LIME 8-K
Neutron Holdings, Inc. (LIME)
8-K
2026-07-06
For: 2026-07-02
View Original
Added on
July 06, 2026
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): July 2, 2026
NEUTRON HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-43374 | 81-4870517 | ||||||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification Number) | ||||||
444 Townsend Street, First Floor
San Francisco, California 94107
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 449-4139
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 Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share | LIME | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||||||||||||
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.
On July 2, 2026, Neutron Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a new $200.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) pursuant to a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto. As of the date hereof, there was no amount borrowed under the Credit Facility.
The Credit Facility will be secured by liens on substantially all of the assets of the Company, including the intellectual property of the Company and the equity interests of certain of the Company’s direct subsidiaries.
The Credit Agreement contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including, among other things, restrictions on indebtedness, liens on assets, issuance of preferred equity interests, fundamental changes and asset sales, investments, negative pledges, repurchase of stock, dividends and other distributions, sale and leaseback transactions, and transactions with affiliates. In addition, the Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants that require the Company to not exceed a maximum total net leverage ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2026, of 3.25 to 1.00 and to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2026, of no less than 1.25 to 1.00.
Borrowings under the Credit Facility are available as Term SOFR or base rate loans. Base rate loans under the Credit Facility accrue interest at an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin, and Term SOFR loans accrue interest at a forward-looking rate based on SOFR plus an applicable margin, each of which is set forth in the Credit Agreement. The alternate base rate represents the greater of (i) the prime rate, (ii) the Federal Reserve Bank of New York overnight rate plus 0.5% and (iii) the one-month Term SOFR rate plus 1.0%. The applicable rate for base rate and Term SOFR loans is tied to a pricing grid based on the Company’s total net leverage ratio. The applicable rate spread for base rate and Term SOFR loans ranges from 0.50% to 1.25% and 1.50% to 2.25%, respectively.
The Credit Facility also has a variable commitment fee, which is based on the Company’s total net leverage ratio. The commitment fee ranges from 0.25% to 0.40% per annum. The Company is obligated to pay a fixed fronting fee for letters of credit not to exceed 0.125% per annum.
Amounts borrowed under the Credit Facility may be repaid and re-borrowed through its maturity in July 2031.
The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of such agreement that is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
The Company used a portion of the net proceeds received by the Company in the initial public offering (the “IPO”) of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), to repay in full all amounts outstanding under its senior secured term loan facility, in an aggregate principal amount of $115.0 million, provided for by that certain credit agreement, dated as of October 5, 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Diameter Credit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the lenders party thereto, Alter Domus (US) LLC, as administrative agent, and Diameter Finance Administration LLC, as collateral agent.
Following such repayment, the Company’s obligations under the Diameter Credit Agreement were terminated and all liens, security interests and guarantees securing or guaranteeing such obligations were released, including those set forth in that certain Guaranty, dated October 5, 2023, by Uber Technologies, Inc. in favor of and for the benefit of Alter Domus (US) LLC, as initial administrative agent, and Diameter Finance Administration LLC, as collateral agent.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information described in Item 1.01 above relating to the Credit Agreement is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of Incorporation
On July 2, 2026, the Company filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Restated Certificate”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in connection with the closing of the IPO. The Company’s board of directors and stockholders previously approved the Restated Certificate to be effective immediately prior to the closing of the IPO.
Amendment and Restatement of Bylaws
On July 2, 2026, the Company’s amended and restated bylaws (the “Restated Bylaws”) became effective in connection with the closing of the IPO. The Company’s board of directors and stockholders previously approved the Restated Bylaws to be effective immediately prior to the closing of the IPO.
A description of the material terms of the Restated Certificate and Restated Bylaws can be found in the section of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-295679) entitled “Description of Securities,” and is incorporated herein by reference. The descriptions of the Restated Certificate and the Restated Bylaws are qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete terms and conditions of the Restated Certificate and the Restated Bylaws, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On July 2, 2026, the Company completed its initial public offering of an aggregate of 6,956,522 shares of Common Stock at a price to the public of $25.00 per share, 6,679,791 of which shares were sold by the Company and 276,731 of which shares were sold by certain selling stockholders. The gross proceeds to the Company from the initial public offering were approximately $167 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock in the offering by the selling stockholders.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) The following exhibits are being filed herewith:
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 3.1 | ||||||||
| 3.2 | ||||||||
| 10.1^ | ||||||||
______________________
^ Certain of the exhibits and schedules to this exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5). The registrant agrees to furnish a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| NEUTRON HOLDINGS, INC. | ||||||||
| Date: July 6, 2026 | By: | /s/ Ann Gugino | ||||||
| Ann Gugino | ||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
NEUTRON HOLDINGS, INC.
Neutron Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), does hereby certify as follows:
1. The name of the Corporation is Neutron Holdings, Inc. The Corporation was incorporated by the filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 3, 2017.
2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Restated Certificate”), which amends, restates and further integrates the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation as heretofore in effect, has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL, and has been adopted by the written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.
3. The text of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as heretofore amended, is hereby amended and restated by this Restated Certificate to read in its entirety as set forth in EXHIBIT A attached hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Neutron Holdings, Inc. has caused this Restated Certificate to be signed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation, on July 2, 2026.
[Signature Page Follows]
Neutron Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation | |||||||||||
By: | /s/ Wayne Ting | ||||||||||
Name: Wayne Ting | |||||||||||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||
[Signature Page to Neutron Holdings, Inc. Amended & Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
EXHIBIT A
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation is Neutron Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 13 West Main Street, P.O. Box 953, in the City of Felton, County of Kent, 19943, and the name of its registered agent at such address is CCS Global Solutions, Inc.
ARTICLE III
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) as it now exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented.
ARTICLE IV
The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,200,000,000. The total number of shares of Common Stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 1,000,000,000, having a par value of $0.0001 per share, and the total number of shares of Preferred Stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 200,000,000, having a par value of $0.0001 per share.
ARTICLE V
The designations and the powers, privileges and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof in respect of each class of capital stock of the Corporation are as follows:
A. COMMON STOCK.
1. General. The voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and powers of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of any series of Preferred Stock as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) and outstanding from time to time.
2. Voting. Except as otherwise provided herein or expressly required by law, each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to vote on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders and shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote on such matter. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation (as defined below)) that relates solely to the rights, powers, preferences (or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof) or other terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the
holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.
Subject to the rights of any holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the requisite vote of the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
3. Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights and preferences of any holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to the payment of dividends on the Common Stock when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law.
4. Liquidation. Subject to the rights and preferences of any holders of any shares of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the funds and assets of the Corporation that may be legally distributed to the Corporation’s stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of the then outstanding Common Stock pro rata in accordance with the number of shares of Common Stock held by each such holder.
B. PREFERRED STOCK
Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of such series to have such terms as stated or expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the creation and issuance of such series adopted by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided.
Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to time to issue the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and in connection with the creation of any such series, by adopting a resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of the shares thereof and by filing a certificate of designation relating thereto in accordance with the DGCL (a “Certificate of Designation”), to determine and fix the number of shares of such series and such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including without limitation thereof, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, and to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series as shall be stated and expressed in such resolutions, all to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions providing for the creation and issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law and this Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation). Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled only to such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation).
The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but
not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
ARTICLE VI
For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation it is further provided that:
A. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the directors of the Corporation shall be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. The initial Class I directors shall serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the initial registration of the Corporation’s Common Stock pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; the initial Class II directors shall serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following such registration; and the initial Class III directors shall serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following such registration. At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effective date of this Restated Certificate, subject to any special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election. Each director shall hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. The Board of Directors is authorized to designate members of the Board of Directors already in office as Class I, Class II and Class III.
B. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the DGCL or this Restated Certificate, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors.
C. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.
D. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, except as otherwise provided by law, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, retirement, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled exclusively by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (other than any directors elected by the separate vote of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock), and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office
until the expiration of the term of the class to which such director shall have been appointed or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
E. Whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, the number of directors that may be elected by the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock shall be in addition to the number fixed pursuant to paragraph B of this Article VI, and the total number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be automatically adjusted accordingly. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Designation(s) in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such Certificate of Designation(s), the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such series of Preferred Stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such director thereupon shall cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be reduced accordingly.
F. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation. In addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock) or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors.
G. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.
ARTICLE VII
A. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, and shall not be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable Certificate of Designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding shares of the relevant series of Preferred Stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled
to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL.
B. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or President, and shall not be called by any other person or persons.
C. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of other business proposed to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
No director or officer of the Corporation shall have any personal liability to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article VIII, or the adoption of any provision of this Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, repeal, modification or adoption. If the DGCL is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article VIII to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended.
ARTICLE IX
The Corporation shall have the power to provide rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to its current and former officers, directors, employees and agents and to any person who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
ARTICLE X
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Bylaws of the Corporation or this Restated Certificate (as either may be amended from time to time) or (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine; and (b) subject to the preceding provisions of this Article X, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant to such complaint. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence is filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article X. This Article X is intended to benefit and may be enforced by the Corporation, its officers and directors, the underwriters to any offering giving rise to such complaint, and any other professional or entity whose profession gives authority to a statement made by that person or entity and who has prepared or certified any part of the documents underlying the offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article X shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction.
If any provision or provisions of this Article X shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
ARTICLE XI
A. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Restated Certificate to the contrary, in addition to any vote required by applicable law, the following provisions in this Restated Certificate may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class: Part B of Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX, Article X, and this Article XI.
B. If any provision or provisions of this Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the provisions of this Restated Certificate (including, without
limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Exhibit 3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of
Neutron Holdings, Inc.
(a Delaware corporation)
as of July 2, 2026
Table of Contents
| Page | |||||||||||
Article I - Corporate Offices | 1 | ||||||||||
1.1 | Registered Office | 1 | |||||||||
1.2 | Other Offices | 1 | |||||||||
Article II - Meetings of Stockholders | 1 | ||||||||||
2.1 | Place of Meetings | 1 | |||||||||
2.2 | Annual Meeting | 1 | |||||||||
2.3 | Special Meeting | 1 | |||||||||
2.4 | Notice of Business to be Brought before a Meeting. | 2 | |||||||||
2.5 | Notice of Nominations for Election to the Board of Directors. | 6 | |||||||||
2.6 | Additional Requirements for Valid Nomination of Candidates to Serve as Director and, if Elected, to be Seated as Directors. | 9 | |||||||||
2.7 | Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings | 10 | |||||||||
2.8 | Quorum | 10 | |||||||||
2.9 | Adjourned Meeting; Notice | 11 | |||||||||
| 2.10 | Conduct of Business | 11 | |||||||||
2.11 | Voting | 12 | |||||||||
2.12 | Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes | 12 | |||||||||
2.13 | Proxies | 12 | |||||||||
2.14 | List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 13 | |||||||||
2.15 | Inspectors of Election | 13 | |||||||||
2.16 | Delivery to the Corporation. | 14 | |||||||||
Article III - Directors | 14 | ||||||||||
3.1 | Powers | 14 | |||||||||
3.2 | Number of Directors | 14 | |||||||||
3.3 | Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors | 14 | |||||||||
3.4 | Resignation and Vacancies | 14 | |||||||||
3.5 | Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone | 15 | |||||||||
3.6 | Regular Meetings | 15 | |||||||||
3.7 | Special Meetings; Notice | 15 | |||||||||
3.8 | Quorum | 16 | |||||||||
3.9 | Board Action without a Meeting | 16 | |||||||||
| 3.10 | Fees and Compensation of Directors | 16 | |||||||||
Article IV - Committees | 16 | ||||||||||
4.1 | Committees of Directors | 16 | |||||||||
4.2 | Committee Minutes | 16 | |||||||||
4.3 | Meetings and Actions of Committees | 17 | |||||||||
4.4 | Subcommittees. | 17 | |||||||||
Article V - Officers | 17 | ||||||||||
5.1 | Officers | 17 | |||||||||
5.2 | Appointment of Officers | 18 | |||||||||
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | |||||||||||
5.3 | Subordinate Officers | 18 | |||||||||
5.4 | Removal and Resignation of Officers | 18 | |||||||||
5.5 | Vacancies in Offices | 18 | |||||||||
5.6 | Representation of Shares of Other Corporations | 18 | |||||||||
5.7 | Authority and Duties of Officers | 18 | |||||||||
5.8 | Compensation. | 19 | |||||||||
Article VI - Records | 19 | ||||||||||
Article VII - General Matters | 19 | ||||||||||
7.1 | Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments | 19 | |||||||||
7.2 | Stock Certificates | 19 | |||||||||
7.3 | Special Designation of Certificates. | 20 | |||||||||
7.4 | Lost Certificates | 20 | |||||||||
7.5 | Shares Without Certificates | 20 | |||||||||
7.6 | Construction; Definitions | 20 | |||||||||
7.7 | Dividends | 20 | |||||||||
7.8 | Fiscal Year | 21 | |||||||||
7.9 | Seal | 21 | |||||||||
| 7.10 | Transfer of Stock | 21 | |||||||||
7.11 | Stock Transfer Agreements | 21 | |||||||||
7.12 | Registered Stockholders | 21 | |||||||||
7.13 | Waiver of Notice | 21 | |||||||||
Article VIII - Notice | 22 | ||||||||||
8.1 | Delivery of Notice; Notice by Electronic Transmission | 22 | |||||||||
Article IX - Indemnification | 23 | ||||||||||
9.1 | Indemnification of Directors and Officers | 23 | |||||||||
9.2 | Indemnification of Others | 23 | |||||||||
9.3 | Prepayment of Expenses | 23 | |||||||||
9.4 | Determination; Claim | 23 | |||||||||
9.5 | Non-Exclusivity of Rights | 24 | |||||||||
9.6 | Insurance | 24 | |||||||||
9.7 | Other Indemnification | 24 | |||||||||
9.8 | Continuation of Indemnification | 24 | |||||||||
9.9 | Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation | 24 | |||||||||
Article X - Amendments | 25 | ||||||||||
Article XI - Forum Selection | 25 | ||||||||||
Article XII - Definitions | 26 | ||||||||||
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Amended and Restated Bylaws of
Neutron Holdings, Inc.
Article I - Corporate Offices
1.1 Registered Office.
The address of the registered office of Neutron Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).
1.2 Other Offices.
The Corporation may have additional offices at any place or places, within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Corporation’s board of directors (the “Board”) may from time to time establish or as the business of the Corporation may require.
Article II - Meetings of Stockholders
2.1 Place of Meetings.
Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office.
2.2 Annual Meeting.
The Board shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting of stockholders. At the annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.4 of these bylaws may be transacted. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders.
2.3 Special Meeting.
Special meetings of stockholders may be called only by such persons and only in such manner as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than the business specified in the notice of such meeting. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders.
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2.4 Notice of Business to be Brought Before a Meeting.
(a) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (i) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or the Chair of the Board or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who (A) (1) was a record owner of shares of capital stock of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (3) has complied with this Section 2.4 in all applicable respects or (B) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”). The foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. The only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling the meeting pursuant to Section 2.3, and stockholders shall not be permitted to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of the stockholders. For purposes of this Section 2.4, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appears at such annual meeting, either in person or by means of remote communication. For purposes of this Section 2.4 and Section 2.5, a “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at or before the meeting of stockholders in writing or by electronic transmission. Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board must comply with Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 and Section 2.6.
(b) Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (ii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received with, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting which, in the case of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Corporation’s initial underwritten public offering of common stock, the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting shall be deemed to be May 1, provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not more than the hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than (i) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, (ii) if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made by the Corporation (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.
