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (B) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included (or in the case of any Investment in connection with the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, shall be excluded), (ii) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (iii) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to clause (a) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to events (including operating expense reductions) that are (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) (1) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (2) otherwise consistent with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment.

 

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Projections” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01(c).

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.

Public Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.02.

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

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.21.

Qualified Commercial Contracts” means, to the extent designated as such by the Borrower in its sole discretion, (a) new contracts and agreements now in effect or hereafter entered into for the Permitted Business Activities of the Borrower that generate revenue (any such contracts “Commercial Contracts”) containing minimum volume commitments, provided that such committed volumes must be reasonably expected to be online within the next 12 months following the date of determination or (b) amendments or other modifications to existing Commercial Contracts under which revenue has been received by the Borrower or a Guarantor that have the effect of increasing or adding minimum volume commitments.

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guaranty or grant of the relevant security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

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

RCRA” means the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“RCRA”), as amended.

Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned or leased by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto in which such Person has an interest, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment in which such Person has an interest, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof in which such Person has an interest. Where the Loan Documents refer to Real Property as being owned by a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary, this shall be deemed to include all right, title and interest in Real Property owned or held by such Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary (other than leasehold, license, or similar interests), whether by contract or otherwise, including all right, title and interest in Rights of Way.

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

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (a) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (b) if following a Benchmark Transition Event and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate, such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four (4) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such setting or (c) if such Benchmark is not the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

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Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(b)(vi).

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

Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

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

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

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

Release” means any spilling, leaking, leaching, pumping, pouring, emitting, escaping, emptying, seeping, discharging, injecting, dumping, depositing, migrating or disposing into the Environment.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or, in each case, any successor thereto.

Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Term SOFR Rate or (ii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing, the Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable.

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Commitments at such time or, if the Lenders have no Revolving Commitments outstanding, then Lenders holding more than 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Exposure; provided that to the extent that any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender and all of its Revolving Commitments and Revolving Exposure shall be excluded for purposes of determining Required Lenders.

Requirement of Law” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation, bylaws or operating, management or partnership agreement, or other organizational or governing documents of such Person and (b) any statute, Law (including common law), treaty, rule, regulation, code, ordinance, order, decree, writ, judgment, injunction or determination of any arbitrator or court or other Governmental Authority (including Environmental Law), in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

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

 

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Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, chief legal officer, general counsel, treasurer or assistant treasurer, manager or other similar officer of a Loan Party and, as to any document delivered on the Signing Date or the Effective Date or any document similar to any such document, any secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party and any officer, employee or manager of the applicable Loan Party where the signature is included on an incumbency certificate or similar certificate reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer (as defined herein) shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restricted Cash” means cash or Cash Equivalents of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that would appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP; provided that, cash or Cash Equivalents that would appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries solely because such cash or Cash Equivalents are subject to a Control Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent shall not constitute Restricted Cash.

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof).

Restricted Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. As of the Signing Date and the Effective Date, the Restricted Subsidiaries are set forth on Schedule 5.13.

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

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

Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the amount set forth on the Commitment Schedule opposite such Lender’s name, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) as provided in Section 10.04(b)(iii), pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable, as such Revolving Commitment may be reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (a) Section 2.09 and (b) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.04; provided, that at no time shall the Revolving Exposure of any Lender exceed its Revolving Commitment. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments is $200,000,000.

Revolving Credit Maturity Date” means the date that is five years after the Effective Date (the “Stated Maturity Date”) or any earlier date on which the Revolving Commitments are reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

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

Revolving Lender” means, as of any date of determination, a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Exposure.

 

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Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

RFR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing solely following a Benchmark Transition Event and a Benchmark Replacement Date, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR.

Rights of Way” means, collectively, the right-of-way agreements, easements, surface use agreements, servitudes, permits, licenses and other similar access agreements conferring upon a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary surface or subsurface land use rights.

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

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any comprehensive Sanctions embargo (at the time of this Agreement, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran and North Korea).

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, any Person subject or target of any Sanctions, including (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Governmental Authority that is the target of Sanctions or (d) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a), (b), or (c) (including, without limitation for purposes of defining a Sanctioned Person, as ownership and control may be defined and/or established in and/or by any applicable laws, rules, regulations or orders).

Sanctions” means all economic or financial sanctions, trade embargoes or similar restrictions imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, except to the extent the sanctions imposed by such sanctions authority are in conflict with the laws of the United States.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the U.S.

Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all (a) Banking Services Obligations and (b) Swap Agreement Obligations, in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), owing to one or more Lenders or their respective Affiliates; provided, however, that the definition of “Secured Obligations” shall not create any guarantee by any Guarantor of (or grant of security interest by any Guarantor to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor for purposes of determining any obligations of any Guarantor.

Secured Parties” means (a) the Lenders, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) each Issuing Bank, (d) each provider of Banking Services, to the extent the Banking Services Obligations in respect thereof constitute Secured Obligations, (e) each counterparty to any Swap Agreement, to the extent the obligations thereunder constitute Secured Obligations, and (f) the successors and permitted assigns of each of the foregoing.

 

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Security Agreement” means the Guarantee and Security Agreement dated as of the Effective Date, among the Borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Borrower, and the Administrative Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or modified.

Senior Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.02(b).

Signing Date” means the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.01 have been satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.02.

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

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

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

SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

Sold Entity or Business” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (i) the fair value of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability, on a consolidated basis, of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and (iv) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are not engaged in, and are not about to engage in, business for which they have unreasonably small capital. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.

Specified Transaction” means any Investment, Disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation or other transaction in respect of which the terms of this Agreement require any test to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis” or after giving “Pro Forma Effect.”

Stated Maturity Date” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

Statements” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(f).

 

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Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which (i) 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, (ii) more than half of the issued share capital is at the time beneficially owned or (iii) 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.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Guarantor other than the Borrower.

Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.21(a).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.

 

47


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

Test Period” means, for any date of determination under this Agreement, the latest four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower, for which financial statements have been delivered or made available to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Effective Date and/or for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01, as applicable.

Total Assets” means, at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of total assets included in the most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP less applicable reserves reflected in such balance sheet.

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Parent, the Borrower or any of its (or their) Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

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

Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR or the Alternate Base Rate.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Unliquidated Obligations” means, at any time, any Secured Obligations (or portion thereof) that are contingent in nature or unliquidated at such time, including any Secured Obligation that is: (a) an obligation to reimburse a bank for drawings not yet made under a letter of credit issued by it; (b) any other obligation (including any guarantee) that is contingent in nature at such time; or (c) an obligation to provide collateral to secure any of the foregoing types of obligations.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.14 subsequent to the Signing Date and (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. As of the Signing Date and the Effective Date, the Borrower has no Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

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

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

U.S. Person” means (a) for purposes of Sections 4.23 and 5.15 hereof, any United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States, including any foreign branch of any such entity, or any person in the United States and (b) for all other purposes, a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.21.

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

USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.

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

wholly owned” means, with respect to a Subsidiary of a Person, a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (x) director’s qualifying shares and (y) shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by applicable Law) are owned by such Person and/or by one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

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

Withholding Agent” means the Borrower, any Guarantor under any Loan Document or the Administrative Agent, as applicable.

 

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

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

SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply) and all judgments, orders and decrees of all Governmental Authorities. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignments set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (f) any reference in any definition to the phrase “at any time” or “for any period” shall refer to the same time or period for all calculations or determinations within such definition, and (g) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP.

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if after the Signing Date there occurs any change in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of any provision hereof and the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of such change in GAAP or in the application thereof (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be

 

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construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of any Loan Party, the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 or 2015-03 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 1.04 or in the definition of “Capitalized Lease Obligations,” any change in accounting for leases pursuant to GAAP resulting from the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“FAS 842”), to the extent such adoption would require treating any lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) as a capital lease where such lease (or similar arrangement) would not have been required to be so treated under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2015, such lease shall not be considered a capital lease, and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made or delivered, as applicable, in accordance therewith.

SECTION 1.05 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notifications. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in dollars may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.14(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability 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 calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

SECTION 1.06 Pro Forma Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or covenant contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Interest Coverage Ratio and the Net Total Leverage Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

SECTION 1.07 Letters of Credit. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit available to be drawn at such time; provided that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms, provides for one or more automatic increases in the available amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to

 

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

SECTION 1.08 Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any Division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

SECTION 2.01 Revolving Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally (and not jointly) agrees to make Revolving Loans in dollars to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Lender’s Revolving Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings.

(a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Revolving Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

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

 

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(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000. ABR Borrowings may be in any amount. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of ten (10) Term Benchmark Borrowings outstanding.

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

SECTION 2.03 Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by submitting a Borrowing Request to the Administrative Agent through Electronic System or the Approved Borrower Portal, in each case to the extent arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent, (a) (i) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than noon p.m., New York City time, three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (ii) in the case of an RFR Borrowing, not later than noon p.m., New York City time, five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than noon, Chicago time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e) may be given not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower; provided that, if such Borrowing Request is submitted through the Approved Borrower Portal, the foregoing signature requirement may be waived at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent. Each such Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

  (i)

the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing, and a breakdown of the separate wires comprising such Borrowing;

 

  (ii)

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

 

  (iii)

whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing; and

 

  (iv)

in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period.”

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Term Benchmark Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to a Benchmark Transition Event and Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate, in no event shall the Borrower be permitted to request an RFR Loan pursuant to this Section 2.03 (it being understood and agreed that Daily Simple SOFR shall only apply to the extent provided in Sections 2.14(a) and 2.14(f)).

SECTION 2.04 [Section Intentionally Omitted.]

 

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SECTION 2.05 [Section Intentionally Omitted.]

SECTION 2.06 Letters of Credit.

(a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request any Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit denominated in dollars as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to such Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period; provided no Issuing Bank shall be under any obligation to issue a Letter of Credit that would result in more than a total of twenty (20) Letters of Credit outstanding.

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or fax (or transmit through Electronic System or the Approved Borrower Portal, in each case to the extent arrangements for doing so have been approved by the respective Issuing Bank) to an Issuing Bank selected by it and to the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension, but in any event no less than three (3) Business Days) a written notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend or extend such Letter of Credit. In addition, as a condition to any such Letter of Credit issuance, the Borrower shall have entered into a continuing agreement (or other letter of credit agreement) for the issuance of letters of credit and/or shall submit a letter of credit application, in each case, as required by the respective Issuing Bank and using such Issuing Bank’s standard form (each, a “Letter of Credit Agreement”). In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any Letter of Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment or extension (i) (x) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by any Issuing Bank at such time plus (y) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements made by such Issuing Bank that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time shall not exceed its Letter of Credit Commitments, (ii) the aggregate LC Exposure shall not exceed either the LC Sublimit or the total Letter of Credit Commitments, (iii) no Revolving Lender’s Revolving Exposure shall exceed its Revolving Commitment and (iv) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments. The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, reduce the Letter of Credit Commitments of any Issuing Bank without the consent of such Issuing Bank; provided that the Borrower shall not reduce the Letter of Credit Commitments of any Issuing Bank if, after giving effect to such reduction, the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above shall not be satisfied.

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

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

 

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

(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination or non-renewal by notice from the applicable Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any extension of the expiration date thereof, including, without limitation, any automatic renewal provision, one year after such extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount or extending the term thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason, including after the Stated Maturity Date. Each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligations to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit and to make payments in respect of such acquired participations are absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments.

(e) Reimbursement. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (i) the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with an ABR Borrowing in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing. If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof, and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the respective Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the

 

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Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the respective Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank, as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Loans as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

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

(g) Disbursement Procedures. The Issuing Bank for any Letter of Credit shall, within the time allowed by applicable law or the specific terms of the Letter of Credit following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit. Such Issuing Bank shall promptly after such examination notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by fax or through Electronic System) of such demand for payment if such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that such notice need not be given prior to payment by the Issuing Bank and any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

 

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(h) Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank for any Letter of Credit shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Loans and such interest shall be due and payable on the date when such reimbursement is payable; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(d) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of such Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank for such LC Disbursement shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

(i) Replacement and Resignation of an Issuing Bank.

 

  (i)

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

 

  (ii)

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

(A) The Borrower may terminate the appointment of any Issuing Bank as an “Issuing Bank” hereunder by providing a written notice thereof to such Issuing Bank, with a copy to the Administrative Agent. Any such termination shall become effective upon the earlier of (i) such Issuing Bank acknowledging receipt of such notice and (ii) the third Business Day following the date of the delivery thereof; provided that no such termination shall become effective until and unless the LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (or its Affiliates) shall have been reduced to zero. At the time any such termination shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the terminated Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). Notwithstanding the effectiveness of any such termination, the terminated Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such termination, but shall not be required to issue any additional Letters of Credit or to extend, reinstate, or otherwise amend any then-existing Letter of Credit.

 

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(j) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account or accounts with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 105% of the amount of the LC Exposure as of such date plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in Sections 8.01(g) or (i). The Borrower also shall deposit cash collateral in accordance with this paragraph as and to the extent required by Sections 2.11(b) or 2.20. Each such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing or paragraph (c) of this Section, if any LC Exposure remains outstanding after the expiration date specified in said paragraph (c), the Borrower shall immediately deposit in the LC Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to 105% of such LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over the LC Collateral Account and the Borrower hereby grants the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account and all moneys or other assets on deposit therein or credited thereto. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in the LC Collateral Account. Moneys in the LC Collateral Account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs, and customary processing charges, and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of the Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy other Secured Obligations. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived as confirmed in writing by the Administrative Agent.

(k) Issuing Bank Reports to the Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall, in addition to its notification obligations set forth elsewhere in this Section, report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) periodic activity (for such period or recurrent periods as shall be requested by the Administrative Agent) in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, including all issuances, extensions and amendments, all expirations and cancelations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) reasonably prior to the time that such Issuing Bank issues, amends or extends any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment or extension, and the stated amount of the Letters of Credit issued, amended or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment or extension (and whether the amounts thereof shall have changed), (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any LC Disbursement, the date and amount of such LC Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such LC Disbursement, and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.

 

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

SECTION 2.07 Funding of Borrowings.

(a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by such Lender hereunder on the proposed date thereof solely by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 1:00 p.m., New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the funds so received in the aforesaid account of the Administrative Agent to the Funding Account(s); provided that ABR Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower each severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Revolving Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing; provided, that any interest received from the Borrower by the Administrative Agent during the period beginning when Administrative Agent funded the Borrowing until such Lender pays such amount shall be solely for the account of the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 2.08 Interest Elections.

(a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

 

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(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by submitting an Interest Election Request to the Administrative Agent through Electronic System or the Approved Borrower Portal, in each case to the extent arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent, by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower; provided that, if such Interest Election Request is submitted through the Approved Borrower Portal, the foregoing signature requirement may be waived at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Borrower be permitted to (i) elect an Interest Period for Term Benchmark Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d), or (ii) request pursuant to this Section 2.08(c), prior to a Benchmark Transition Event and Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate, an RFR Loan bearing interest based on Daily Simple SOFR (it being understood and agreed that Daily Simple SOFR shall only apply to the extent provided in Sections 2.14(a) and 2.14(f)).