(c) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
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(i) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records), (B) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, (C) the date or dates such shares were acquired, (D) the investment intent of such acquisition and (E) any pledge by such Proposing Person with respect to any of such shares (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (E) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);
(ii) As to each Proposing Person,
(A) the material terms and conditions of any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) or a “put equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) or other derivative or synthetic arrangement in respect of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation (“Synthetic Equity Position”) that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by, held for the benefit of, or involving such Proposing Person, including, without limitation,
(1) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, future or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any shares of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation,
(2) any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position or a short position in any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, including, without limitation, a stock loan transaction, a stock borrow transaction, or a share repurchase transaction or
(3) any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to
(x) produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation,
(y) mitigate any loss relating to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of, or manage the risk of share price decrease in, any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, or
(z) increase or decrease the voting power in respect of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation held or maintained by, held for the benefit of, or involving such Proposing Person,
including, without limitation, due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the holder thereof may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the price or value of any shares of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation; provided that,
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for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underly any Synthetic Equity Position that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by, held for the benefit of, or involving such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person’s business as a derivatives dealer,
(B) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable pursuant to such agreement, arrangement or understanding from the underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation,
(C) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation,
(D) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand,
(E) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement),
(F) any proportionate interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation or a Synthetic Equity Position held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity in which any such Proposing Person (1) is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership or (2) is the manager, managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in the manager or managing member of such limited liability company or similar entity,
(G) a representation that such Proposing Person intends or is part of a group that intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or otherwise solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal and
(H) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act,
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(the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (H) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and
(iii) As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, and (D) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this paragraph (iii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.
For purposes of this Section 2.4, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and (iii) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.
(d) The Board may request that any Proposing Person furnish such additional information as may be reasonably required by the Board. Such Proposing Person shall provide such additional information within ten (10) days after it has been requested by the Board.
(e) A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal
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or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4. The presiding officer of the meeting (or, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board or an authorized committee thereof) shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
(g) This Section 2.4 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders other than any proposal made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s proxy statement. In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
(h) For purposes of these bylaws, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
2.5 Notice of Nominations for Election to the Board of Directors.
(a) Nominations of any person for election to the Board at an annual meeting or at a special meeting (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting) may be made at such meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (ii) by a stockholder present in person who (A) was a record owner of shares of capital stock of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 as to such notice and nomination. For purposes of this Section 2.5, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder nominating any person for election to the Board at the meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such stockholder, appear at such meeting, either in person or by means of remote communication. The foregoing clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting or special meeting.
(b) (i) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (1) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 2.4) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation, (2) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to each Nominating Person (as defined below) and its candidate for nomination as required to be set forth by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and (3) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6.
(ii) Without qualification, if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling a special meeting, then for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at a special meeting, the stockholder must (A)
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provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (B) provide the information with respect to each Nominating Person and its candidate for nomination as required by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and (C) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4) of the date of such special meeting was first made (such notice within such time periods, “Special Meeting Timely Notice”).
(iii) In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(iv) In no event may a Nominating Person deliver a notice of nomination, as applicable, with respect to a greater number of director candidates than are subject to election by stockholders at the applicable meeting. If the Corporation shall, subsequent to such notice, increase the number of directors subject to election at the meeting, such notice as to any additional nominees shall be due on the later of (i) the conclusion of the time period for Timely Notice or Special Meeting Timely Notice, as applicable, or (ii) the tenth day following the date of public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4) of such increase.
(c) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.5, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
(i) As to each Nominating Person, the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(c)(i), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(c)(i));
(ii) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(c)(ii), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(c)(ii) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 2.4(c)(ii) shall be made with respect to the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting); and provided that, in lieu of including the information set forth in Section 2.4(c)(ii)(G), the Nominating Person’s notice for purposes of this Section 2.5 shall include a representation as to whether the Nominating Person intends or is part of a group that intends to deliver a proxy statement and solicit the holders of shares representing at least 67% of the voting power of shares entitled to vote on the election of directors in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act; and
(iii) As to each candidate whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information relating to such candidate for nomination that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such candidate’s written consent to being named in a proxy statement and accompanying proxy card relating to the Corporation’s next meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected and to serving as a director for a full term if elected), (B) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or his or her
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respective associates (as defined in Rule 14a-1(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act) or any other participants (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “Nominee Information”), and (C) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.6(a).
For purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, and (iii) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.
(d) The Board may request that any Nominating Person furnish such additional information as may be reasonably required by the Board. Such Nominating Person shall provide such additional information within ten (10) days after it has been requested by the Board.
(e) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice or the materials delivered pursuant to this Section 2.5, as applicable, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any nomination, including by changing or adding nominees, or to submit any new nomination, or submit any new proposal, matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
(f) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.5, unless otherwise required by law, (i) no Nominating Person shall solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees unless such Nominating Person has, or is part of a group that has, complied with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act in connection with the solicitation of such proxies, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder, in accordance with the time frames required in this Section 2.5 or by Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as applicable, and (ii) if (1) any Nominating Person provides notice in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) (x) such notice in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) is not provided within the time period for Timely Notice or Special Meeting Timely Notice, as applicable, (y) such Nominating Person subsequently fails to
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comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act or (z) such Nominating Person fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such Nominating Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence, then the nomination of such Nominating Person’s proposed nominees shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that each such nominee is included as a nominee in the Corporation’s proxy statement, notice of meeting or other proxy materials for any meeting of stockholders (or any supplement thereto) and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the Corporation (which proxies and votes shall be disregarded). If any Nominating Person provides notice in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, such Nominating Person shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than seven (7) business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
2.6 Additional Requirements for Valid Nomination of Candidates to Serve as Director and, if Elected, to be Seated as Directors.
(a) To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in Section 2.5 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the Board or by a stockholder of record, must have previously delivered, to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (i) a completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Corporation within ten (10) days upon written request of any stockholder of record therefor) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and (ii) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Corporation within ten (10) days upon written request of any stockholder of record therefor) that such candidate for nomination (A) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director that has not been disclosed therein or to the Corporation, (C) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect), and (D) if elected as a director of the Corporation, intends to serve the entire term until the next meeting at which such candidate would face re-election.
(b) The Board may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a director to furnish such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Board in writing prior to the meeting of stockholders at which such candidate’s nomination is to be acted upon. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board may request such other information in order for the Board to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation or to comply with the director qualification standards and additional selection criteria in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. Such other information shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the request by the Board has been delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Nominating Person.
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(c) A candidate for nomination as a director shall further update and supplement the materials delivered pursuant to this Section 2.6, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any nomination or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
(d) No candidate nominated pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(ii) shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such candidate for nomination and the Nominating Person seeking to place such candidate’s name in nomination has complied with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6, as applicable. The presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots cast for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no candidate for nomination shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6 and elected as a director.
2.7 Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings.
Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 8.1 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting of stockholders, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called.
2.8 Quorum.
Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting
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of stockholders, then either (i) the person presiding over the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have power to recess the meeting or adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.9 of these bylaws until a quorum is present or represented. At any recessed or adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.
2.9 Adjourned Meeting; Notice.
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken or are provided in any other manner permitted by the DGCL. At any adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
2.10 Conduct of Business.
The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures (which need not be in writing) and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the person presiding over the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present (including, without limitation, rules and procedures for removal of disruptive persons from the meeting); (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the person presiding over the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting (including, without limitation, determinations with respect to the administration and/or interpretation of any of the rules, regulations or procedures of the meeting, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the person presiding over the meeting), shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter of business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over
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the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
2.11 Voting.
Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws or the DGCL, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.
Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, at all duly called or convened meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect a director. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, each other matter presented to the stockholders at a duly called or convened meeting at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter.