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

(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Term Benchmark Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

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SECTION 2.09 Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in Revolving Commitments.

(a) Unless previously terminated, the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate the Revolving Commitments upon the Payment in Full of the Secured Obligations.

(c) The Borrower may from time to time reduce the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $2,500,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, (A) any Lender’s Revolving Exposure would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (B) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure would exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

(d) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments under clause (b) or (c) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other contingent events, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments.

(e) The Borrower shall have the right to increase the Revolving Commitments by obtaining additional Revolving Commitments, either from one or more of the Lenders or another lending institution, provided that (i) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $25,000,000, (ii) the Borrower may make a maximum of four (4) such requests, (iii) after giving effect thereto, the sum of the total of the additional Revolving Commitments does not exceed $100,000,000, (iv) the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank have approved the identity of any such new Lender, such approvals not to be unreasonably withheld, (v) any such new Lender assumes all of the rights and obligations of a “Lender” hereunder, and (vi) the procedures described in Section 2.09(f) below have been satisfied. Nothing contained in this Section 2.09 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to increase its Revolving Commitment hereunder at any time.

(f) Any amendment hereto for such an increase or addition shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall only require the written signatures of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Lender being added or increasing its Revolving Commitment, subject only to the approval of all Lenders if any such increase or addition would cause the Revolving Commitments to exceed $300,000,000. As a condition precedent to such an increase or addition, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (i) a certificate of each Loan Party signed by an authorized officer of such Loan Party (A) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (B) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase or addition, (1) the representations and warranties contained in Article IV and the other Loan Documents are true and correct, 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 such earlier date, (2) no Default exists and (3) the Borrower is in compliance (on a pro forma basis) with the Financial Covenants and (ii) legal opinions and documents consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

 

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(g) On the effective date of any such increase or addition, (i) any Lender increasing (or, in the case of any newly added Lender, extending) its Revolving Commitment shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase or addition and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lender’s portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Lenders to equal its revised Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and the Administrative Agent shall make such other adjustments among the Lenders with respect to the Revolving Loans then outstanding and amounts of principal, interest, commitment fees and other amounts paid or payable with respect thereto as shall be necessary, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, in order to effect such reallocation and (ii) the Borrower shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase (or addition) in the Revolving Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the Borrower, in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03). The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, in respect of each Term Benchmark Loan, shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. Within a reasonable time after the effective date of any increase or addition, the Administrative Agent shall, and is hereby authorized and directed to, revise the Commitment Schedule to reflect such increase or addition and shall distribute such revised Commitment Schedule to each of the Lenders and the Borrower, whereupon such revised Commitment Schedule shall replace the old Commitment Schedule and become part of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.10 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

(a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

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

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

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

 

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(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns), in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.

SECTION 2.11 Prepayment of Loans.

(a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section and, if applicable, payment of any break funding expenses under Section 2.16.

(b) In the event and on such occasion that the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall prepay, on demand, the Revolving Loans, and/or LC Exposure (or, if no such Borrowings are outstanding, deposit cash collateral in the LC Collateral Account in accordance with Section 2.06(j)) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

(c) In the event and on each occasion that any proceeds are received by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any incurrence of Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 or permitted with the requisite consent pursuant to Section 10.02, the Borrower shall, immediately after such proceeds are received by any Loan Party or Subsidiary, prepay the Obligations and cash collateralize the LC Exposure as set forth in Section 2.11(d) below in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the proceeds of such Indebtedness.

(d) All prepayments made pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be applied (i) to prepay Loans in accordance with the Lenders’ respective Applicable Percentages without a corresponding reduction in the Revolving Commitments and (ii) to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure.

(e) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by email) or through Electronic System or the Approved Borrower Portal, in each case to the extent arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent, of any prepayment under this Section: (i) in the case of prepayment of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than noon p.m., New York City time, three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an RFR Revolving Borrowing, not later than noon p.m., New York City time, five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (iii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than noon p.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02, except as necessary to apply fully the required amount of a mandatory prepayment. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (x) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (y) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

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SECTION 2.12 Fees.

(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent a commitment fee for the account of each Revolving Lender, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily amount of the undrawn portion of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments terminate; it being understood that the LC Exposure of a Lender shall be included in the drawn portion of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender for purposes of calculating the commitment fee. Commitment fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable in arrears on the fifteenth (15th) day following such last day and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Signing Date; provided that any commitment fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day and the last day of each period but excluding the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate).

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in each outstanding Letter of Credit, which shall accrue on the daily maximum stated amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Revolving Loans, during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the daily maximum stated amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit, during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such Issuing Bank relating to Letters of Credit as from time to time in effect. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the fifteenth (15th) day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to an Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

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

(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in dollars in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to an Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the Lenders entitled thereto. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

(e) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Revolving Lender, a ticking fee equal to the product of (i) the aggregate Revolving Commitments multiplied by (ii) a per annum rate equal to 0.375% for the period from and including June 30, 2026 to but excluding the earliest to occur of (A) the Effective Date, (B) September 30, 2026 and (C) the date on which the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments terminate. Such ticking fee shall be paid in full in cash on such earliest date and shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day and the last day of each period but excluding the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate).

 

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SECTION 2.13 Interest.

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

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

(c) Each RFR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR plus the Applicable Rate.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision of Section 10.02 requiring the consent of “each Lender affected thereby” for reductions in interest rates), declare that (i) all Loans shall bear interest at 2% per annum plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount outstanding hereunder, such amount shall accrue at 2% per annum plus the rate applicable to such fee or other obligation as provided hereunder, in each case, as of the first date that any such Event of Default occurred.

(e) Accrued interest on each Loan (for ABR Loans, accrued through the last day of the prior calendar month) shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

(f) Interest computed by reference to the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR or the Alternate Base Rate (except when based on the Prime Rate) hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days. Interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate only at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year). In each case, interest shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All interest hereunder on any Loan shall be computed on a daily basis based upon the outstanding principal amount of such Loan as of the applicable date of determination. A determination of the applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, Daily Simple SOFR, Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Term SOFR Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.14 Alternate Rate of Interest.

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

(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) (A) prior to commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (including, because the Term SOFR Reference Rate is not available or published on a current basis) for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR; or

 

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

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders through Electronic System as provided in Section 10.01 as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, (1) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be an Interest Election Request or a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above and (2) any Borrowing Request that requests an RFR Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for an ABR Borrowing; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then all other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.14(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan, be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above on such day or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above on such day, and (2) any RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute an ABR Loan.

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

 

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

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

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

(f) Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for (i) a Term Benchmark Borrowing or conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued or (ii) an RFR Borrowing or conversion to RFR Loans, during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing, as applicable, into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to (A) solely with respect to any such request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of ABR based upon the then current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan or RFR

 

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Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.14, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Loan so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event on such day or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event on such day and (2) any RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, an ABR Loan.

SECTION 2.15 Increased Costs.

(a) If any Change in Law shall:

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

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

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

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

(b) If any Lender or Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Commitments of or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

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

 

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(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided, further, that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

SECTION 2.16 Break Funding Payments.

(a) With respect to Loans that are not RFR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of an optional or mandatory prepayment of Loans), (ii) the conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Term Benchmark Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(e) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (iv) the assignment of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 or 10.02(d), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

(b) With respect to RFR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or an optional or mandatory prepayment of Loans), (ii) the failure to borrow or prepay any RFR Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(e) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (iii) the assignment of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 or 10.02(d), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event.

(c) A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.16 shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

SECTION 2.17 Withholding of Taxes; Gross-Up.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental

 

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Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17), the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

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

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

(d) Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after 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 2.17) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Loan Party by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(e) Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to setoff and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

(f) Status of Lenders.

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable

 

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the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(f)(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,

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

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

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

(2) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-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) an executed copy of IRS Form W 8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 or Exhibit B-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

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

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

(vii) On or before the date on which J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (and any successor or replacement Administrative Agent) becomes the Administrative Agent hereunder, it shall deliver to the Borrower an executed copy of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Administrative Agent is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax. The Administrative Agent agrees that if the IRS Form W-9 it previously delivered pursuant to this Section 2.17(f)(vii) expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower in writing of its legal inability to do so.

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

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

 

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

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

(i) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

SECTION 2.18 Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Setoffs.

(a) The Borrower shall make each payment or prepayment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Sections 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date when due or the date fixed for any prepayment hereunder, in immediately available funds, without setoff, recoupment or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its applicable office or offices as described in the Administrative Questionnaire provided by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower from time to time, except payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 10.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. Unless otherwise provided for herein, if any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

(b) All payments and any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (i) not constituting (A) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower), or (B) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.11) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then due to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks from the Borrower (other than in connection with Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement Obligations), second, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrower (other than in connection with Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement Obligations), third, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth, to prepay principal on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the aggregate LC Exposure, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, and to pay any amounts owing in respect of Swap Agreement Obligations and Banking Services Obligations up to and including the amount most recently provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.22, and fifth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower or any other Loan Party. Notwithstanding anything

 

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to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower, or unless a Default is in existence, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any Term Benchmark Loan, except (x) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or (y) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans of the same Class and, in any such event, the Borrower shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.16. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Secured Obligations arising under Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement Obligations shall be excluded from the application described above and paid in clause fifth if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may have reasonably requested from the applicable provider of such Banking Services or Swap Agreements.

(c) At the election of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may charge any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent for each payment of principal, interest, fees, costs and expenses as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.

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

(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received, prior to any date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks pursuant to the terms hereof or any other Loan Document (including any date that is fixed for prepayment by notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.11(e)), notice from the Borrower that the Borrower will not make such payment or prepayment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the NYFRB Rate.

 

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(f) The Administrative Agent may from time to time provide the Borrower with account statements or invoices with respect to any of the Secured Obligations (the “Statements”). The Administrative Agent is under no duty or obligation to provide Statements, which, if provided, will be solely for the Borrower’s convenience. Statements may contain estimates of the amounts owed during the relevant billing period, whether of principal, interest, fees or other Secured Obligations.

SECTION 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

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

(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender does not consent to any proposed amendment, supplement, modification, consent or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that requires the consent of each of the Lenders or each of the Lenders affected thereby (so long as the consent of the Required Lenders has been obtained),then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under this Agreement and other Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and in circumstances where their consent would be required under Section 10.04, the Issuing Banks), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that (x) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (y) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

 

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SECTION 2.20 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

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

(b) any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 2.18(b) or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Bank hereunder; third, to cash collateralize LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (i) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (ii) cash collateralize future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Banks or against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 3.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Revolving Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto;

(c) such Defaulting Lender shall not have the right to vote on any issue on which voting is required (other than to the extent expressly provided in Section 10.02(b)) and the Revolving Commitment and Revolving Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document; provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02, this clause (c) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

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

 

  (i)

all or any part of the LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that such reallocation does not, as to any non-Defaulting Lender, cause such non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Exposure to exceed its Revolving Commitment;

 

  (ii)

if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent cash collateralize, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks, the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

 

  (iii)

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

 

  (iv)

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

 

  (v)

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

(e) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend, renew, extend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and such Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Revolving Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.20(d), and LC Exposure related to any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.20(d)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or a Bail-In Action with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the Signing Date and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) any Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless such Issuing Bank shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to such Issuing Bank to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

In the event that each of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Issuing Bank agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and on the date of such readjustment such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of

 

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the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

SECTION 2.21 Returned Payments. If, after receipt of any payment which is applied to the payment of all or any part of the Obligations (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff), the Administrative Agent or any Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment or proceeds to any Person because such payment or application of proceeds is invalidated, declared fraudulent, set aside, determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, or a diversion of trust funds, or for any other reason (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion), then the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued and this Agreement shall continue in full force as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent or such Lender. The provisions of this Section 2.21 shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in reliance upon such payment or application of proceeds. The provisions of this Section 2.21 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.22 Banking Services and Swap Agreements. Each Lender or Affiliate thereof providing Banking Services for, or having Swap Agreements with, any Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, promptly after entering into such Banking Services or Swap Agreements, written notice setting forth the aggregate amount of all Banking Services Obligations and Swap Agreement Obligations of such Loan Party to such Lender or Affiliate (whether matured or unmatured, absolute or contingent). In furtherance of that requirement, each such Lender or Affiliate thereof shall furnish the Administrative Agent, from time to time after a significant change therein or upon a request therefor, a summary of the amounts due or to become due in respect of such Banking Services Obligations and Swap Agreement Obligations. The most recent information provided to the Administrative Agent shall be used in determining which tier of the waterfall, contained in Section 2.18(b), such Banking Services Obligations and/or Swap Agreement Obligations will be placed. For the avoidance of doubt, so long as JPMCB or its Affiliate is the Administrative Agent, neither JPMCB nor any of its Affiliates providing Banking Services for, or having Swap Agreements with, any Loan Party shall be required to provide any notice described in this Section 2.22 in respect of such Banking Services or Swap Agreements.

ARTICLE III

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

SECTION 3.01 Conditions to Signing. The obligations of the Lenders to enter into this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 10.02) of the following conditions:

(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the following, each to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed by or on behalf of each party hereto or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;

 

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(ii) a certificate of the Secretary or other Responsible Officer of the Borrower attaching and certifying true, correct and complete copies of its limited liability company agreement, inclusive of any amendments thereto, and of the resolutions of its board of managers (or other governing body), authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying the name, title and true signature of each officer of Borrower executing the Loan Documents;

(iii) certified copies of the articles or certificate of organization or formation, as applicable, of the Borrower, together with a certificate of existence and/or good standing, as may be available from the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of organization of the Borrower;

(iv) a certificate, dated the Signing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer, certifying that (x) no Default or Event of Default exists, (y) all representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the Signing Date, except to the extent any representation or warranty relates to a specified date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be accurate as of such date, and (z) since December 31, 2025, there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(v) the Administrative Agent shall have received at least five (5) days prior to the Signing Date all documentation and other information about the Borrower required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act that has been requested by the Administrative Agent in writing at least ten (10) days prior to the Signing Date. If the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation in relation to the Borrower, the Borrower shall deliver a Beneficial Ownership Certification to any Lender that has requested such certification at least five (5) days prior to the Signing Date;

(vi) copies of favorable UCC, tax, judgment and bankruptcy search reports in the jurisdiction of organization or formation of the Borrower, as requested by the Administrative Agent, indicating that there are no Liens on the assets of the Borrower other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and Liens to be released on the Effective Date;

(vii) a solvency certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-2;

(viii) an initial Fee Letter; and

(ix) each other document, certificate and information as the Administrative Agent shall have reasonably requested.

(b) All representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the Signing Date, except to the extent any representation or warranty relates to a specified date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be accurate as of such date.

After the Signing Date and prior to the occurrence of the Effective Date, the Borrower may terminate this Agreement by written notice to the Administrative Agent.

 

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SECTION 3.02 Conditions to Effectiveness. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and the obligation of the Issuing Bank to issue any Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which the following conditions are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02):

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received payment of all fees payable to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Arranger on or prior to the Effective Date (including, without limitation, any ticking fee required by Section 2.12(e), if any) and, to the extent invoiced at least one (1) Business Day before the Effective Date (except as reasonably agreed by the Borrower), all other fees, expenses and other amounts due and payable under the Loan Documents on or prior to the Effective Date, including, without limitation, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, under any other Loan Document and under any other agreement with the Administrative Agent or any Arranger.

(b) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the following, each to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) a certificate of the Secretary or other Responsible Officer of each Loan Party attaching and certifying copies of its bylaws, or partnership agreement or limited liability company agreement, and of the resolutions of its board of directors or other equivalent governing body, or comparable organizational documents and authorizations, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying the name, title and true signature of each officer of such Loan Party executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party; provided, in the case of the Borrower, such certificate may certify that there has been no change to the limited liability company agreement or to the name and title of each officer of the Borrower executing the Loan Documents, in each case since those delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) on the Signing Date.

(ii) certified copies of the articles or certificate of incorporation, certificate of organization or limited partnership, or other registered organizational documents of each Loan Party (other than the Borrower, which may certify that there has been no change since those delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(iii) on the Signing Date), together with certificates of good standing or existence, as may be available from the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party;

(iii) a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Responsible Officer, certifying that (w) no Default or Event of Default exists, (x) all representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects), except to the extent any representation or warranty relates to a specified date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be accurate as of such date, (y) since December 31, 2025, there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (z) since the Signing Date, there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iv) a solvency certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-2;

 

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(v) copies of favorable UCC, tax, judgment and bankruptcy search reports in the jurisdiction of organization or formation of the Borrower and all Subsidiaries expected to be Subsidiary Guarantors on the Effective Date, as requested by the Administrative Agent, indicating that there are no Liens on assets of the Borrower or such Subsidiaries other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and Liens to be released on the Effective Date;

(vi) a customary favorable written opinion of Vinson & Elkins, LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties;

(vii) either (1) certified copies of all governmental and material third party consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations and filings and orders (other than those (A) routinely obtained in the ordinary course of business or after the closing of sales or transfers of assets, (B) filings necessary to perfect the Liens created under the Loan Documents or (C) that, if not made or obtained, would not cause a Default hereunder and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect) required to be made or obtained under any Requirement of Law, or by any Contractual Obligation of any Loan Party, in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity and enforceability of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings and orders shall be in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired, and no investigation or inquiry by any governmental authority regarding the Revolving Commitments or any transaction being financed with the proceeds thereof shall be ongoing, or (2) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party stating that no such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings or orders are so required;

(viii) each Collateral Document set forth on Schedule 3.02(b)(viii) required to be executed on the Effective Date as indicated on such schedule, duly executed by each Loan Party thereto, as applicable, together with:

1. copies of proper financing statements, filed or duly prepared for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code in all United States jurisdictions that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary in order to perfect and protect the Liens created under the Security Agreement on assets of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor that is party to the Security Agreement, covering the Collateral described in the Security Agreement; and

2. evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings required by the Collateral Documents as of the Effective Date that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (subject to Section 5.20) shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that the Borrower providing authorization to the Administrative Agent to take such actions or make such recordings and filings that can be taken or made by the Administrative Agent and to the extent agreed to be taken or made by the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent);

(ix) copies of duly executed payoff letters for the Existing Facility, together with (A) UCC-3 or other appropriate termination statements releasing all related liens upon any of the personal property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (B) cancellations and releases releasing all related liens upon any of the Real Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and (C) any other releases, terminations or other documents reasonably required by the Administrative Agent;

 

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(x) a Note for each Lender requesting one in accordance with Section 2.10(e); and

(xi) each other document, certificate and information as the Administrative Agent shall have reasonably requested.

(c) The Parent shall have consummated an underwritten initial public offering of its common equity interests in a minimum amount of $300,000,000.

(d) The Signing Date shall have occurred.

(e) All representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the Effective Date, except to the extent any representation or warranty relates to a specified date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be accurate as of such date.

(f) The Borrower shall have consummated the Contribution Transactions pursuant to the Contribution Agreements.

(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received updated Schedules to this Agreement (the “Updated Schedules”) reflecting the consummation of the Contribution Transactions which Updated Schedules shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood and agreed that the Updated Schedules shall be deemed to amend and restate in their entirety the corresponding Schedules delivered on the Signing Date, and all representations and warranties made by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties in this Agreement that refer to or are qualified by reference to the Schedules shall, from and after the Effective Date, be deemed to refer to the Updated Schedules).

(h) The Effective Date shall have occurred by September 30, 2026.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of this Section, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section, each Lender that has signed this Credit Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved of, accepted or been satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to, approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.

SECTION 3.03 Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

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

(b) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects);

 

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(c) the Borrower shall have delivered the required Borrowing Request (including in connection with any Borrowing made on the Effective Date); and

(d) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, the aggregate Revolving Exposure of the Lenders shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

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

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower, for itself and on behalf of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (and, to the extent expressly provided below, on behalf of each of its Subsidiaries), represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders on the Signing Date, the Effective Date, at the time of each Borrowing or issuance, extension or amendment of each Letter of Credit, and at the time any Incremental Commitment becomes effective, that:

SECTION 4.01 Existence; Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) is a Person duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing (where relevant) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business as currently conducted and (ii) in the case of the Loan Parties, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and in good standing (where relevant) under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all applicable Laws and Permits and all judgments, decrees, orders, writs and injunctions of any Governmental Authority and (e) has all requisite Permits to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case, referred to in Section 4.01(a) (other than with respect to the Borrower), (b)(i), (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 4.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, and the consummation of the Transactions, (a) are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other powers, (b) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and (c) do not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under (other than as permitted by Section 7.01), or require any payment to be made under (x) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (iii) violate any Law binding on such Person; except, in respect of clauses (c)(ii) and (iii) above, to the extent that such violation, conflict, breach, contravention or payment could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 4.03 Governmental Approvals. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with (i) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transactions, (ii) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (iii) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof) or (iv) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except for (x) filings, recordings and registrations with Governmental Authorities necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties, (y) the Permits, actions and notices which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect (except to the extent not required to be obtained, taken, given or made or to be in full force and effect pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement) and (z) those Permits, actions and notices the failure of which to obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 4.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is a party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity and (ii) the effect of foreign Laws, rules and regulations as they relate to pledges, if any, of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries.

SECTION 4.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) The Historical Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the periods covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

(b) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income and cash flow of the Parent and its Subsidiaries which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Signing Date have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation of such forecasts, it being understood that such forecasts are as to future events and not to be viewed as facts, such forecasts are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Borrower’s control, that no assurance can be given that any particular Projections will be realized and actual results may vary from such forecasts and that such variations may be material.

(c) Since December 31, 2025, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) As of the Signing Date and the Effective Date, none of the Borrower nor its Subsidiaries has any Indebtedness or other obligations or liabilities, direct or contingent (other than (i) the liabilities reflected on Schedule 7.03(b), (ii) obligations arising under the Loan Documents, (iii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) liabilities disclosed in the Historical Financial Statements and (v) as of the Signing Date, liabilities in respect of the Existing Facility) that either individually or in the aggregate, have had or could reasonably be expected to have individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 4.06 Litigation. There are no Proceedings or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, (a) by or against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) that involve any Loan Document or the Transaction.

 

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SECTION 4.07 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans solely for the purposes specified in Section 5.18.

SECTION 4.08 Ownership of Property; Insurance.

(a) The Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has good record title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all Real Property and other assets necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens (except for minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes and Liens permitted by Section 7.01) except where the failure to have such title or other interest could not reasonably be expected to have individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) As of the Signing Date and the Effective Date, the Material Real Property is set forth on Schedule 4.08(b).

(c) As of the Signing Date and the Effective Date, no Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Laws) or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Laws) owned or leased by any Loan Party is material to the operations of the Loan Parties or has a material value. The Collateral does not include, and no Loan Document encumbers, any Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Laws) or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Laws) located on real property owned or leased by any Loan Party.

(d) The Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries is maintaining and operating its properties, and is maintaining insurance on its property and operations, in each case in compliance with the requirements of Section 5.07.

(e) No material termination or suspension of any business or any operation of the Loan Parties or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries due to an adverse change in the regulatory enforcement of the Loan Parties’ or their Restricted Subsidiaries’ business which is conducted on its properties has occurred, except matters, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(f) All Rights of Way and Deeds necessary for the conduct of the business of the Loan Parties and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting and in full force and effect, except, in each case, where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and there exists no breach, default or event or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would give rise to a Material Adverse Effect. All rental and other payments due under any Rights of Way or Deeds by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary have been duly paid in accordance with the terms thereof, except to the extent such rental or other payments are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP or where the failure to pay could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) The rights and real and personal property presently owned, leased or licensed by the Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries, including all Rights of Way and Deeds, include all rights and real and personal properties necessary to permit the Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries to conduct their businesses in all material respects in the same way that a prudent owner and operator would inspect, operate, repair, and maintain similar property except where the failure to have such rights or properties could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(h) No eminent domain proceeding or taking has been commenced or, to the knowledge of any of the Loan Parties or their Restricted Subsidiaries, is contemplated with respect to all or any of its Material Real Property except proceedings or takings, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 4.09 Environmental Matters. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 4.09 or except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) each Loan Party, Restricted Subsidiary and their respective assets and operations are and, other than any matters which have been finally resolved without further liability or obligation, within the time period specified by the applicable statute of limitations have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws, which includes obtaining, maintaining in full force and effect, and complying with all Environmental Permits required under such Environmental Laws to carry on the business of the Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries

(b) no Loan Party nor any Restricted Subsidiary is subject to any Environmental Liability;

(c) the Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries have not received any notice that alleges any of them is in violation of or potentially liable under any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits;

(d) none of the Loan Parties, Restricted Subsidiaries nor any of the Real Property owned or operated by any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary is the subject of any Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, under any Environmental Law, including with respect to any of the foregoing that could result in the revocation, suspension or adverse modification of any Environmental Permit held by any of the Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries;

(e) there has been no Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at, on, under, or from the Real Property or any facilities currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by any of the Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to give rise to an Environmental Liability;

(f) there are no facts, circumstances or conditions arising out of or relating to the current or former operations of the Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries or Real Property or facilities currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by any of the Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to require investigation, remedial activity, corrective action or cleanup by, or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of, any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary under Environmental Laws;

(g) none of the Real Property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary contain or have contained: (i) underground storage tanks requiring Environmental Permits; (ii) asbestos-containing materials requiring removal pursuant to Environmental Law; (iii) landfills or dumps requiring an Environmental Permit pursuant to Environmental Law; (iv) hazardous waste management units as defined pursuant to RCRA or any comparable state law; or (v) sites on or nominated for the National Priority List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA or any state remedial priority list promulgated or published pursuant to any comparable state law; and

(h) there has been no exposure of any Person or Real Property to any Hazardous Materials as a result of or in connection with the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary’s operations of their respective businesses at any of the Borrower’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Real Property that could reasonably be expected to form the basis of an Environmental Liability; and

 

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(i) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have made available to the Lenders complete and correct copies of all material environmental site assessment reports, investigations, studies, analyses, and correspondence on environmental matters relating to any alleged non-compliance with or liability under Environmental Laws that are in any of the Borrower’s or the Restricted Subsidiaries’ possession or control and relating to their respective Real Property or operations.

SECTION 4.10 Taxes. Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns required to be filed, and have paid all Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties that are due and payable (including in their capacity as a withholding agent), except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed Tax deficiency or assessment known to any Loan Parties against the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries that would, if made, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 4.11 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Plan maintained by a Loan Party, Restricted Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate is in compliance with its terms and with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder and all other applicable Laws and (ii) each Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service, and, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, nothing has occurred that would reasonably be likely to prevent, or cause the loss of, such tax-qualified status.

(b) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur except as would not reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) (i) The Plans of any Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary and any ERISA Affiliate are funded to the extent required by the terms of each Plan, if any, and by Law or otherwise to comply with the requirements of any Law applicable in the jurisdiction in which the relevant pension scheme is maintained, (ii) neither any Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to a Plan that is, or is expected to be, in at-risk status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code), (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code) is 80% or higher and no Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 80% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) no Loan Party, Restricted Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are delinquent; (v) no Loan Party, Restricted Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan or to assess any liability against any Loan Party, Restricted Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses of this Section 4.11(c), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan or Pension Plan that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no non-exempt prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan or Pension Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 4.12 Subsidiaries. As of the Signing Date and the Effective Date, no Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 4.12 (and, if subsequent to the Effective Date, such additional material Subsidiaries as have been formed or acquired in compliance with Section 5.11). All of the outstanding Equity Interests owned by the Loan Parties (or a Subsidiary of any Loan Party) in such material Subsidiaries have been validly issued and are fully paid and all Equity Interests owned by a Loan Party (or a Subsidiary of any Loan Party) in such material Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens except (a) those created under the Collateral Documents and (b) any Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01. As of the Signing Date and the Effective Date, Schedule 4.12 sets forth (i) the name and jurisdiction of each Domestic Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and (ii) the ownership interest of the Borrower and any other Subsidiary Guarantor in each material wholly owned Subsidiary, including the percentage of such ownership.

SECTION 4.13 Margin Regulations.

(a) No Loan Party nor any of their respective Subsidiaries is engaged, nor will any of them engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings or any Letters of Credit will be used to buy Margin Stock in violation of Regulation U. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) will be Margin Stock.

(b) None of the Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 4.14 Disclosure.

(a) No report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party (other than projected financial information and information of a general economic or industry nature) to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein (when taken as a whole), in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading. With respect to projected financial information and pro forma financial information, the Borrower represents that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such projections may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material.

(b) As of the Signing Date and the Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all material respects.

 

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SECTION 4.15 Labor Matters. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened; (b) hours worked by and payment made to employees of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Laws dealing with such matters; and (c) all payments due from the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on account of employee health and welfare insurance have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the relevant party.

SECTION 4.16 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries own, license or possess the right to use all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, licenses, technology, software, know-how, database rights, design rights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, such IP Rights do not infringe upon the rights of any Person, except to the extent such failure to own, license or possess or such infringement, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Borrower, the business of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise violate any IP Rights held by any Person except for such infringements, misappropriations and violations, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any of the IP Rights, is filed and presently pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, presently threatened in writing against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 4.17 Solvency. After giving effect to the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of the Loans under this Agreement and the other Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

SECTION 4.18 Default. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 4.19 USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA; Anti-Corruption Laws. Each Loan Party has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors and, to the knowledge of such Loan Party, its employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws, applicable Sanctions, and applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations (including Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act). None of (a) any Loan Party, any Subsidiary, or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary, any agent of such Loan Party or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds, Transaction or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

SECTION 4.20 Collateral Documents.