2.12 Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
2.13 Proxies.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by
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law, including Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. A proxy may be in the form of an electronic transmission which sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the transmission was authorized by the stockholder.
Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use by the Board.
2.14 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote.
The Corporation shall prepare, no later than the tenth day before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of ten (10) days ending on the day before the meeting date: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the Corporation’s principal executive office. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 2.14 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
2.15 Inspectors of Election.
Before any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If any person appointed as inspector or any alternate fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the person presiding over the meeting shall appoint a person to fill that vacancy.
Such inspectors shall:
(i) determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting and the validity of any proxies and ballots;
(ii) count all votes or ballots;
(iii) count and tabulate all votes;
(iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspector(s); and
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(v) certify its or their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and its or their count of all votes and ballots.
Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspection with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The inspectors of election may appoint such persons to assist them in performing their duties as they determine.
2.16 Delivery to the Corporation.
Whenever this Article II requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), such document or information shall be in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and shall be delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of any document not in such written form or so delivered. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation expressly opts out of Section 116 of the DGCL with respect to the delivery of information and documents to the Corporation required by this Article II.
Article III - Directors
3.1 Powers.
Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.
3.2 Number of Directors.
Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the total number of directors constituting the Board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.
3.3 Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors.
Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, and subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship, shall hold office until the expiration of the term of the class, if any, for which elected and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Directors need not be stockholders. The Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe qualifications for directors.
3.4 Resignation and Vacancies.
Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or upon the happening of an event specified therein, and if no time or event is specified, at the time of its receipt. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is effective at a future date or upon the happening of an event to occur on a future
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date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in Section 3.3.
Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.
3.5 Place of Meetings; Remote Meetings.
The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone, video conferencing or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
3.6 Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board may be held within or outside the State of Delaware and at such time and at such place as which has been designated by the Board. Notice of regular meetings need not be given if the date, times and places thereof are fixed by resolution of the Board.
3.7 Special Meetings; Notice.
Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or a majority of the total number of directors constituting the Board.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:
(i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;
(ii) sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;
(iii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail; or
(iv) sent by other means of electronic transmission,
directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail address, or other address for electronic transmission, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporation’s records.
If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, or (iii) sent by other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be deposited in the U.S. mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice
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need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.
3.8 Quorum.
At all meetings of the Board, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.
3.9 Board Action without a Meeting.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board, or the committee thereof, in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained. Such action by written consent or consent by electronic transmission shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board.
3.10 Fees and Compensation of Directors.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.
Article IV - Committees
4.1 Committees of Directors.
The Board may designate one (1) or more committees, each committee to consist, of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation.
4.2 Committee Minutes.
Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.
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4.3 Meetings and Actions of Committees.
Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:
(i) Section 3.5 (place of meetings; remote meetings);
(ii) Section 3.6 (regular meetings);
(iii) Section 3.7 (special meetings; notice);
(iv) Section 3.9 (Board action without a meeting); and
(v) Section 7.13 (waiver of notice),
with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members. However:
(i) the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee;
(ii) special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board or the chair of the applicable committee; and
(iii) the Board may adopt rules for the governance of any committee to override the provisions that would otherwise apply to the committee pursuant to this Section 4.3, provided that such rules do not violate the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.
4.4 Subcommittees.
Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws or the resolutions of the Board designating the committee, a committee may create one (1) or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one (1) or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
Article V - Officers
5.1 Officers.
The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer, and a Secretary. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a Chair of the Board, a Vice Chair of the Board, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer, one (1) or more Vice Presidents, one (1) or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one (1) or more Assistant Treasurers, one (1) or more Assistant Secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. No officer need be a stockholder or director of the Corporation.
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5.2 Appointment of Officers.
The Board shall appoint the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws.
5.3 Subordinate Officers.
The Board may appoint, or empower the Chief Executive Officer to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.
5.4 Removal and Resignation of Officers.
Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.
5.5 Vacancies in Offices.
Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board or as provided in Section 5.2.
5.6 Representation of Shares of Other Corporations.
The Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of this Corporation, or any other person authorized by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares or voting securities of any other corporation or other person standing in the name of this Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.
5.7 Authority and Duties of Officers.
All officers of the Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be provided herein or designated from time to time by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.
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5.8 Compensation.
The compensation of the officers of the Corporation for their services as such shall be fixed from time to time by or at the direction of the Board. An officer of the Corporation shall not be prevented from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Corporation.
Article VI - Records
A stock ledger consisting of one or more records in which the names of all of the Corporation’s stockholders of record, the address and number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder, and all issuances and transfers of stock of the corporation are recorded in accordance with Section 224 of the DGCL shall be administered by or on behalf of the Corporation. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, or method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time and, with respect to the stock ledger, that the records so kept can (i) be used to prepare the list of stockholders specified in Sections 219 and 220 of the DGCL, (ii) record the information specified in Sections 156, 159, 217(a) and 218 of the DGCL, and (iii) record transfers of stock as governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted in the State of Delaware.
Article VII - General Matters
7.1 Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments.
The Board, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
7.2 Stock Certificates.
The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board by resolution may provide that some or all of the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated. Certificates for the shares of stock, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, any two officers authorized to sign stock certificates representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. The Chair or Vice Chair of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation shall be specifically authorized to sign stock certificates. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
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7.3 Special Designation of Certificates.
If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or on the back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock (or, in the case of uncertificated shares, set forth in a notice provided pursuant to Section 151 of the DGCL); provided, however, that except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock (or, in the case of any uncertificated shares, included in the aforementioned notice) a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
7.4 Lost Certificates.
Except as provided in this Section 7.4, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Corporation and cancelled at the same time. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
7.5 Shares Without Certificates
The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted in accordance with applicable law.
7.6 Construction; Definitions.
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular.
7.7 Dividends.
The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in either (i) the DGCL or (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.
The Board may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, and meeting contingencies.
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7.8 Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.
7.9 Seal.
The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
7.10 Transfer of Stock.
Shares of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these bylaws. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates representing such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons (or by delivery of duly executed instructions with respect to uncertificated shares), with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement or execution, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing the names of the persons from and to whom it was transferred.
7.11 Stock Transfer Agreements.
The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.
7.12 Registered Stockholders.
The Corporation:
(i) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner; and
(ii) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
7.13 Waiver of Notice.
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
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convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.
Article VIII - Notice
8.1 Delivery of Notice; Notice by Electronic Transmission.
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholder’s mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be given (1) if mailed, when the notice is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, (2) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address or (3) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail.
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice or electronic transmission to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, the Corporation may give a notice by electronic mail in accordance with the first paragraph of this section without obtaining the consent required by this paragraph.
Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:
(i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;
(ii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and
(iii) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice may not be given by an electronic transmission from and after the time that (a) the Corporation is unable to deliver by such electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation and (b) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice, provided, however, the inadvertent failure to discover such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
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Article IX - Indemnification
9.1 Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or officer of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership (a “covered person”), joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.4, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person only if the Proceeding was authorized in the specific case by the Board.
9.2 Indemnification of Others.
The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.
9.3 Prepayment of Expenses.
The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any covered person, and may pay the expenses incurred by any employee or agent of the Corporation, in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IX or otherwise.
9.4 Determination; Claim.
If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) under this Article IX is not paid in full within sixty (60) days, or a claim for advancement of expenses under this Article IX is not paid in full within thirty (30) days, after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant may thereafter (but not before) file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.
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9.5 Non-Exclusivity of Rights.
The rights conferred on any person by this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
9.6 Insurance.
The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust enterprise or non-profit entity against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.
9.7 Other Indemnification.
The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.
9.8 Continuation of Indemnification.
The rights to indemnification and to prepayment of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.
9.9 Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation.