(a) Valid Liens. Each Collateral Document delivered pursuant to Section 3.01 and Sections 5.11 and 5.13 will, upon execution and delivery thereof, be effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the Collateral described therein to the extent intended to be created thereby and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the office of the Secretary of State located in each jurisdiction of formation or organization, as applicable, of the Loan Parties, and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Administrative Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the

 

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Administrative Agent to the extent possession or control by the Administrative Agent is required by the Security Agreement), the Liens created by the Collateral Documents shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in (to the extent intended to be created thereby), all right, title and interest of the grantors in such Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing financing statements, possession or control, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

(b) Mortgages. The Mortgages executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Effective Date (or by the applicable later date required by Section 5.20) collectively contain accurate and complete legal descriptions of all real property interests owned or leased by any Loan Party as of the Effective Date. Upon recording thereof in the appropriate recording office, each Mortgage is effective to create, in favor of the Administrative Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interest in, all of the Loan Parties’ right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Properties thereunder and the proceeds thereof, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 7.01, and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices of the county clerks in each county in which the Material Real Property described therein are located (or, in the case of any Mortgage executed and delivered after the date thereof in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.11, 5.13 and 5.20, when such Mortgage is filed in the offices specified in the opinion delivered (if any) with respect thereto in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.11, 5.13 and 5.20), the Mortgages shall constitute Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Properties and the proceeds thereof, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 4.20) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, (A) neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party makes any representation or warranty as to (i) the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest in any Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, or as to the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, or any Lender with respect thereto, under foreign Law or (ii) the pledge or creation of any security interest, or the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest to the extent such pledge, security interest, perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, including as to Excluded Assets, and (B) neither Borrower nor any other Loan Parties shall be required to provide Mortgages with respect to any real property that does not constitute Material Real Property.

SECTION 4.21 Deposit and Disbursement Accounts. Schedule 4.21 lists all banks and other financial institutions at which any Loan Party maintains deposit accounts, lockbox accounts, disbursement accounts, securities accounts, commodity accounts, investment accounts or other similar accounts as of the Signing Date and the Effective Date, and such Schedule correctly identifies the name of each financial institution, the name in which the account is held, the type of the account, the complete account number therefor and whether such account is an “Excluded Account”.

SECTION 4.22 Affected Financial Institutions. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is an Affected Financial Institution.

SECTION 4.23 Outbound Investment Rules. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “covered foreign person” as that term is used in the Outbound Investment Rules. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries currently engages, or has any present intention to engage in the future, directly or knowingly indirectly, in (i) a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, (ii) any activity or transaction that would constitute a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, if the Borrower were a U.S. Person or (iii) any other activity that would cause Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to be in violation of the Outbound Investment Rules.

 

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SECTION 4.24 Material Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any Material Agreement that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE V

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

On and after the Effective Date, until Payment in Full, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Section 5.01, 5.02 and 5.03) cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 5.01 Financial Statements and Other Information.

(a) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026), an audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including, at a minimum, all Loan Parties) as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form (starting from fiscal year ending December 31, 2027) the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP (which financial statements shall reflect the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not contain any qualifications or exceptions as to the scope of such audit or any “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like qualification (other than resulting from any actual or prospective breach of any financial covenant contained in any indebtedness);

(b) Commencing with the quarterly financial statements for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2026, deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter and in comparative format, the prior fiscal year-end and the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in comparative form, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, and statements of stockholders’ equity for the current fiscal quarter and consolidated statement of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form, the figures for the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer that is the chief financial officer, treasurer, or other financial officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ 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;

(c) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, no later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal year, a detailed consolidated budget for the next such fiscal year on a quarterly basis (including projected Consolidated EBITDA and a summary of the material underlying assumptions applicable thereto) (collectively, the “Projections”), which Projections shall in each case be certified by a certificate of a Responsible Officer that is the chief financial officer, treasurer, or other financial officer of the Borrower stating that such Projections have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation of such Projections, it being understood that actual results may vary from such Projections and that such variations may be material; and

 

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(d) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender with each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 5.01(a), 5.01(b) and 5.01(c) above, the related consolidating financial statements reflecting the adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) (which may be in footnote form only) from such consolidated financial statements.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Holding Company Condition is satisfied as of the date of the relevant financial statements, the obligations in Section 5.01(a) and Section 5.01(b) may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by furnishing (i) the applicable financial statements of the Parent; provided that to the extent such information relates to the Parent, such information is accompanied by consolidating information, which may be unaudited, that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to the Parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand, and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of any independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and, except as permitted in Section 5.01(a), shall not contain any qualifications or exceptions as to the scope of such audit or any “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like qualification (other than resulting from any actual or prospective breach of any financial covenant contained in any Indebtedness).

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.01 and Sections 5.02(b) and (c) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower or the Parent posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the website on the Internet at the Borrower’s website; (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on Debtdomain, Roadshow Access (if applicable) or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent) or (iii) if and when such information is filed on EDGAR or the equivalent thereof with the SEC; provided that, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), (1) upon reasonable written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent and (2) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

SECTION 5.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) no later than five (5) days after the actual delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 5.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

(b) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary files with the SEC or with any Governmental Authority that may be substituted therefor (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statement on Form S-8) and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

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(c) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material requests or material notices received by any Loan Party (other than in the ordinary course of business) or material statements or material reports furnished to any holder of debt securities (other than in connection with any board observer rights) of any Loan Party or of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any Junior Financing Documentation, if any, and any Permitted Refinancing thereof, in each case in a principal amount in excess of $15,000,000 not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other clause of this Section 5.02; together with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 5.02(a), (i) in the case of annual Compliance Certificates only, a report setting forth the legal name and the jurisdiction of formation of each Loan Party and the location of the chief executive office of each Loan Party or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Effective Date or the date of the last such report, and (ii) a list of each Subsidiary of the Borrower that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or an Excluded Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or confirmation that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Effective Date or the date of the last such list;

(d) [reserved];

(e) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent, and/or Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and each Issuing Bank materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on a Platform and (b) certain of the Lenders may 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 hereby agrees to make all Borrower Materials that the Borrower intends to be made available to Public Lenders clearly and conspicuously designated as “PUBLIC.” By designating Borrower Materials as “PUBLIC,” the Borrower authorizes such Borrower Materials to be made available to a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor,” which is intended to contain only information that is publicly available or not material information (though it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws or is of a type that would be publicly available if the Borrower were a public reporting company (as reasonably determined by the Borrower). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be under any obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.” The Borrower agrees that (i) any Loan Documents, (ii) any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 5.01(c)) and (iii) any Compliance Certificates delivered pursuant to Section 5.02(a) and (iv) notices delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(a) will be deemed to be “public-side” Borrower Materials and may be made available to Public Lenders.

Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States federal and state securities laws, to make reference to communications that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Loan Parties or their securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws.

 

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SECTION 5.03 Notices.

(a) Promptly after a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or any Guarantor has obtained knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent;

(i) of the occurrence of any (i) Default or (ii) ERISA Event that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect;

(ii) of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect;

(iii) of the filing or commencement of any action, suit, litigation or Proceeding, whether at law or in equity by or before any Governmental Authority, (i) against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries thereof that would reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) with respect to any Loan Document;

(iv) of any action arising under any Environmental Law against any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary, of any non-compliance with any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit by any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary, of the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials, or of any failure to obtain or maintain in full force and effect any Environmental Permit, that, in each case, could reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(v) (A) to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the occurrence of any default or event of default, or (B) the receipt by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any written notice of an alleged default or event of default, in each case with respect to any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) [Reserved]; and

(c) promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Each notice pursuant to Section 5.03(a) shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (x) that such notice is being delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) (as applicable) and (y) setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take (or cause to be taken) with respect thereto (if applicable).

SECTION 5.04 Payment of Tax Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable in the normal conduct of its business, all its obligations and liabilities in respect of Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, except, in each case, (i) to the extent any such Tax is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP or (ii) if such failure to pay or discharge such obligations and liabilities would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 5.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.

(a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; and

(b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing where applicable in the relevant jurisdiction), Permits necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business,

except, in the case of clause (a) (other than with respect to the Borrower) or (b), (i) to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Article VII.

SECTION 5.06 Maintenance of Properties. Except if the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and fire, casualty or condemnation excepted.

SECTION 5.07 Maintenance of Insurance.

(a) Generally. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

(b) Requirements of Insurance. All such insurance shall name the Administrative Agent as lender loss payee (in the case of property insurance) or additional insured on behalf of the Secured Parties (in the case of liability insurance) (it being understood that, absent an Event of Default, any proceeds of any such property insurance shall be delivered by the insurer(s) to the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and applied in accordance with this Agreement), as applicable. The Borrower will provide written notice to the Administrative Agent promptly upon receipt by the Borrower of notice from the insurer of any cancellation of such insurance policies. Subject to Section 5.20, upon request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver such insurance certificates and/or endorsements evidencing such insurance as required by Sections 5.07(a) and (b).

SECTION 5.08 Compliance with Laws. (a) Comply with the requirements of all Laws, Permits and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property (including ERISA, the Code and other applicable pension laws), except if the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (b) maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by such Loan Party and each Subsidiary and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

SECTION 5.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied and which reflect all material financial transactions and matters involving the material assets and business of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that certain Foreign Subsidiaries maintain individual books and records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in their respective countries of organization and that such maintenance shall not constitute a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants hereunder).

 

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SECTION 5.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative 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 its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants (subject to such accountants’ customary policies and procedures), all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 5.10 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two (2) times during any calendar year and only one (i) such time shall be at the Borrower’s expense; provided further that when an Event of Default exists and is continuing, the Administrative 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 upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.10, none of the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter that (i) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Law or (iii) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work-product.

SECTION 5.11 Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors. At the Borrower’s expense, take all action necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement continues to be satisfied (subject to Schedule 5.20 attached hereto), including:

(a) Upon (w) the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary (in each case, excluding any Excluded Subsidiary) by the Borrower, (x) any Division Successor (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) resulting or remaining from the Division of a Domestic Subsidiary, (y) any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary or (z) the designation in accordance with Section 5.14 of an existing direct or indirect wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) as a Restricted Subsidiary:

(i) within sixty (60) days after such formation, acquisition or designation, or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its sole discretion:

(A) cause each such Domestic Subsidiary that is required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent joinders to the Security Agreement (Security Agreement Supplements), Mortgages with respect to any Material Real Property owned or leased by such Domestic Subsidiary (if applicable), a counterpart of the Intercompany Note (if any), a joinder to any applicable intercreditor agreements and other security agreements and documents, as reasonably requested by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (substantially consistent with the Mortgages, Security Agreement, and other security agreements delivered on the Effective Date), in each case granting Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;

(B) cause each such Domestic Subsidiary that is required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (and the parent of each such Domestic Subsidiary that is a Loan Party) to deliver any and all certificates representing Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) and intercompany notes (to the extent certificated) that are required to be pledged pursuant to (and subject to the applicable limitations and exceptions of) the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, accompanied by undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank, as applicable;

 

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(C) take, and cause such Restricted Subsidiary and each direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary that is required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to take, whatever action (including the recording of Mortgages, the filing of UCC financing statements and delivery of stock and membership interest certificates (to the extent certificated)) as may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent (or in any representative of the Administrative Agent designated by it) valid and perfected Liens to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;

(ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, within sixty (60) days after such request (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its sole discretion), deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of an opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, of counsel for the Loan Parties reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to such matters set forth in this Section 5.11(a) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

(iii) promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent with respect to all Material Real Property, any existing title reports, abstracts or non-privileged final environmental assessment reports, to the extent in the possession or reasonable control of the Borrower or Loan Party; provided, however, that there shall be no obligation to deliver to the Administrative Agent any existing environmental assessment report whose disclosure to the Administrative Agent would require the consent of a Person other than the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries, where, despite the commercially reasonable efforts of the Borrower to obtain such consent, such consent cannot be obtained; and

(iv) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or, at the direction of the Administrative Agent, within sixty (60) days after such request (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its sole discretion), deliver to the Administrative Agent any other items necessary from time to time to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement with respect to perfection and existence of security interests with respect to property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor formed or acquired after the Effective Date and subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, but not specifically covered by the preceding clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) or clause (b) below.

(b) (i) After the acquisition or lease by any Loan Party of any Material Real Property, as determined by the Borrower (acting reasonably and in good faith, and taking into account the aggregate acquisition consideration for the subject assets being paid or provided by the relevant Loan Party), cause such Material Real Property to be subject to a Lien and Mortgage in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (x) within sixty (60) days after June 30th of each year (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its reasonable discretion) for Material Real Property acquired on or before June 30th of such year or (y) within sixty (60) days after December 31st of each year (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its reasonable discretion) for Material Real Property acquired after June 30th but on or before December 31st of such year, and take, or cause the relevant Loan Party to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or, at the direction of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative

 

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Agent to grant and perfect or record such Lien, in each case to the extent required by, and subject to the applicable limitations and exceptions of, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement; and (ii) promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent with respect to each such Material Real Property, any existing title reports, abstracts, surveys, appraisals and final environmental assessment reports, in the possession or reasonable control of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries.

(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Loan Parties shall at all times maintain, or cause to be maintained, Mortgages in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties on owned real property of the Loan Parties such that, at any time, the aggregate surface acreage of all such mortgaged real property (excluding, for purposes of this calculation, any real property that is within the six-month period for delivery of a Mortgage as provided in clause (b) above) is not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the aggregate surface acreage of all real property owned and leased by the Loan Parties.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, and without limitation, this Section 5.11 shall apply to any division of a Loan Party and any division of a Subsidiary required to become a Loan Party pursuant to the Loan Documents and to any allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust.

SECTION 5.12 Environmental Matters. Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (a) comply with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (b) obtain, renew and maintain in full force and effect all Environmental Permits as required under Environmental Laws for its operations and Real Property; and (c) promptly conduct, to the extent required by Environmental Laws or any Governmental Authority, any investigation, remedial or other corrective action to address any Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at any property or facility in compliance with Environmental Laws.

SECTION 5.13 Further Assurances. Promptly upon the reasonable request by the Administrative Agent (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any intercreditor agreement or any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement, any intercreditor agreement or the Collateral Documents, to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.

SECTION 5.14 Designation of Subsidiaries. The Borrower may at any time after the Effective Date designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (a) immediately before and after such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (b) immediately after giving effect to such designation, on a Pro Forma Basis, the Borrower shall be in compliance with the financial performance covenants set forth in Article VI, (c) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for the purpose of any Junior Financing and (d) the Borrower shall provide written notice of such designation to the Administrative Agent confirming satisfaction with the conditions set forth in clauses (a) through (c) preceding and that such designation complies with this Section 5.14. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date shall constitute (x) an Investment by the Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) Investment therein and (y) a Disposition of the assets of such Subsidiary immediately prior to such designation to the resulting Unrestricted Subsidiary. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence at

 

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the time of designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time and (ii) a return on any Investment by the Borrower in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the fair market value at the date of such designation of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) Investment in such Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) no Restricted Subsidiary that owns material IP Rights or holds an exclusive license to material IP Rights may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (y) no Unrestricted Subsidiary shall own material IP Rights or hold an exclusive license to material IP Rights.