The provisions of this Article IX shall constitute a contract between the Corporation, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as a director or officer of the Corporation (whether before or after the adoption of these bylaws), in consideration of such person’s performance of such services, and pursuant to this Article IX the Corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former director or officer of the Corporation. With respect to current and former directors and officers of the Corporation, the rights conferred under this Article IX are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of theses bylaws. With respect to any directors or officers of the Corporation who commence service following adoption of these bylaws, the rights conferred under this provision shall be present contractual rights and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such director or officer commencing service as a director or officer of the Corporation. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX shall not adversely affect any right or protection (i) hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification or (ii) under any agreement providing for indemnification or advancement of expenses to an officer or director of the Corporation in effect prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
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Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article IX shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chief Executive Officer, and Secretary, or other officer of the Corporation appointed by (x) the Board pursuant to Article V of these bylaws or (y) an officer to whom the Board has delegated the power to appoint officers pursuant to Article V of these bylaws, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise has been given or has used the title of “Vice President” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article IX.
Article X - Amendments
The Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. The stockholders also shall have power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that such action by stockholders shall require, in addition to any other vote required by the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Article XI - Forum Selection
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time) or (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine; and (b) subject to the preceding provisions of this Article XI, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant to such complaint. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence is filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
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Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article XI. This provision is intended to benefit and may be enforced by the Corporation, its officers and directors, the underwriters to any offering giving rise to such complaint, and any other professional or entity whose profession gives authority to a statement made by that person or entity and who has prepared or certified any part of the documents underlying the offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article XI shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction.
If any provision or provisions of this Article XI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XI (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article XI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Article XII - Definitions
As used in these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
An “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
An “electronic mail” means an electronic transmission directed to a unique electronic mail address (which electronic mail shall be deemed to include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer, employee or agent of the Corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files and information).
An “electronic mail address” means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, consisting of a unique user name or mailbox (commonly referred to as the “local part” of the address) and a reference to an internet domain (commonly referred to as the “domain part” of the address), whether or not displayed, to which electronic mail can be sent or delivered.
The term “person” means any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
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Exhibit 10.1
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
July 2, 2026
by and among
NEUTRON HOLDINGS, INC.
as the Borrower
the Lenders and Issuing Banks party hereto,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
and GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||||
| ARTICLE I Definitions | 1 | |||||||
| SECTION 1.01. | Defined Terms | 1 | ||||||
| SECTION 1.02. | Classification of Loans and Borrowings | 38 | ||||||
| SECTION 1.03. | Terms Generally | 38 | ||||||
| SECTION 1.04. | Accounting Terms; GAAP; Certain Calculations | 39 | ||||||
| SECTION 1.05. | Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification | 41 | ||||||
| SECTION 1.06. | Letter of Credit Amounts | 41 | ||||||
| SECTION 1.07. | Status of Obligations | 41 | ||||||
| SECTION 1.08. | Divisions | 42 | ||||||
| SECTION 1.09. | [Intentionally Omitted] | 42 | ||||||
| SECTION 1.10. | [Intentionally Omitted] | 42 | ||||||
| SECTION 1.11. | Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents | 42 | ||||||
| ARTICLE II The Credits | 42 | |||||||
| SECTION 2.01. | Commitments | 42 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.02. | Loans and Borrowings | 42 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.03. | Requests for Borrowings | 43 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.04. | [Intentionally Omitted | 44 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.05. | Swingline Loans | 44 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.06. | Letters of Credit | 45 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.07. | Funding of Borrowings | 51 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.08. | Interest Elections | 51 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.09. | Termination and Reduction of Commitments | 53 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.10. | Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt | 53 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.11. | Prepayment of Loans | 54 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.12. | Fees | 55 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.13. | Interest | 55 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.14. | Alternate Rate of Interest | 56 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.15. | Increased Costs; Illegality | 59 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.16. | Break Funding Payments | 60 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.17. | Taxes | 60 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.18. | Payments Generally; Allocations of Proceeds; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs | 64 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.19. | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 66 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.20. | Expansion Option | 67 | ||||||
| SECTION 2.21. | Defaulting Lenders | 68 | ||||||
| ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties | 71 | |||||||
| SECTION 3.01. | Organization; Powers; Subsidiaries | 71 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.02. | Authorization; Enforceability | 71 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.03. | Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts | 71 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.04. | Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change | 71 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.05. | Properties; Intellectual Property | 72 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.06. | Litigation, Environmental and Labor Matters | 72 | ||||||
i
Table of Contents
(continued)
| Page | ||||||||
| SECTION 3.07. | Compliance with Laws and Agreements | 72 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.08. | Investment Company Status | 73 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.09. | Taxes | 73 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.10. | ERISA | 73 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.11. | Disclosure | 73 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.12. | Federal Reserve Regulations | 73 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.13. | Liens | 73 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.14. | No Default | 73 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.15. | No Burdensome Restrictions | 73 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.16. | Solvency | 74 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.17. | Insurance | 74 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.18. | Security Interest in Collateral | 74 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.19. | Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions | 74 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.20. | Use of Proceeds | 74 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.21. | Affected Financial Institutions | 74 | ||||||
| SECTION 3.22. | Outbound Investment Rules | 74 | ||||||
| ARTICLE IV Conditions | 75 | |||||||
| SECTION 4.01. | Closing Date | 75 | ||||||
| SECTION 4.02. | Each Credit Event | 77 | ||||||
| ARTICLE V Affirmative Covenants | 78 | |||||||
| SECTION 5.01. | Financial Statements and Other Information | 78 | ||||||
| SECTION 5.02. | Notices of Material Events | 79 | ||||||
| SECTION 5.03. | Existence; Conduct of Business | 80 | ||||||
| SECTION 5.04. | Payment of Taxes | 80 | ||||||
| SECTION 5.05. | Maintenance of Properties; Insurance | 80 | ||||||
| SECTION 5.06. | Books and Records; Inspection Rights | 81 | ||||||
| SECTION 5.07. | Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations | 81 | ||||||
| SECTION 5.08. | Use of Proceeds | 81 | ||||||
| SECTION 5.09. | Guarantors; Pledges; Additional Collateral; Further Assurances | 82 | ||||||
| SECTION 5.10. | Post-Closing Requirements | 83 | ||||||
| SECTION 5.11. | Material Real Property | 83 | ||||||
| ARTICLE VI Negative Covenants | 84 | |||||||
| SECTION 6.01. | Indebtedness | 84 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.02. | Liens | 86 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.03. | Fundamental Changes and Asset Sales | 87 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.04. | Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions | 89 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.05. | Swap Agreements | 91 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.06. | Transactions with Affiliates | 91 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.07. | Restricted Payments | 91 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.08. | Restrictive Agreements | 92 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.09. | Subordinated Indebtedness and Amendments to Subordinated Indebtedness Documents; Payments in respect of Convertible Debt Securities | 93 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.10. | Sale and Leaseback Transactions | 95 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.11. | Financial Covenants | 95 | ||||||
ii
Table of Contents
(continued)
| Page | ||||||||
| SECTION 6.12. | Right to Cure | 95 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.13. | Outbound Investment Rules. | 96 | ||||||
| SECTION 6.14. | Material Intellectual Property. | 96 | ||||||
| ARTICLE VII Events of Default | 96 | |||||||
| ARTICLE VIII The Administrative Agent | 100 | |||||||
| SECTION 8.01. | Authorization and Action. | 100 | ||||||
| SECTION 8.02. | Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc. | 102 | ||||||
| SECTION 8.03. | Posting of Communications | 103 | ||||||
| SECTION 8.04. | The Administrative Agent Individually | 104 | ||||||
| SECTION 8.05. | Successor Administrative Agent | 105 | ||||||
| SECTION 8.06. | Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks | 106 | ||||||
| SECTION 8.07. | Collateral Matters | 108 | ||||||
| SECTION 8.08. | Credit Bidding | 108 | ||||||
| SECTION 8.09. | Subordination Arrangements | 109 | ||||||
| SECTION 8.10. | Borrower Communications | 109 | ||||||
| ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous | 111 | |||||||
| SECTION 9.01. | Notices | 111 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.02. | Waivers; Amendments | 111 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.03. | Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 114 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.04. | Successors and Assigns | 116 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.05. | Survival | 120 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.06. | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution | 121 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.07. | Severability | 122 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.08. | Right of Setoff | 122 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.09. | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process | 122 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.10. | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; Reference Proceeding | 123 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.11. | Headings | 123 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.12. | Confidentiality | 123 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.13. | USA PATRIOT Act and Beneficial Ownership | 125 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.14. | Appointment for Perfection | 125 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.15. | Releases of Guarantors | 125 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.16. | Interest Rate Limitation | 125 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.17. | No Fiduciary Duty, etc. | 126 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.18. | Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. | 126 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.19. | Certain ERISA Matters | 127 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.20. | Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs | 128 | ||||||
| SECTION 9.21. | Judgment Currency | 128 | ||||||
iii
Table of Contents
(continued)
SCHEDULES: | ||
| Schedule 2.01 – Commitments | ||
| Schedule 2.02 – Letter of Credit Commitments | ||
| Schedule 3.01 – Subsidiaries | ||
| Schedule 5.10 – Post-Closing Requirements | ||
| Schedule 6.01 – Existing Indebtedness | ||
| Schedule 6.02 – Existing Liens | ||
| Schedule 6.04 – Existing Investments | ||
| Schedule 9.01 – Notice Information | ||
EXHIBITS: | ||
| Exhibit A – Form of Assignment and Assumption | ||
| Exhibit B – Form of Increasing Lender Supplement | ||
| Exhibit C – Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement | ||
| Exhibit D-1 – Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships) | ||
| Exhibit D-2 – Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships) | ||
| Exhibit D-3 – Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships) | ||
| Exhibit D-4 – Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships) | ||
| Exhibit E – Form of Guaranty | ||
iv
CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of July 2, 2026 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), by and among NEUTRON HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the LENDERS and ISSUING BANKS from time to time party hereto, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“JPMorgan”), as Administrative Agent.