SECTION 5.15 Outbound Investment Rules. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) be or become a “covered foreign person”, as that term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, or (b) engage, directly or knowingly indirectly, in (i) a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, (ii) any activity or transaction that would constitute a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, if the Borrower were a U.S. Person or (iii) any other activity that would cause the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to be in violation of the Outbound Investment Rules.

SECTION 5.16 USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a) Not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and not use, permit its Subsidiaries to use, or any of its and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents to use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, except to the extent permitted for a Person required to comply with Sanctions, or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto; and

(b) Comply with Anti-Corruption Laws, applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations (including the USA PATRIOT Act), and Sanctions.

SECTION 5.17 Nature of Business. Continue to, engage in any material lines of business which are not substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Effective Date or any business reasonably related, complementary, synergistic or ancillary thereto or reasonable extension thereof (including any geographic expansion of the business).

SECTION 5.18 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Revolving Loans and all Letters of Credit shall be used for working capital and general corporate purposes (including the financing of acquisitions and funding of Capital Expenditures).

SECTION 5.19 Accounting Changes. Continue to use the same fiscal year; provided, however, that the Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year to any other fiscal year reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year.

SECTION 5.20 Post-Closing Deliveries. The Borrower hereby agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the items described on Schedule 5.20 hereof on or before the dates specified with respect to such items, or such later dates as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

 

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SECTION 5.21 Qualified ECP Guarantor. Each Loan Party is a Qualified ECP Guarantor, after giving effect to Section 10.21.

SECTION 5.22 Loan Party Accounts. From and after the ninetieth (90th) day after the Effective Date (or such longer time as the Administrative Agent shall approve in its sole discretion), each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, at all times (i) use the financial institution serving as Administrative Agent as its principal depository bank, including for the maintenance of business, cash management, operating and administrative deposit accounts, and (ii) maintain all of its deposit accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) with financial institutions that are Lenders or serving as the Administrative Agent; provided that, the foregoing shall not prohibit the applicable Loan Party from continuing to utilize its existing bank accounts for a period of up to 180 days after the Effective Date so long as the amounts on deposit in such accounts consist solely of customer receipts consistent with past practice and such amounts are promptly transferred to a deposit account that is subject to a Control Agreement.

SECTION 5.23 Material Agreements. Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to, perform its obligations under Material Agreements to which it is a party, except, where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE VI

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

On and after the Effective Date, until Payment in Full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that, in each case, commencing with the Test Period ending September 30, 2026:

(a) The Borrower will not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 2.75:1.00 as of the last day of each Test Period; and

(b) The Borrower will not permit the Net Total Leverage Ratio to exceed 3.50:1.00 as of the last day of such Test Period; provided that, for the fiscal quarter in which a Material Permitted Acquisition occurs and the two subsequent fiscal quarters, the Borrower will not permit the Net Total Leverage Ratio to exceed 4.00:1.00.

ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

On and after the Effective Date, until the Revolving Commitments have expired or been terminated and all of the Secured Obligations shall have been Paid in Full, and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated, in each case without any pending draw, or all such Letters of Credit shall have been cash collateralized to the satisfaction of the Issuing Bank, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

SECTION 7.01 Liens. None of the Borrower nor the Restricted Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, 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 created pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

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(b) (i) Liens existing on the Signing Date and listed on Schedule 7.01(b); (ii) Liens arising under Contractual Obligations listed on Schedule 7.08 and (iii) any modifications, replacements, renewals, refinancings, or extensions of any of the foregoing; provided that (A) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (x) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (y) proceeds and products thereof, and (B) the replacement, renewal, extension, or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens, to the extent constituting Indebtedness, is permitted by Section 7.03;

(c) Liens for Taxes that are not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP;

(d) constitutional, statutory, or common law Liens of landlords, sublandlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors, or other like Liens that secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or if more than sixty (60) days overdue, that are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently conducted;

(e) (i) pledges, deposits or Liens in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and other social security legislation, and (ii) pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(f) pledges, deposits or Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts, and leases (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory or regulatory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds, and other obligations of a like nature (including (i) those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations and (ii) letters of credit and bank guarantees required or requested by any Governmental Authority in connection with any contract or Law) incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g) (i) easements, rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions, permits, and other similar encumbrances and other minor title defects, imperfection or irregularities affecting Real Property, and (ii) any exceptions on the mortgage policies which, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(h) Liens (i) securing judgments or orders for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(j) or (ii) securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments;

(i) leases, licenses, subleases, or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;

(j) Liens (i) in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of Law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods and (ii) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds thereof of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(k) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution, in each case arising as a matter of Law or under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or arising pursuant to such banking institution’s general terms and conditions;

 

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(l) Liens (i) on cash advances or Cash Equivalents in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Sections 7.02(h) and (k) or, to the extent related to any of the foregoing, Section 7.02(o) to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (ii) consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 7.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(m) Liens (i) in favor of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party securing permitted intercompany Indebtedness and (ii) in favor of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(n) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor, or sublicensor under leases, subleases, licenses, or sublicenses entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, and any precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements filed in respect of such interest or title in the affected asset(s);

(o) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment, or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business permitted, or not otherwise prohibited, by this Agreement;

(p) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements under Section 7.02;

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

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

(s) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e); provided that (i) such Liens are created within 270 days of the acquisition, construction, repair, lease or improvement of the property subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber property (except for replacements, additions and accessions to such property) other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and products thereof and customary security deposits and (iii) with respect to Capitalized Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for replacements, additions and accessions to such assets) other than the assets subject to such Capitalized Leases and the proceeds and products thereof and customary security deposits; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(t) Liens on property of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to the extent such property does not constitute Collateral;

 

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(u) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than by designation as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.14), in each case after the Effective Date; provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than the proceeds or products thereof and other than after-acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted, or not otherwise prohibited, hereunder that require, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition) and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 7.03(g);

(v) (i) zoning, building, entitlement, and other land use regulations by Governmental Authorities with which the normal operation of the business materially complies, and (ii) any zoning, order, decree, restriction, condition, Permit, or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property and all rights of condemnation or eminent domain that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

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

(x) the modification, replacement, renewal, or extension of any Lien permitted by clauses (s) and (u) of this Section 7.01; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property, other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (B) proceeds and products thereof, and (ii) the renewal, extension, or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens is permitted by Section 7.03 (to the extent constituting Indebtedness);

(y) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03(l);

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

(aa) Liens arising pursuant to Section 107(l) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9607(l);

(bb) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to secure the performance of the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;

(cc) Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law;

(dd) licenses of patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights granted by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(ee) contractual Liens that arise in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, oil and gas partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, marketing agreements, processing agreements, net profits agreements, development agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water

 

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or other disposal agreements, seismic or other geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements which are usual and customary in the oil and gas business and are for claims which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; provided, that any such Lien referred to in this clause does not materially impair (i) the use of the property covered by such Lien for the purposes for which such property is held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (ii) the value of such property subject thereto;

(ff) Liens on the Equity Interests of a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary to secure the obligations of such Person (or non-recourse obligations of a Loan Party to the extent permitted by Section 7.03(s)); and

(gg) with respect to leased real property, any matters created by, through or under the fee owner thereof, without the involvement or consent of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(hh) other Liens not otherwise permitted hereunder with respect to Indebtedness or other obligations that do not in the aggregate exceed at any time $15,000,000;

provided, that no intention to subordinate the Liens granted to secure the Secured Obligations is hereby implied or expressed or is to be inferred by the permitted existence of any of the foregoing permitted Liens.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consensual Liens shall exist on Equity Interests that constitute Collateral other than pursuant to clause (a) above.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01, (A) Liens need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Liens permitted by this Section 7.01 but are permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption and (B) in the event that such Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Liens permitted by this Section 7.01, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this provision.

SECTION 7.02 Investments. None of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly make or hold any Investments, except:

(a) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

(b) Investments (i) in any Loan Party or (ii) by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

(c) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and deposits, prepayments and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

(d) Investments consisting of transactions permitted under Sections 7.01, 7.03 (other than 7.03(c) and (d)), 7.04 (other than 7.04(c), (d), (e) or (f) (unless the applicable Disposition referred to in Section 7.04(f) would itself constitute an Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02(d) without reliance on Section 7.04(f)), 7.05 (other than 7.05(d) and (e)), 7.06 and 7.10, respectively;

(e) Investments (i) existing or contemplated on the Signing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.02(e), and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment, or extension thereof and (ii) existing on the Signing Date by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary and any modification, renewal, or extension thereof; provided that the amount of the original Investment is not increased except by the terms of such Investment as of the Signing Date or as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02;

 

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(f) Investments in Hedging Transactions permitted under Section 7.03;

(g) promissory notes and other non-cash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05;

(h) any Investment by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (directly by Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or indirectly through Parent (or any of their respective Subsidiaries), provided that such Investment, or substantially all of the assets of the Person in which such Investment is made, are subsequently contributed to Borrower or any other Loan Party) in the form of a purchase or acquisition of one or more Person(s) or assets in the same or a generally related line of business if as a result of such Investment:

(i) (A) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries maintain compliance with Section 5.17 and (B) (x) such Person becomes a Loan Party, (y) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated, or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Borrower or a Loan Party and/or (z) such assets (or substantially all of the assets of such Person) are acquired by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties (such transaction or series of related transaction, a “Permitted Acquisition”);

(ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing immediately after giving pro forma effect to such purchase or acquisition and the incurrence of Indebtedness and any other related transactions; and

(iii) to the extent applicable, Section 5.11 shall be complied with respect to any such newly acquired Restricted Subsidiary and property;

(i) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of UCC Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and UCC Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(j) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(k) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date such Investment is made, other Investments, which when combined with the aggregate amount of other Investments outstanding pursuant to this clause (k) (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write downs or write offs thereof, but giving effect to any positive return in respect thereof, including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts), does not exceed at the time when any such new Investment is made, $15,000,000; provided no direct or indirect Investments in Excluded Subsidiaries may be made in reliance on this clause (k);

(l) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(m) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower);

(n) Investments held by (x) a Restricted Subsidiary, which Restricted Subsidiary is acquired after the Effective Date or (y) a Person merged or amalgamated or consolidated into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.04 after the Effective Date, in the case of either clause (x) and (y), to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, or consolidation;

(o) Investments made by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to the extent such Investments are financed with the proceeds received by such Restricted Subsidiary from an Investment in such Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 7.02(k);

(p) Investments constituting the non-cash portion of consideration received in a Disposition permitted by Section 7.05;

(q) Guarantees by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of leases (other than Capitalized Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case, of another Restricted Subsidiary and entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(r) Permitted Intercompany Activities, Investments in connection with any Borrower Redemption or Investments consisting of the Contribution Transactions;

(s) Investments consisting of Capital Expenditures reasonably necessary to permit the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, to (i) operate its properties and assets in accordance with prudent industry practice or (ii) to comply with applicable Law (including any Environmental Laws);

(t) Investments in respect of lease, utility, and other similar deposits in the ordinary course of business;

(u) earnest money deposits required in connection with Permitted Acquisitions (or similar Investments that are otherwise permitted under this Section 7.02); and

(v) Investments that are made with Excluded Contribution Assets or the proceeds thereof within thirty (30) days after the date such assets were designated as such.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.02, in the event that an Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Investments described in clauses (a) through (v) above, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Investment in a manner that complies with this Section 7.02 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Investment in one or more of the above clauses.

SECTION 7.03 Indebtedness. None of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents;

(b) Indebtedness outstanding on the Signing Date and listed on Schedule 7.03(b) and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

 

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(c) Guarantees by the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower otherwise permitted hereunder; provided that (i) no Guarantee of any Junior Financing shall be permitted unless such guaranteeing party shall have also provided a Guarantee of the Secured Obligations on the terms set forth herein and (ii) if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to the Obligations, such Guarantee shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of the Secured Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness;

(d) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent constituting an Investment permitted by Section 7.02; provided that all such Indebtedness shall be evidenced by an Intercompany Note;

(e) (i) Attributable Indebtedness and other Indebtedness (including Capitalized Leases) financing an acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease or improvement of a fixed or capital asset incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or within 270 days after the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease or improvement of the applicable asset in an aggregate amount, taken together with Indebtedness incurred or assumed pursuant to clause (g) hereto, not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding, (ii) Attributable Indebtedness arising out of sale leaseback transactions permitted by Section 7.05(s) and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing;

(f) Indebtedness in respect of Hedging Transactions designed to hedge against the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s exposure to interest rates, foreign exchange rates or other commodity pricing risks incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(g) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party incurred or assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, and any Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided that after giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness at any time outstanding, taken together with Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (e)(i) hereto, does not exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; provided, further, that any Indebtedness incurred (but not assumed) pursuant to this clause (g) shall not (i) require scheduled amortization or mandatory payments of principal in respect of such Indebtedness prior to ninety-one (91) days after the Stated Maturity Date in effect at the time of issuance (except for customary offers to purchase with proceeds of asset sales, casualty events or condemnation events or upon the occurrence of a change of control), (ii) include any financial maintenance covenants, and (iii) be guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the Borrower unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor hereunder;

(h) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(i) Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors, and employees, their respective estates, spouses, or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower permitted by Section 7.06;

(j) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Investment expressly permitted hereunder or any Disposition expressly permitted hereunder, in each case, constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price (including earnouts) or other similar adjustments;

 

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(k) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with Investments expressly permitted hereunder;

(l) cash management obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case in connection with deposit accounts;

(m) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that at the time of, and after giving effect to, the incurrence thereof, would not exceed $15,000,000, together with any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(n) Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, including in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability, or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims; provided that any reimbursement obligations in respect thereof are reimbursed within thirty (30) days following the incurrence thereof;

(p) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal, and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(q) Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Hedging Transactions;

(r) Permitted Intercompany Activities (to the extent constituting Indebtedness);

(s) limited Guarantees by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Person’s pledge of the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture; provided that, recourse under any such Guarantee is limited to only the pledged Equity Interests in the applicable Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture; and

(t) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (s) above,

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (t) above, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness or any portion thereof in a manner that complies with this Section 7.03 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents will at all times be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in Section 7.03(a) (but without limiting the right of the Borrower to classify and reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, Indebtedness incurred under Section 7.03(s)). In the event that a portion of Indebtedness or other obligations could be classified as incurred under a “ratio-based” basket (giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such portion of such Indebtedness or other obligations), the Borrower, in its sole discretion, may classify such portion of such

 

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Indebtedness (and any obligations in respect thereof) as having been incurred pursuant to such “ratio-based” basket and thereafter the remainder of the Indebtedness or other obligations as having been incurred pursuant to one or more of the other clauses of this Section 7.03 and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time.