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders make Loans to the Borrower on a revolving credit basis and the Issuing Banks issue Letters of Credit at the request and for the account of the Borrower on and after the Closing Date and at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, 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:
“2020 and 2021 Convertible Notes” means (i) the secured convertible promissory notes issued pursuant to that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated May 7, 2020, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and (ii) the secured convertible promissory notes issued pursuant to that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated October 29, 2021, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“ABR” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
“Adjusted Covenant Period” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.11(a).
“Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (including its branches and affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral 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 Person specified.
“Agreed Currencies” means Dollars and each Alternative Currency.
“Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Agreement Currency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.21.
“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 0.50% and (c) Term SOFR for a one month Interest Period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a 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, Term SOFR 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 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 Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Term SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or Term SOFR, 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 so determined would be less than 1.00% per annum, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% per annum for purposes of this Agreement.
“Alternative Currency” means Australian Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Chilean Pesos, Euros, New Israeli Shekels, New Zealand Dollars, Sterling, and any additional currencies determined after the Closing Date by mutual agreement of the Borrower, Issuing Banks and Administrative Agent; provided, that each such currency is a lawful currency that is readily available, freely transferable and not restricted and able to be converted into Dollars.
“Ancillary Document” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.06.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including without limitation the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.
“Applicable Parties” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(c).
“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate Commitments of all Lenders (if the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments); provided that in the case of Section 2.21 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, any such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculation.
“Applicable Pledge Percentage” means 100%, but 65% in the case of a pledge by the Borrower or any other Guarantor of voting Equity Interests in a Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary that is a Loan Party).
“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan (or, solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14, any RFR Loan), any ABR Loan or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Applicable Rate for Term Benchmark Loans”, “Applicable Rate for ABR Loans” or “Commitment Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the Total Net Leverage Ratio applicable on such date:
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Total Net Leverage Ratio | Applicable Rate for Term Benchmark and RFR Loans | Applicable Rate for ABR Loans | Commitment Fee Rate | |||||||||||||||||
Category 1: | Equal to or above 3.00 to 1.00 | 2.25% | 1.25% | 0.40% | ||||||||||||||||
Category 2: | Equal to or above 2.00 to 1.00 and below 3.00 to 1.00 | 2.00% | 1.00% | 0.35% | ||||||||||||||||
Category 3: | Equal to or above 1.00 to 1.00 and below 2.00 to 1.00 | 1.75% | 0.75% | 0.30% | ||||||||||||||||
Category 4: | Below 1.00 to 1.00 | 1.50% | 0.50% | 0.25% | ||||||||||||||||
No change in the Applicable Rate set forth above resulting from a change in the Total Net Leverage Ratio, shall be effective until three (3) Business Days after the date on which the Administrative Agent shall have received the applicable financial statements and a compliance certificate pursuant to Section 5.01(c) calculating the Total Net Leverage Ratio. At any time the Borrower has not submitted to the Administrative Agent the applicable information as and when required under Section 5.01(c), at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders, the Applicable Rate shall be determined as if the Total Net Leverage Ratio were in excess of 3.00 to 1.00 until all such information is delivered to the Administrative Agent. In the event that any financial statement or certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) is determined to be inaccurate (at a time prior to the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Rate for any period than the Applicable Rate applied for such period, then (a) the Borrower shall promptly (and in any event within five (5) Business Days) following such determination deliver to the Administrative Agent correct financial statements and certificates required by Section 5.01(a) or (b) and Section 5.01(c) for such period, (b) the Applicable Rate for such period shall be determined as if the Total Net Leverage Ratio were determined based on the amounts set forth in such correct financial statements and certificates, and (c) the Borrower shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) following delivery of such corrected financial statements and certificate pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest owing as a result of such increased Applicable Rate for such period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Category 4 shall be deemed to be applicable until the Administrative Agent shall have received the applicable financial statements and a compliance certificate pursuant to Section 5.01(c) for the Test Period ending June 30, 2026; provided, that if the Borrower fails to deliver such applicable information as and when required pursuant to Section 5.01(c), at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders, the Applicable Rate shall be determined as if the Total Net Leverage Ratio were in excess of 3.00 to 1.00 until such information is delivered to the Administrative Agent.
“Approved Borrower Portal” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.10(a).
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“Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(a).
“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
“Approved Guarantor Jurisdiction” means the United States and any other jurisdiction designated by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Arrangers” means each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Citizens Bank, N.A., each in its capacity as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an Approved Electronic Platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Augmenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
“Australian Dollars” or “AU$” means the lawful currency of Australia.
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments in accordance with this Agreement.
“Available Revolving Commitment” means, at any time with respect to any Lender, the Commitment of such Lender then in effect minus the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender at such time; it being understood and agreed that any Lender’s Swingline Exposure shall not be deemed to be a component of the Revolving Credit Exposure for purposes of calculating the commitment fee under Section 2.12(a).
“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).
“Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Borrower or any Subsidiary by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their Affiliates : (a) credit cards for
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commercial customers (including, without limitation, commercial credit cards and purchasing cards), (b) stored value cards, (c) merchant processing services, (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, any direct debit scheme or arrangement, overdrafts and interstate depository network services) and (e) trade service products.
“Banking Services Agreement” means any agreement entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with Banking Services.
“Banking Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy”, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.
“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a 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 United States 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, the Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the applicable Relevant Rate or the then-current Benchmark for such Agreed Currency, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.14.
“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided that, in the case of any Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, “Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the alternative set forth in (2) below:
(1) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR; or
(2) the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency at such time in the United States and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
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If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency at such time.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Revolving Loan denominated in Dollars, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides in its reasonable discretion, in consultation with the Borrower, 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, in consultation with the Borrower, 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 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 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.