SECTION 7.04 Fundamental Changes. None of the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate (including by division) with or into another Person, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person including by allocation of any assets to a series of a limited liability company, except that:

(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with (i) the Borrower (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize the Borrower into a new jurisdiction); provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person and such merger does not result in the Borrower ceasing to be a limited partnership, corporation or limited liability company organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (ii) one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that when any Person that is a Loan Party is merging with a Restricted Subsidiary, a Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(b) (i) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (ii) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or the Borrower or any Subsidiary may change its legal form (x) if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interest of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (y) to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary is a Loan Party, any assets or business not otherwise disposed of or transferred in accordance with Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(d)) or Section 7.05 (other than Section 7.05(e)) or, in the case of any such business, discontinued, shall be transferred to or otherwise owned or conducted by another Loan Party after giving effect to such liquidation or dissolution (it being understood that in the case of any change in legal form, a Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor will remain a Subsidiary Guarantor unless such Subsidiary Guarantor is otherwise permitted to cease being a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder);

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Subsidiary Guarantor, then (i) the transferee must be a Subsidiary Guarantor or the Borrower or (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Sections 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(d)) and 7.03, respectively;

(d) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would immediately result therefrom, the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving entity;

(e) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would immediately result therefrom (in the case of a merger involving a Loan Party), any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that (i) if the merging Restricted Subsidiary in such a transaction is a Subsidiary Guarantor, then the continuing or surviving Person must be a Guarantor or the Borrower, and (ii) the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower, which together with each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Section 5.11 to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;

 

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(f) the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower may consummate a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.05;

(g) the Borrower may consummate the Contribution Transactions; and

(h) any Restricted Subsidiary that is a limited liability company may consummate a Division as the Dividing Person if, immediately upon the consummation of the Division, the assets of the applicable Dividing Person are held by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries at such time, or, with respect to assets not so held by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, such Division, in the aggregate, would not otherwise result in a Disposition or sale of assets that is not permitted under Section 7.05; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Subsidiary which is a Division Successor resulting from a Division of assets of a Domestic Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Subsidiary may not be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary at the time of or in connection with the applicable Division.

In connection with any transaction permitted under this Section 7.04, the Borrower shall take, or cause to be taken, at the Borrower’s expense, all action necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement continues to be satisfied.

SECTION 7.05 Dispositions. None of the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, make any Disposition including by allocation of any assets to a series of a limited liability company, except:

(a) (i) Dispositions of obsolete, non-core, worn out, surplus or other property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business, (ii) Dispositions of property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (iii) termination of leases in the ordinary course of business and (iv) the expiration of any option agreement in respect of real or personal property;

(b) Dispositions of inventory, property, IP Rights and assets in the ordinary course of business (including allowing any registrations or any applications for registration of any IP Rights to lapse, to be cancelled, or go abandoned in the ordinary course of business) and of immaterial assets; provided that no IP Rights that are material to the operation of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries’ respective businesses nor Material Real Property that is or is required to be subject to the Mortgages may be Disposed pursuant to this clause (b) (other than leases thereof in the ordinary course of the relevant Person’s business);

(c) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) all of the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(d) Dispositions of property to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Loan Party, (i) the transferee thereof must be a Loan Party or (ii) if such transaction constitutes an Investment, such transaction is permitted under Section 7.02;

(e) to the extent constituting Dispositions, transactions permitted by Sections 7.01, 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(d)), 7.04 (other than 7.04(f)) and 7.06;

 

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(f) Dispositions, liquidations or use of Cash Equivalents;

(g) leases or subleases, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, including lease development agreements related thereto;

(h) transfers of property subject to Casualty Events;

(i) Dispositions of property; provided that (A) at the time of such Disposition (other than any such Disposition made pursuant to a legally binding commitment entered into at a time when no Default or Event of Default exists or would immediately result if such Disposition were consummated at such time), no Default or Event of Default shall exist or would immediately result from such Disposition, (B) the aggregate fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith) of all property Disposed of pursuant to this clause (i) in any twelve-month period shall not exceed the greater of $15,000,000 and 10% of Consolidated EBITDA and (C) the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall receive not less than 100% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(j) Dispositions or discounts without recourse of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business;

(k) any swap of assets in exchange for services or other assets in the ordinary course of business of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower;

(l) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(m) the unwinding, termination, transfer, liquidation or novation of any Hedging Transaction;

(n) Dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to customary buy/sell arrangements between, the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

(o) the lapse, cancellation, or abandonment in the ordinary course of business of any registrations or applications for registration of any immaterial IP Rights; provided that no IP Rights that are material to the operation of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries’ respective businesses may lapse, be cancelled or be abandoned pursuant to this clause (o);

(p) Permitted Intercompany Activities among Loan Parties or Dispositions in connection with any Borrower Redemption;

(q) Dispositions of Real Property that at the time of Disposition is not generating (or expected to generate) revenue to the Loan Parties, if a Loan Party retains a royalty or other economic interest in such Real Property or activities conducted on such Real Property;

(r) Dispositions of assets acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition which assets are not used or useful to the core or principal business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(s) Dispositions of property pursuant to sale-leaseback transactions; provided that the fair market value of all property so Disposed of after the Effective Date shall not exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

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provided that any Disposition of any property pursuant to Section 7.05(i) and (l) shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

SECTION 7.06 Restricted Payments. None of the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(a) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and other Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, to the Borrower and any other Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests);

(b) the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments payable solely in the Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of such Person; provided that, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow the Parent, the Borrower or any other direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) any net settlement amount in connection with any equity vesting that is payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee, manager or director stock option plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any employee, manager, director, officer or consultant of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Borrower or any other direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries only to the extent that any cash received from such net settlement is being paid to the IRS in connection with such equity vesting;

(c) the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow the Parent, the Borrower or any other direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary (or of the Borrower or any other such direct or indirect parent thereof) from any future, present or former employee, officer, director, manager or consultant of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Borrower or any other direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary) or any of its Subsidiaries upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee, manager or director stock option plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any employee, manager, director, officer or consultant of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Borrower or any other direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (c) shall not exceed $3,000,000 in any calendar year;

(d) any Restricted Payment; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) after giving effect thereto, the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis (including pro forma for any use of cash in making such Restricted Payment), with a Net Total Leverage Ratio of less than 3.00:1.00 and (iii) after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Borrower shall have minimum Liquidity of at least $50,000,000;

(e) repurchases of Equity Interests in the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants or (ii) in connection with any Borrower Redemption;

 

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(f) Restricted Payments to any parent entity of the Borrower (including Parent and its direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiaries):

(i) to pay their operating costs and expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties), which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business and attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, Transaction Expenses and any reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by directors, managers or officers of such parent attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(ii) the proceeds of which shall be used by the parent entity (including Parent or its direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiaries) to pay franchise, excise and similar Taxes, and other fees and expenses, required to maintain their corporate or legal existence;

(g) with respect to any taxable period (or portion thereof) during which the Borrower is treated as a pass-through entity (including a partnership or disregarded entity) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Restricted Payments in an amount sufficient to permit the Borrower to make dividends or distributions to any direct or indirect member or partner of the Borrower, on a pro rata basis, such that each such member or partner receives an amount from such dividend or distribution sufficient to enable each such member or partner to pay its U.S. federal, state and/or local and non-U.S. income Taxes (as applicable) attributable to its direct or indirect ownership of the Borrower with respect to such taxable period (assuming that each such member or partner is subject to Tax at the highest combined marginal U.S. federal, state and/or local income Tax rate (including any Tax rate imposed on “net investment income” by Section 1411 of the Code)) applicable to an individual or, if higher, a corporation resident in New York, New York; provided that (1) the determination of such dividends or distributions (x) shall take into account (A) any U.S. federal, state and/or local (as applicable) loss carryforwards of each such member or partner attributable to its direct or indirect ownership of the Borrower for any prior taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the date of this Agreement to the extent such loss is of a character that would allow such loss to be available to reduce taxes in the current taxable period (taking into account any limitations on the utilization of such loss by each such member or partner to reduce such attributable taxes and assuming such loss had not already been utilized), (B) any adjustment to each such member’s or partner’s taxable income attributable to its direct and indirect ownership of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as a result of any Tax examination, audit or adjustment with respect to any taxable period (or portion thereof), and (C) the character of the applicable income or losses (e.g., capital gains or losses, dividends, ordinary income, etc.), and (y) shall not take into account the effect of any deduction under Section 199A of the Code or any deductibility of state and local income tax purposes for U.S. federal income purposes; (2) in the case of the Parent and its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, such amount shall not be less than an amount that will enable the Parent and such subsidiaries to timely satisfy all of their U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax obligations (including estimates thereof) and (3) any dividends or distributions with respect to a taxable period (or portion thereof) may be made in installments using reasonable estimates (any such Restricted Payment permitted under this clause (g), a “Permitted Tax Distribution”);

(h) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may (i) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof, any acquisition permitted under Section 7.02 or in connection with any equity issuance by the Parent and (ii) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

 

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(i) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Sections 7.02 (other than Sections 7.02(d), (k) or (o)), 7.04 or 7.07 (other than Sections 7.07(f) or 7.07(k)); including, for the avoidance of doubt, any distribution of cash to fund a Permitted Acquisition in accordance with Section 7.02(h);

(j) the Borrower may make the payment of a dividend within sixty (60) days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration the payment of such dividend would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement;

(k) payments and distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable Law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole that complies with this Agreement;

(l) the Borrower may redeem in whole or in part any of its Equity Interests in exchange for another class of its Equity Interests or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests;

(m) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contribution Assets or the proceeds thereof within thirty (30) days after the date such assets were designated as such;

(n) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Contribution Transactions; and

(o) other Restricted Payments not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) the Borrower shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the Financial Covenants.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.06, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in clauses (a) through (o) above, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such Restricted Payment in a manner that complies with this Section 7.06 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Restricted Payment in one or more of the above clauses.

SECTION 7.07 Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction or series of related transactions of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than (a) loans and other transactions among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such loan or other transaction to the extent permitted under this Article VII, (b)(i) on terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate as determined in good faith by the Borrower’s board of directors or (ii) any transaction fair to the Loan Parties as determined by the Borrower in good faith, (c) [Reserved], (d) any transaction in respect of which the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter addressed to the board of directors or managers of the Borrower or the Parent from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of nationally-recognized standing that is in the good faith determination of the Borrower qualified to render such letter, which letter states that such transaction is (i) fair, from a financial point of view, to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) on terms, taken as a whole, that are no less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate, (e) any transaction approved by the audit committee or conflicts committee of the Parent or a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the board of directors of the Borrower or the Parent, as applicable,

 

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(f) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 7.06, (g) employment and severance arrangements between the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock option plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements in the ordinary course of business, (h) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, officers, employees and consultants of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (i) transactions pursuant to agreements in existence on the Signing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.07 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect, (j) customary payments by the Borrower and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any Permitted Holder made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures), which payments are approved by the majority of the members of the board of directors or managers or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors or managers of the Borrower, in good faith, (k) payments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any tax sharing agreements with any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, but only to the extent permitted by Section 7.06(g), (l) Permitted Intercompany Activities, (m) the Contribution Transactions and (n) a joint venture which would constitute a transaction with an Affiliate solely as a result of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owning an equity interest or otherwise controlling such joint venture or similar entity.

SECTION 7.08 Burdensome Agreements. The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any requirements of Law that are memorialized as Contractual Obligations) that prohibits any Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on the Collateral of such Person for the benefit of the Lenders and other Secured Parties with respect to the Loans and the Secured Obligations or under the Loan Documents; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to Contractual Obligations which (i)(x) exist on the Signing Date and (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.08) are listed on Schedule 7.08 hereto and (y) to the extent Contractual Obligations permitted by clause (x) are set forth in an agreement evidencing Indebtedness, are set forth in any agreement evidencing any permitted modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of such Indebtedness so long as such modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing does not expand the scope of such Contractual Obligation, (ii) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided further that this clause (ii) shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that are binding on a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.14, (iii) represent Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 7.03, (iv) arise in connection with any Disposition permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05 and relate solely to the assets or Person subject to such Disposition, (v) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 7.02 and applicable solely to such joint venture entered into in the ordinary course of business, (vi) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by such Indebtedness, (vii) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto, (viii) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e), (g) or (m) and to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or to the Restricted Subsidiaries incurring or guaranteeing such Indebtedness, (ix) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (x) are customary provisions restricting assignment or other Disposition of any

 

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agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xi) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xii) customary restrictions on Liens in Indebtedness permitted hereunder so long as such Indebtedness permits the first-priority Liens of the Administrative Agent on the Collateral or (xiii) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Sections 7.01 and 7.02 and limited to such cash or deposit.

SECTION 7.09 Holding Company Covenant. The Borrower shall not permit the Parent to (a) engage in any material operating or business activities, have any Subsidiaries (other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) or hold any Equity Interests in any Person (other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries); provided that the following and activities incidental thereto shall be permitted in any event: (i) subject to the Holding Company Condition being satisfied, (A) the Parent’s ownership, directly or indirectly through any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Parent of Equity Interests in the Borrower and activities incidental thereto and (B) the Parent’s ownership of other Equity Interests in connection with the Contribution Transactions, including Equity Interests in Subsidiaries formed for the purposes of “Blocker Mergers” in connection with the Contribution Transactions, (ii) operations or activities in connection with compensation and equity plans and related matters in respect of officers, managers, employees and directors of, and financial advisors affiliated with, the Borrower, (iii) the maintenance of the Parent’s legal existence (including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance), (iv) any public offering of the Parent’s common stock or any other issuance, sale recapitalization or other similar transaction with respect to its Qualified Equity Interests and, in each case, the redemption thereof, (v) the entering into, and performance of its obligations with respect to, any Indebtedness that would be permitted if entered into by the Borrower pursuant to Section 7.03, (vi) payment of taxes or dividends, making contributions of capital to the Borrower, extending Indebtedness to the Borrower or otherwise acting as a conduit for the transmissions of funds between any direct or indirect owner of the Parent and the Borrower and guaranteeing the obligations of the Borrower, (vii) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters or the making and filing of any reports required by Governmental Authority, (viii) holding any cash incidental to any activities permitted under this Section 7.09, (ix) providing indemnification to officers, managers, and directors, (x) entry by Parent into asset purchase agreements, merger agreements or similar agreements that would not otherwise be prohibited by the Loan Documents if entered into by the Borrower, and the formation, acquisition and/or holding of Subsidiaries in connection with such purchase or merger, so long as substantially concurrently with the consummation of such purchase or merger, substantially all of the purchased assets or the entities involved in such merger, as applicable, become directly or indirectly wholly-owned by the Borrower, (xi) any actions taken in connection with any Borrower Redemption, (xii) the Contribution Transactions and (xiii) any other activities incidental to the foregoing or customary for passive holding companies or (b) (i) incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money other than any such Indebtedness incidental to the conduct of the Parent’s business as a holding company, or (ii) suffer to exist any Liens on the Parent’s property or assets securing Indebtedness for borrowed money.

SECTION 7.10 Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness. The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled principal and interest shall be permitted) any Indebtedness that is unsecured or subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations (collectively, “Junior Financing”) or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Junior Financing Documentation, except (i) the refinancing thereof with the net proceeds of, or in exchange for, any Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a Permitted Refinancing and, if such Indebtedness was originally incurred under Section 7.03(g), is permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(g)), (ii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to, or the exchange of any Junior Financing for, Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents, (iii) the prepayment of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not prohibited by the subordination

 

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provisions contained in any Intercompany Note, (iv) the prepayment in full of the Existing Facility and (v) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances or other payments of, or with respect to, Junior Financings so long as (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) after giving effect thereto, the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis (including pro forma for any use of cash in making such payment), with a Net Total Leverage Ratio equal to or less than 3.00:1.00 and (C) after giving effect to such payment, the Borrower shall have minimum Liquidity of at least $50,000,000.

SECTION 7.11 Amendments to Material Agreements. The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, amend, modify or supplement, or grant any waiver or consent in respect of, any Material Agreement if such action could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

SECTION 8.01 Events of Default. If any of the following events (each, an “Event of Default”) shall occur:

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

(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount payable under subsection (a) of this Section) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days; or

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the Schedules attached hereto and thereto), or in any amendments or modifications hereof or waivers hereunder, or in any certificate, report, financial statement or other document submitted to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by the Parent or any Loan Party or any representative of the Parent or any Loan Party pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall prove to be incorrect in any material respect (other than any representation or warranty that is expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representation or warranty shall prove to be incorrect in any respect) when made or deemed made or submitted; or

(d) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.03(a), 5.05(a) (solely with respect to the Borrower), 5.16(a) or Articles VI or VII; or

(e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those referred to in subsections (a), (b) and (d) of this Section) or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days after the earlier of (i) written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent and (ii) knowledge thereof by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party or the Parent; or

 

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(f) (i) any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) (i) shall fail to pay (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) any principal of, or premium or interest on, in respect of any Material Indebtedness, (ii) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that this clause (f)(ii) shall not apply to: (a) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness; (b) with respect to Indebtedness consisting of any Hedging Transaction, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Hedging Transaction; or (c) any event requiring a prepayment or offer to purchase pursuant to customary asset sale or change of control provisions; or

(g) any Loan Party, the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary 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, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (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 sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(h) (i) the Borrower, the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiaries shall become unable to pay, shall admit in writing its inability to pay, or shall fail to pay, its debts as they become due or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Parent or the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy; or

(i) (i) An ERISA Event occurs which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) a Loan Party 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 which could reasonably be expected to result individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(j) there is entered against any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding $15,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not denied coverage) and such judgment or order shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or

(k) a Change of Control shall occur or exist; or

 

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(l) any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or 7.05) or as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the satisfaction in full of all the Secured Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Loan Document or the validity or priority of a Lien as required by the Collateral Documents on a material portion of the Collateral; or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document (other than as a result of Payment in Full), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any Loan Document; or

(m) any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Article III or Sections 5.11, 5.13 or 5.20 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof including as a result of a transaction not prohibited under this Agreement) cease to create a valid and perfected Lien, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents and any intercreditor agreement on and security interest in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01, (x) except to the extent that any such perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or any loss thereof results from the failure of the Administrative Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents or to file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements and (y) except as to Collateral consisting of Real Property to the extent that such losses are covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and such insurer has not denied coverage;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in subsection (g) or (h) of this Section) and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall take any or all of the following actions:

(i) terminate the Revolving Commitments of each Lender, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, all other Obligations 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, (including without limitation notice of acceleration and notice of intent to accelerate) all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower and each Guarantor;

(iii) require the outstanding Letters of Credit be Cash Collateralized pursuant to Section 2.06(j); and

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

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to Borrower under Debtor Relief Laws or an event described in subsection (g) or (h) of this Section, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

SECTION 8.02 Application of Proceeds from Collateral. All proceeds from each sale of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral by any Secured Party after an Event of Default arises shall be applied as follows (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law):

(a) first, to the reimbursable expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with such sale or other realization upon the Collateral, until the same shall have been paid in full;

 

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(b) second, to the fees and other reimbursable expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, until the same shall have been paid in full;

(c) third, to all reimbursable expenses, if any, of the Lenders then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, until the same shall have been paid in full;

(d) fourth, to the fees and interest then due and payable under the terms of this Agreement, until the same shall have been paid in full;

(e) fifth, to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans, the LC Exposure, the Banking Services Obligations and the Swap Agreement Obligations, until the same shall have been paid in full, allocated pro rata among the Secured Parties based on their respective pro rata shares of the aggregate amount of such Loans, LC Exposure, Banking Services Obligations and Swap Agreement Obligations;

(f) sixth, to additional cash collateral for the aggregate amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit until the aggregate amount of all cash collateral held by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement is at least 105% of the LC Exposure after giving effect to the foregoing clause fifth; and

(g) seventh, to the extent any proceeds remain, to the Borrower or as otherwise provided by a court of competent jurisdiction.

All amounts allocated pursuant to the foregoing clauses third through fifth to the Lenders as a result of amounts owed to the Lenders under the Loan Documents shall be allocated among, and distributed to, the Lenders pro rata based on their respective Applicable Percentages; provided that all amounts allocated to that portion of the LC Exposure comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit pursuant to clauses fifth and sixth shall be distributed to the Administrative Agent, rather than to the Lenders, and held by the Administrative Agent in an account in the name of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Issuing Bank and the Lenders as cash collateral for the LC Exposure, such account to be administered in accordance with Section 2.06(j). All cash collateral for LC Exposure shall be applied to satisfy drawings under the Letters of Credit as they occur; if any amount remains on deposit on cash collateral after all letters of credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) no amount received from any Loan Party (including any proceeds of any sale of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral owned by such Loan Party) shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party (but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from the Loan Parties other than any such Loan Party or on account of their assets to preserve the allocation to the Secured Obligations set forth above) and (b) Banking Services Obligations and Swap Agreement Obligations shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender providing Banking Services or Swap Agreements, as the case may be. Each Lender or Affiliate of a Lender providing Banking Services or Swap Agreements that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX hereof for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

SECTION 8.03 Exclusion of Certain Excluded Subsidiaries. Solely for the purpose of determining whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred under clause (g) or (i) of Section 8.01, any reference in any such clause to any Restricted Subsidiary or Loan Party shall be deemed not to include any Restricted Subsidiary affected by any event or circumstances referred to in any such clause that did not, as of the last

 

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day of the most recent completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower, have total assets with a fair market value, and annual revenues, in excess of $5,000,000 (it being agreed that all Restricted Subsidiaries affected by any event or circumstance referred to in any such clause shall be considered together, as a single consolidated Restricted Subsidiary, for purposes of determining whether the condition specified above is satisfied), provided that such exclusion shall only apply for so long as the relevant matter is isolated to the Immaterial Subsidiary and does not involve a claim for substantive consolidation with, fraudulent transfer to, or other material adverse effect on, the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 8.04 Right to Cure.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 8.01 or 8.02, in the event that the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the Financial Covenants as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower, at any time after the beginning of such fiscal quarter until the expiration of the 10th Business Day following the date on which the financial statements with respect to such fiscal quarter are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(b) (“Cure Period”), the Borrower or any other person that is a direct or indirect parent of the Borrower shall have the right to issue Qualified Equity Interests for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to the capital of the Borrower as cash Qualified Equity Interests (collectively, the “Cure Right”), and upon the receipt by the Borrower of such cash that is not otherwise applied (the “Cure Amount”), pursuant to the exercise by the Borrower of such Cure Right, such Financial Covenants shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustment: Consolidated EBITDA shall be increased with respect to such applicable fiscal quarter and any Test Period that contains such fiscal quarter, solely for the purpose of measuring the Financial Covenants and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount;

(b) If, after giving effect to the foregoing pro forma adjustment, the Borrower shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Covenants, the Borrower shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the Financial Covenants as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach or default of the Financial Covenants that had occurred shall be deemed cured for the purposes of this Agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) in each four (4) consecutive fiscal quarter period of the Borrower there shall be at least two (2) fiscal quarters in which the Cure Right is not exercised, (ii) the Cure Right may not be exercised in consecutive fiscal quarters, (iii) during the term of this Agreement, the Cure Right shall not be exercised more than four (4) times, (iv) the Cure Amount shall be no greater than the amount required for purposes of complying with the Financial Covenants, and any amounts in excess thereof shall not be deemed to be a Cure Amount, and (v) there shall be no pro forma reduction in Indebtedness with the proceeds of any Cure Amount. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Cure Amount received pursuant to any exercise of the Cure Right shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the satisfaction of any Default or Event of Default condition, any financial ratio-based conditions or tests, pricing or any available basket under Article VII of this Agreement.

(d) To the extent that the proceeds of the Cure Amount are used to repay Indebtedness, such Indebtedness shall not be deemed to have been repaid for purposes of calculating any Financial Covenant for the Test Period ending on (and including) the last day of the fiscal reporting period for which the Borrower is requesting to cure a Financial Covenant Event of Default.

 

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(e) During any Cure Period (unless and until the Event of Default is cured pursuant to this Section 8.04), the Borrower shall not request, and the Lenders shall not be required to make and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, renew or extend, as applicable, (i) any Loans or any Letters of Credit or (ii) any conversions from ABR Loans into Term Benchmark Loans or continuations of Term Benchmark Loans (which shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period).

ARTICLE IX

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

SECTION 9.01 Authorization and Action.

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

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

 

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(c) In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. The motivations of the Administrative Agent are commercial in nature and not to invest in the general performance or operations of the Borrower. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

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

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

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

(e) No Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

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

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Disbursements and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 10.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 10.03). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.

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

SECTION 9.02 Administrative Agents Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc.

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

(b) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any (i) notice of any of the events or circumstances set forth or described in Section 5.03 unless and until written notice thereof stating that it is a “notice under Section 5.03” in respect of this Agreement and identifying the specific clause under said Section is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, or (ii) notice of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of Default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank. Further, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set

 

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forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article III or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral.

(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 10.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 10.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

SECTION 9.03 Posting of Communications.

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

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

 

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

Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party or the Parent pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

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

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

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

SECTION 9.04 The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Revolving Commitment, Loans and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, any Loan Party, the Parent, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.

 

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SECTION 9.05 Successor Administrative Agent.

(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving thirty (30) days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed (and if the successor Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower or the Required Lenders may remove such Defaulting Lender from such role upon ten (10) days’ notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders). Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

(b) Notwithstanding clause (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as administrative agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Collateral Document and Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Collateral Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article, Section 2.17(d) and Section 10.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (a) above.

 

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SECTION 9.06 Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks.

(a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) in participating as a Lender, it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or Issuing Bank, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of investing in the general performance or operations of the Borrower, or for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument such as a security (and each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing, such as a claim under the federal or state securities laws), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

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

(i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one (1) Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 9.06(b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

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(ii) Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one (1) Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

(iii) The Borrower, the Parent, and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower, the Parent or any other Loan Party.

(iv) Each party’s obligations under this Section 9.06(b) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Revolving Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

(v) The Lenders acknowledge that there may be a constant flow of information (including information which may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Loan Parties) between the Loan Parties and their Affiliates, on the one hand, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and its Affiliates, on the other hand. Without limiting the foregoing, the Loan Parties or their Affiliates may provide information, including updates to previously provided information to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and/or its Affiliates acting in different capacities, including as Lender, lead bank, arranger or potential securities investor, independent of such entity’s role as administrative agent hereunder. The Lenders acknowledge that neither JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. nor its Affiliates shall be under any obligation to provide any of the foregoing information to them. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any other Loan Document, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide, and shall not be liable for the failure to provide, any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the Loans, the Lenders, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates that is communicated to, obtained by, or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity, including any information obtained by the Administrative Agent in the course of communications among the Administrative Agent and any Loan Party, any Affiliate thereof or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such information may (but shall not be required to) be shared by the Administrative Agent with one or more Lenders, or any formal or informal committee or ad hoc group of such Lenders, including at the direction of a Loan Party.

 

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SECTION 9.07 Collateral Matters.

(a) Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guaranties of the Secured Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof. In its capacity, the Administrative Agent is a “representative” of the Secured Parties within the meaning of the term “secured party” as defined in the UCC. In the event that any Collateral is hereafter pledged by any Person as collateral security for the Secured Obligations, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, and hereby granted a power of attorney, to execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties any Loan Documents necessary or appropriate to grant and perfect a Lien on such Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties.

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

(c) The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property in accordance with Section 10.02(c). The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party or the Parent in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

SECTION 9.08 Credit Bidding. The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent

 

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claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 10.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership interests, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.

SECTION 9.09 Certain ERISA Matters.

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

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

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

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

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

(c) The Administrative Agent and each Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Revolving Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Revolving Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Revolving Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

SECTION 9.10 Flood Laws. JPMCB has adopted internal policies and procedures that address requirements placed on federally regulated lenders under applicable Flood Laws. JPMCB, as administrative agent on a syndicated facility, will post on the applicable electronic platform (or otherwise distribute to each Lender in the syndicate) documents that it receives in connection with the Flood Laws. However, JPMCB reminds each Lender and Participant in the facility that, pursuant to the Flood Laws, each federally regulated Lender (whether acting as a Lender or Participant in the facility) is responsible for assuring its own compliance with the flood insurance requirements.

 

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SECTION 9.11 Borrower Communications. (a) The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks agree that, pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Borrower Communications to the Administrative Agent through an electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Borrower Portal”). As used in this Section 9.11, “Borrower Communications” means, collectively, any Borrowing Request, Interest Election Request, notice of prepayment, notice requesting the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit or other notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party or the Parent pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent through an Approved Borrower Portal, in each case to the extent arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent.

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

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

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

(e) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Borrower to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

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ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 10.01 Notices.

(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, Electronic System or the Approved Borrower Portal (and subject in each case to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by fax or email, as follows:

(i) if to any Loan Party or the Parent, to it in care of the Borrower at:

EagleRock Land Operating, LLC

9655 Katy Freeway, Suite 375

Houston, TX, 77024

Attention: General Counsel

Email: [***]

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent from any Loan Party or the Parent, to the address or addresses separately provided to the Borrower;

(iii) if to the Administrative Agent from the Lenders, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. at:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

131 S Dearborn St, Floor 04

Chicago, IL, 60603-5506

Attention: Loan and Agency Servicing

Agency Withholding Tax Inquiries:

Email: [email protected]

Agency Compliance/Financials/Virtual Data rooms::

Email: [email protected]

(iv) if to an Issuing Bank, to it at its address separately provided to the Borrower; and

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

All such notices and other communications (A) sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail shall be deemed to have been given when received, (B) sent by fax shall be deemed to have been given when sent, provided that if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day of the recipient, or (C) delivered through Electronic System, Approved Electronic Platform or Approved Borrower Portal, as applicable, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below shall be effective as provided in such paragraph.