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For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:
(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide 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 Board, the FRBNY, the Term SOFR Administrator, the central bank for the Agreed Currency applicable to such Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide 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.
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“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in 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.
“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
“Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Borrower Audited Financial Statements” means the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, reported on by KPMG LLP.
“Borrower Unaudited Financial Statements” means the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal quarters and the portion of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026.
“Borrowing” means (a) a Revolving Borrowing or (b) a Swingline 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.
“Burdensome Restrictions” means any consensual encumbrance or restriction of the type described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.08.
“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, in relation to Loans referencing Term SOFR (or, solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14, any RFR Loan) and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Loan, or any other dealings of such Loans referencing Term SOFR (or, solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14, any RFR Loan), any such day that is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.
“Canadian Dollars” and “C$” means the lawful currency of Canada.
“Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, without duplication, with respect to any Person, (a) any expenditure or commitment to expend money for any purchase or other acquisition of any asset, including capitalized leasehold improvements, which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP and (b) Finance Lease Obligations; provided, that in any event, “Capital Expenditures” shall exclude: (i) any Permitted Acquisition and any other investment permitted hereunder, (ii) any expenditures to the extent financed with
8
the net cash proceeds of any asset sale or casualty event permitted hereunder, (iii) expenditures for leasehold improvements for which such Person is reimbursed in cash or receives a credit, and (iv) capital expenditures to the extent they are made with the cash and cash equivalent proceeds of equity contributions (other than in respect of Disqualified Stock and Specified Equity Contributions) made to the Borrower after the Closing Date.
“Capitalized Software Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such period in respect of internal-use software relating to the Borrower's applications and embedded software, and upgrades and enhancements to the foregoing, that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
“Certain Funds Acquisition” means a Permitted Acquisition the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.
“Certain Funds Acquisition Agreement” means, with respect to any Certain Funds Acquisition, the agreement pursuant to which such Certain Funds Acquisition is to be consummated.
“Certain Funds Conditions” means, with respect to any Certain Funds Term Loan for any Certain Funds Acquisition, (a) as of the date of execution of the Certain Funds Acquisition Agreement in respect of such Certain Funds Acquisition by the parties thereto, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from entry into the Certain Funds Acquisition Agreement and (ii) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) as of the date of execution of the applicable Certain Funds Acquisition Agreement by the parties thereto, and (b) as of the date of the borrowing of such Certain Funds Term Loan and immediately after giving effect to the consummation of such Certain Funds Acquisition, (i) no Specified Event of Default is in existence immediately before or after giving effect (including on a pro forma basis) to such borrowing and to any concurrent transactions and any substantially concurrent use of proceeds thereof and (ii) (x) customary “Sungard” representations and warranties (with such representations and warranties to be reasonably determined by the Borrower and the Lenders providing such Certain Funds Term Loans) and (y) those representations of the acquired company in the applicable Certain Funds Acquisition Agreement that are material to the interests of the applicable Lenders providing such Certain Funds Term Loans and which, if breached or inaccurate, would give the Borrower or any Subsidiary the right to terminate or refuse to close under the applicable Certain Funds Acquisition Agreement, in each case for this clause (b)(ii), shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) immediately prior to, and after giving effect to, the incurrence of such Certain Funds Term Loans.
“Certain Funds Term Loan” means any Incremental Term Loan the proceeds of which are intended to and shall be used solely to finance substantially contemporaneously a Certain Funds Acquisition.
“CFC” means a controlled foreign corporation as defined in Section 957 of the Code.
“Change in Control” means the occurrence of the following: the acquisition or ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder), individually or in the aggregate, of Equity Interests representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following: (a) the adoption
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or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rules, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
“Chilean Peso” means the lawful currency of Chile.
“Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans or Incremental Term Loans.
“Closing Date” means the date on which the conditions in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02), which date is July 2, 2026.
“Closing Date IPO Transactions” means (a) the execution, delivery and performance, on or prior to the Closing Date, of customary documentation (and amendments to existing documentation) governing the relations between and among the equity owners of the Borrower and the Borrower, (b) the initial public offering of the Borrower (the “Closing Date IPO”), and (c) such other transactions on or about the Closing Date incidental to the foregoing as the governing body of the Borrower shall determine, in good faith and in its reasonable business judgment, to be necessary in order to effect the Closing Date IPO.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral” means any and all property owned, leased or operated by a Person covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, to secure the Secured Obligations.
“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreements, the Mortgages, if any, and all other agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with this Agreement that are intended to create, perfect or evidence Liens to secure the Secured Obligations, including, without limitation, all other security agreements, pledge agreements, loan agreements, notes, guarantees, subordination agreements, pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, fee letters, notices, leases, financing statements, short form Intellectual Property filings and all other written matter whether heretofore, now, or hereafter executed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and delivered to the Administrative Agent.
“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.20 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the UCC)
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as provided in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C) pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.
“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
“Communications” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).
“Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with reference to any period, the sum of:
(a) Consolidated Net Income,
plus,
(b) without duplication and, except with respect to clause (b)(ix), to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income, the sum of:
(i) Consolidated Interest Expense,
(ii) expense for income taxes paid or accrued,
(iii) depreciation,
(iv) amortization,
(v) (A) non-cash charges, expenses, or losses (including stock-based compensation), (B) any costs or expenses (including any payroll taxes) incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in such period as a result of, in connection with or pursuant to any management equity plan, profits interest or stock option plan, any long-term incentive plan (including any related cash payments) or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement (including compensation arrangements with holders of unvested options entered into in connection with a permitted Restricted Payment), any stock subscription, stockholders or partnership agreement, any payments in the nature of compensation or expense reimbursement made to independent board members, any employee benefit trust, any employee benefit scheme or any similar equity plan or agreement (including any deferred compensation arrangement), including any payment made to option holders in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to, or share repurchase from, a shareholder, which payments are being made to compensate option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution or share repurchase, and (C) any costs or expenses incurred in connection with the rollover, acceleration, or payout of Equity Interests held by management of the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary,
(vi) fees and expenses in connection with (A) the Loan Documents, (B) Convertible Debt Securities paid by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries
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either on or for their own account or to (or on behalf of) the Loan Parties, and (C) the Closing Date IPO Transaction,
(vii) losses from currency exchange transactions,
(viii) extraordinary or non-recurring (A) non-cash charges, expenses, or losses incurred other than in the ordinary course of business and (B) cash charges, expenses, or losses incurred other than in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, any fees and expenses incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions and incurrence of Indebtedness or other investments, in each case, permitted by this Agreement and whether or not such transactions are consummated),
(ix) the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating enhancements, operating expense reductions and synergies (collectively, the “Cost Savings”) related to acquisitions, divestitures, other specified transactions, restructurings, cost savings initiatives and other initiatives occurring after the Closing Date, in each case, projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions which have been taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) within eighteen (18) months after such acquisition, divestiture, transaction, restructuring or initiative is consummated (which Cost Savings shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as though such Cost Savings had been realized on the first day of the applicable Reference Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such Reference Period from such actions; provided, that a Financial Officer of the Borrower shall have certified to the Administrative Agent that, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, such Cost Savings are (x) reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and (y) reasonably anticipated to result from actions which have been taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken within eighteen (18) months after such acquisition, divestiture, transaction, restructuring or initiative is consummated, and
(x) integration or restructuring costs incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, divestiture, or similar one-time transaction,
provided, that the aggregate amount added back to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b)(viii)(B), (b)(ix) and (b)(x) for any Reference Period shall not exceed in the aggregate an amount equal to 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period (calculated before giving effect to such add-backs),
minus,
(c) to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income (solely with respect to clauses (i) through (v) immediately below), the sum of:
(i) interest income (to the extent not netted from interest expense),
(ii) income tax credits and refunds (to the extent not netted from tax expense),
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(iii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (b)(v) or (b)(viii)(A) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash charges, expenses or losses were incurred,
(iv) extraordinary, unusual, or non-recurring income or gains realized other than in the ordinary course of business, provided, that the aggregate amount of cash income and cash gains deducted from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (c)(iv) during any Reference Period shall not exceed in the aggregate an amount equal to 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period (calculated before giving effect to such deductions),
(v) gains from currency exchange transactions (to the extent not netted from losses from currency exchange transactions), and
(vi) Capitalized Software Expenditures of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis.