 

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(b) Notices and other communications to the Borrower, any Loan Party, the Parent, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Electronic System, Approved Electronic Platform or Approved Borrower Portal, as applicable, and in each case pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II or to Compliance Certificates delivered pursuant to Section 5.02(a) unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (on behalf of the Loan Parties and the Parent) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by Electronic System, Approved Electronic Platform or Approved Borrower Portal, as applicable, and in each case pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

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

(d) Any party hereto may change its address, facsimile number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

SECTION 10.02 Waivers; Amendments.

(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party or the Parent therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b) Subject to Section 2.09(f), Section 2.14(c), (d) and (e) and Section 10.02(e) below, neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except (i) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or (ii) in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (A) increase the Revolving Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender), (B) reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce or forgive any interest or fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby (except that any amendment or modification of the

 

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financial covenants in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (B)), (C) postpone any scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any date for the payment of any interest, fees or other Obligations payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Revolving Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby, (D) change Section 2.09(c) or Section 2.18(b) or (d) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction of Revolving Commitments or the manner in which payments are shared, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (E) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby, (F) change Section 2.20, without the consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (G) release all or substantially all of the guarantors, or limit the liability of such guarantors, under the Guaranty (except as otherwise permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents), without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (H) except as provided in clause (c) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender) or (I) without the prior written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, (x) subordinate the Liens securing any of the Obligations on all or substantially all of the Collateral (“Existing Liens”) to the Liens securing any other Indebtedness or (y) subordinate any Obligations in contractual right of payment to any other Indebtedness (any such other Indebtedness, to which such Liens securing any of the Obligations or such Obligations, as applicable, are subordinated, “Senior Indebtedness”), in either the case of subclause (x) or (y), unless (1) each adversely affected Lender has been offered a bona fide opportunity to fund or otherwise provide its pro rata share (based on the amount of Obligations that are adversely affected thereby held by each Lender) of the Senior Indebtedness on the same terms (other than bona fide backstop fees and reimbursement of counsel fees and other expenses in connection with the negotiation of the terms of such transaction; such fees and expenses, “Ancillary Fees”) as offered to all other providers (or their Affiliates) of the Senior Indebtedness and to the extent such adversely affected Lender decides to participate in the Senior Indebtedness, receive its pro rata share of the fees and any other similar benefit (other than Ancillary Fees) of the Senior Indebtedness afforded to the providers of the Senior Indebtedness (or any of their Affiliates) in connection with providing the Senior Indebtedness pursuant to a written offer made to each such adversely affected Lender describing the material terms of the arrangements pursuant to which the Senior Indebtedness is to be provided, which offer shall remain open to each adversely affected Lender for a period of not less than five Business Days; provided, however, that any subordination expressly permitted by Section 9.07(c) shall not be restricted by subclauses (x) and (y) above or (2) such Senior Indebtedness consists of “debtor in possession” financing; provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, or the Issuing Banks hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or each Issuing Bank, as the case may be (it being understood that any amendment to Section 2.20 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.06 without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks. The Administrative Agent may also amend the Commitment Schedule to reflect assignments entered into pursuant to Section 10.04.

 

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(c) Each Lender (including in its capacity as a counterparty to a Swap Agreement consisting of Secured Obligations), Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral Documents irrevocably agrees:

(i) that any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document shall be automatically released (A) upon Payment in Full, (B) at the time the property subject to such Lien is Disposed or to be Disposed as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder to any Person other than a Loan Party or any other Person required to grant a Lien to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents (or, if such transferee is a Loan Party or other Person required to grant a Lien to the Administrative Agent on such asset, at the option of the applicable Loan Party, such Lien on such asset may still be released in connection with the transfer so long as (x) the transferee grants a new Lien to the Administrative Agent on such asset substantially concurrently with the transfer of such asset and (y) the priority of the new Lien is the same as that of the original Lien and the Lien of the Secured Parties on such asset is not impaired or otherwise adversely affected by such release and granting of such new Lien as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent), (C) subject to Section 10.02, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, (D) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, upon release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty pursuant to clause (iii) below, or (E) upon a permitted designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Collateral owned by such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(ii) that upon the request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.01(d), (e), (f), (g), (i) or (v) pursuant to documents reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(iii) subject to the following clause (iv), that any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be (A) automatically released from its obligations under the Guaranty if (1) such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary or (2) subject to Section 10.02, if such release is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders and (B) released from its obligations under the Guaranty, by the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.02(c) set forth below if such Person ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of each of clause (A) and clause (B), no such release shall occur if such Subsidiary Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect of any Junior Financing or any Permitted Refinancing thereof; and

(iv) notwithstanding the foregoing clause (iii), no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released of its obligations under the Guaranty as a result of a disposition of less than all of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Equity Interests, unless such disposition of Equity Interests is a good faith disposition to a bona fide unaffiliated third party for bona fide business purposes and not primarily for the purpose of releasing the Subsidiary Guarantor from its guarantee, and after giving effect to such disposition, such unaffiliated third party will own at least 50% or more of the Equity Interests in such Person.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Borrower will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 10.02(c). In each case as specified in this Section 10.02(c), the Administrative Agent will promptly upon the request of the Borrower (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to), at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party, as applicable, such documents as the Borrower may reasonably request to evidence the release or subordination of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents, or to evidence the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 10.02(c) (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to that effect provided to it by any Loan Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry). Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent. For the avoidance of doubt, no release of Collateral or Subsidiary Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Section 10.02(c) shall require the consent of any other Secured Party.

 

 

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(d) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but has not been obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 10.04, and (ii) the Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein (i) the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency, (ii) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend and restate the Schedules to this Agreement delivered as of the Signing Date to reflect the Updated Schedules in accordance with Section 3.02(g) and (iii) any fee letter may be amended solely with the written consent of the parties thereto.

SECTION 10.03 Expenses; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity; Etc.

(a) Expenses. The Borrower shall pay all (i) reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (but limited, in the case of legal fees, to the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary outside counsel, one local counsel in each applicable local jurisdiction not covered by the primary outside counsel, as necessary, and solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel to each group of similarly affected parties, taken as a whole), in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through an Electronic System or Approved Electronic Platform) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of the Loan Documents (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any

 

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Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) out-of-pocket costs and expenses (but limited, in the case of legal fees, to the documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary outside counsel, one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction not covered by the primary outside counsel, as necessary, and solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflicts of interest, one additional counsel to each group of similarly affected parties, taken as a whole) incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b) Limitation of Liability. To the extent permitted by applicable law (i) neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall assert, and the Borrower and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim against the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, and any Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called a “Lender-Related Person”) for any Liabilities arising from the use by others of information or other materials (including, without limitation, any personal data) obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet, any Approved Electronic Platform and any Approved Borrower Portal), and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives, any Liabilities against any other party hereto, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this Section 10.03(b) shall relieve the Borrower or any other Loan Party of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee, as provided in Section 10.03(c), against any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.

(c) Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, each Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all Liabilities and related reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, (but limited, in the case of legal fees, to the documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary outside counsel, one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction not covered by the primary outside counsel, as necessary, and solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel to each group of similarly affected parties, taken as a whole) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, (ii) the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iv) the generation, storage, transport, and disposal of Hazardous Materials by any Loan Party or a Subsidiary; (v) any actual or alleged presence, or Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under, or from any Real Property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by a Loan Party or a Subsidiary, or any Environmental Liability relating to the activities or operations of the Borrower or any other Loan Party or Subsidiary, (vi) the failure of a Loan Party or the Parent to deliver to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence with respect to a payment made by such Loan Party or the Parent for Taxes pursuant to Section 2.17, or (vii) any actual or prospective Proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such Proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, the Parent or their respective equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such Liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. This Section 10.03(c) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

 

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(d) Lender Reimbursement. Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by the Borrower under paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 10.03 to the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Agent-Related Person”) (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective Applicable Percentage in effect on the date on which such payment is sought under this Section (or, if such payment is sought after the date upon which the Revolving Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Applicable Percentage immediately prior to such date), and agrees to indemnify and hold each Agent-Related Person harmless from and against any and all Liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent-Related Person in any way relating to or arising out of the Revolving Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent-Related Person under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that the unreimbursed expense or Liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent-Related Person in its capacity as such; provided, further, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such Liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from such Agent-Related Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and Payment in Full of the Secured Obligations.

(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section 10.03 shall be payable promptly within ten (10) days after demand.

SECTION 10.04 Successors and Assigns.

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of an Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of an Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

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

 

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(ii) the Borrower, provided that, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment of all or a portion of the Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof, and provided, further, that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a), (b) or (g) has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

(iii) the Administrative Agent; provided, that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund and

(iv) each Issuing Bank; provided that no consent of an Issuing Bank shall be required if (x) an Event of Default occurs with respect to the Borrower under Sections 8.01(a), (b) or (g) and (y) such Issuing Bank has no outstanding Letters of Credit at that time.

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

(i) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, or an Approved Fund, or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Revolving Commitments or Loans, the amount of the Revolving Commitments or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

(iii) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and

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

For the purposes of this Section 10.04(b), the terms “Approved Fund” and “Ineligible Institution” have the following meanings:

Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

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Ineligible Institution” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof; provided that, with respect to this clause (c), such company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Institution if it (x) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Loans or Revolving Commitments, (y) is managed by a professional advisor, who is not such natural person or a relative thereof, having significant experience in the business of making or purchasing commercial loans, and (z) has assets greater than $25,000,000 and a significant part of its activities consist of making or purchasing commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business or (d) a Loan Party, the Parent or a Subsidiary or other Affiliate of a Loan Party or the Parent.

(v) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(vi) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 10.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

(vi) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in the United States, a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Revolving Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(vii) Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 10.03(d), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

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(c) Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) other than an Ineligible Institution in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving 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 Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 10.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Sections 2.17(f) and (g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender and the information and documentation required under Section 2.17(g) will be delivered to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.15 or 2.17 with respect to any participation than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.

Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.19(b) with respect to any Participant. 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 2.18(d) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the 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 this Agreement or any other Loan Document (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 Revolving Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Revolving Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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SECTION 10.05 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties and the Parent in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Revolving Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18 and 10.03 and Article IX shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Revolving Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

SECTION 10.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.

(a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to (i) fees payable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) increases or reductions of the Letter of Credit Commitments of any Issuing Bank constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 3.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

(b) Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 10.01), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic Signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually

 

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executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Parent, the Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Parent, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (B) the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (C) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (D) waives any claim against any Lender-Related Person for any Liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower and/or any other Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

SECTION 10.07 Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Bank, and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held, and other obligations at any time owing, by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the Secured Obligations owing to such Lender or such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, Issuing Bank or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Loan Parties may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.20 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff or application; provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such setoff or application. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have.

 

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SECTION 10.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

(a) The Loan Documents (other than those containing a contrary express choice of law provision) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, but giving effect to federal laws applicable to national banks.

(b) Each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, notwithstanding the governing law provisions of any applicable Loan Document, any claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Collateral or the consummation or administration of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

(c) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. federal or New York state court sitting in New York, New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Documents, the transactions relating hereto or thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such state court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall (i) affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction, (ii) waive any statutory, regulatory, common law, or other rule, doctrine, legal restriction, provision or the like providing for the treatment of bank branches, bank agencies, or other bank offices as if they were separate juridical entities for certain purposes, including Uniform Commercial Code Sections 4-106, 4-A-105(1)(b), and 5-116(b), UCP 600 Article 3 and ISP98 Rule 2.02, and URDG 758 Article 3(a), or (iii) affect which courts have or do not have personal jurisdiction over any Issuing Bank or beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any advising bank, nominated bank or assignee of proceeds thereunder or proper venue with respect to any litigation arising out of or relating to such Letter of Credit with, or affecting the rights of, any Person not a party to this Agreement, whether or not such Letter of Credit contains its own jurisdiction submission clause.

(d) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (c) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(e) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

SECTION 10.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON

 

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CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OR OTHER AGENT (INCLUDING ANY ATTORNEY) OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 10.11 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 10.12 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by any Requirement of Law or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap, derivative or insurance transaction relating to the Loan Parties and the Parent and their respective obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, (h) to holders of Equity Interests in the Borrower, (i) to any Person providing a Guaranty of all or any portion of the Secured Obligations, (j) on a confidential basis to (1) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein or (2) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of identification numbers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein or (k) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower and other than information pertaining to this Agreement provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the Signing Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION (AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION 10.12) FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES, THE PARENT AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

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ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWER OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER, THE LOAN PARTIES, THE PARENT AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 10.12 shall prohibit any Person from voluntarily disclosing or providing any Information within the scope of this confidentiality provision to any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization (any such entity, a “Regulatory Authority”) to the extent that any such prohibition on disclosure set forth in this Section 10.12 shall be prohibited by the laws or regulations applicable to such Regulatory Authority.

SECTION 10.13 Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law. The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and the failure of any Lender to make any Loan or perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. Each Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board) for the repayment of the Borrowings provided for herein. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, neither any Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Borrower in violation of any Requirement of Law.

SECTION 10.14 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act hereby notifies each Loan Party and the Parent that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party or the Parent, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party or the Parent and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party or the Parent in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act.

SECTION 10.15 Disclosure. Each Loan Party, the Parent, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with, the Parent, any of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates.

SECTION 10.16 Appointment for Perfection. Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession or control. Should any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s instructions.

 

148


SECTION 10.17 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the NYFRB Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

SECTION 10.18 No Fiduciary Duty, etc.

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

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

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

 

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SECTION 10.19 Marketing Consent. The Borrower hereby authorizes JPMCB and its affiliates (collectively, the “JPMCB Parties”), at their respective sole expense, to include the Borrower’s name and logo in advertising, marketing, tombstones, case studies and training materials, and to give such other publicity to this Agreement as JPMCB Parties may from time to time determine in their sole discretion.

SECTION 10.20 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

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

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

 

  (i)

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

 

  (ii)

a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

  (iii)

the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

SECTION 10.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs.

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

(b) 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

 

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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.

[Signature Pages Follow.]

 

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

 

EAGLEROCK LAND OPERATING, LLC
By:  

/s/ Neal Shah

Name:   Neal Shah
Title:   President, Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to

Credit Agreement


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually, and as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Lender
By:  

/s/ Hadrien Chain

Name:   Hadrien Chain
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to

Credit Agreement


GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
By:  

/s/ Rebecca Kratz

Name:   Rebecca Kratz
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to

Credit Agreement


BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By:  

/s/ Sydney G. Dennis

Name:   Sydney G. Dennis
Title:   Director

 

Signature Page to

Credit Agreement


Texas Capital Bank
By:  

/s/ Casey Lowary

Name:   Casey Lowary
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to

Credit Agreement


RAYMOND JAMES BANK
By:  

/s/ Chad E. Colby

Name:   Chad E. Colby
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to

Credit Agreement


SCHEDULE 1.01

COMMITMENT SCHEDULE

 

Lender

   Revolving
Commitment
 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

   $ 50,000,000  

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

   $ 50,000,000  

Barclays Bank PLC

   $ 42,500,000  

Texas Capital Bank

   $ 35,000,000  

Raymond James Bank

   $ 22,500,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 200,000,000