For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA (other than in connection with any calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio) for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower (each such period, a “Reference Period”), (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis as if such Material Disposition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period, and (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Consolidated EBITDA (a) for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2025, will be deemed to be $73,693,000 (b) for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2025, will be deemed to be $104,162,000, (c) for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2025, will be deemed to be $30,766,000 and (d) for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026, will be deemed to be $4,960,000, as such amounts may be adjusted pursuant to the foregoing provisions and other pro forma adjustments permitted by this Agreement.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, the interest expense (including without limitation interest expense under Finance Lease Obligations that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period in accordance with GAAP (including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing and net costs under interest rate Swap Agreements to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP). In the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have completed a Material Acquisition or a Material Disposition since the beginning of the relevant period, Consolidated Interest Expense (other than in connection with any calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio) shall be determined for such period on a pro forma basis as if such acquisition or disposition, and any related incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, had occurred at the beginning of such period.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, with reference to any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis (without duplication) for such period; provided, that there shall be excluded any income (or loss) of any Person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, but any such income so excluded may be included in
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such period or any later period to the extent of any cash dividends or distributions actually paid in the relevant period to the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of the date of any determination thereof, total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which a compliance certificate shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) (or, if prior to the date of the delivery of the first compliance certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c), the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)).
“Consolidated Total Debt” means, at any date, the sum of (1) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money as of such date, (2) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments as of such date, (3) all Finance Lease Obligations of such Person as of such date, and (4) all unreimbursed obligations of such Person as an account party in respect of drawn letters of credit (to the extent not cash collateralized); provided, that Consolidated Total Debt will not include (a) obligations in respect of any letter of credit, except to the extent of unreimbursed obligations in respect of drawn letters of credit (provided, that any unreimbursed amount under commercial or trade letters of credit will not be counted as Consolidated Total Debt until three (3) Business Days after such amount is drawn (it being understood that any borrowing, whether automatic or otherwise, to fund such reimbursement will be counted)), (b) Swap Obligations, (c) obligations in respect of cash management obligations and obligations in respect of performance bonds, surety bonds, and similar obligations to the extent such obligations are either (i) not drawn upon or (ii) not outstanding for more than three (3) Business Days after becoming due and payable thereunder, as applicable, (d) trade payable obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and earn outs and similar obligations (provided, that any earn out or similar obligation that (i) is secured or (ii) has not been paid within three (3) Business Days of becoming due and payable under the applicable acquisition agreement and as reflected on the face of a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, in each case, shall be included in Consolidated Total Debt), (e) cash collateralized obligations or obligations with respect to which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is obligated only as a surety, and (f) any operating lease obligations.
“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. The terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Convertible Debt Securities” means unsecured debt securities, the terms of which provide for (a) conversion into, or exchange for, Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower, cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Equity Interests) or a combination of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Equity Interests) or (b) sale as units with call options, warrants, or rights to purchase (or substantially equivalent derivative transactions) that are exercisable for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such Equity Interests).
“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.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
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(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.
“Credit Event” means a Borrowing, the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, an LC Disbursement or any of the foregoing.
“Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender.
“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day “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. For the avoidance of doubt, if Daily Simple SOFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of calculating such rate.
“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a Loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by a Credit Party or the Borrower, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon the receipt by such Credit Party or the Borrower, as applicable, of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become, or has a Lender Parent that has become, the subject of (i) a Bankruptcy Event or (ii) a Bail-In Action.
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“Disqualified Stock” means any Equity Interest that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable for any consideration other than other Equity Interests which would not constitute Disqualified Stock, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations (other than unasserted contingent indemnification obligations that by their terms survive)), or (b) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or redeemable for any consideration other than other Equity Interests (which would not constitute Disqualified Stock) at the option of the holder thereof (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations (other than unasserted contingent indemnification obligations that by their terms survive)), in whole or in part, in each case, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the later of the Maturity Date and the latest maturity date in effect for any Incremental Term Loan; provided that Disqualified Stock shall exclude Permitted Equity Derivatives and Permitted Warrant Transactions; provided further that any Equity Interests that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to purchase or redeem such Equity Interests upon the occurrence of an “asset sale,” “fundamental change” or “change in control” occurring prior to the date that is 91 days after the later of the Maturity Date and the latest maturity date in effect for any Incremental Term Loan shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the “asset sale,” “fundamental change” or “change in control” provisions applicable to such Equity Interests are not more favorable to the holders of such Equity Interests than Section 6.03 and the provisions relating to a Change in Control contained herein.
“Dollar Equivalent” means, for any amount, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, (b) if such amount is expressed in an Alternative Currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of dollars with the Alternative Currency last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent) by Reuters on the Business Day (New York City time) immediately preceding the date of determination or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide a rate of exchange for the purchase of dollars with the Alternative Currency, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Reuters chosen by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion) and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.
“Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America, excluding (a) any Foreign Subsidiary Holding Corporation and (b) any direct or indirect Subsidiary, organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America, of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC.
“Earnout Obligations” means, in connection with any acquisition, the obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to pay a portion of the purchase price after the closing date thereof that is structured as an earnout or similar contingent payment or arrangement. The amount of any Earnout Obligation at any time shall be the amount reasonably estimated by the Borrower at such time to be or become payable pursuant to such obligation.
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“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.
“Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.
“Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing from such Person, but excluding any Convertible Debt 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 the Borrower, 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 (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the failure of a Plan to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of
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ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (g) a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA); or (h) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) or in endangered or critical status (within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA or Section 432 of the Code).
“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.
“Euro” means the single currency of the Participating Member States.
“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.
“Excluded Asset” means, collectively, “Excluded Assets” as defined in the Security Agreement and any other assets or property described in any equivalent definition in any other Collateral Document.
“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Specified Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Specified Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation. If a Specified Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Specified Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by 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 acquired the applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(f) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
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“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2023, by and among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Alter Domus (US) LLC as initial administrative agent, Diameter Finance Administration LLC, as collateral agent, and the other parties thereto.
“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 and any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, and any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code and any law, regulation or practice adopted pursuant to any such intergovernmental agreement.
“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the FRBNY based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the FRBNY shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the FRBNY as the federal funds effective rate. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Finance Lease” means any lease of any assets or other property classified as a “finance lease” under GAAP, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Operating Leases or any other non-finance leases.
“Finance Lease Obligations” of a Person means the amount of the obligations of such Person under Finance Leases which would be shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer, controller or other similar financial officer of the Borrower.
“Financials” means the annual or quarterly financial statements, and accompanying certificates and other documents, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b).
“First Tier Foreign Subsidiary” means each Foreign Subsidiary with respect to which the Borrower and the Guarantors directly owns or Controls more than 50% of such Foreign Subsidiary’s issued and outstanding Equity Interests.
“Fixed Amounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.05(d).
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, for any Test Period, the ratio of (a)(i) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed Test Period less (ii) Maintenance Capital Expenditures paid in cash during such Test Period to (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such Test Period, plus (ii) provision for cash income taxes made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in respect of such Test Period, plus (iii) the aggregate amount of scheduled principal payments made during such Test Period in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than payments made by the Borrower or any other Loan Party to the Borrower or any other Loan Party), plus (iv) the aggregate amount of any cash dividend or other cash distribution with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower made during such Test Period (excluding any Restricted Payments made during such Test Period to repurchase the Borrower’s Equity Interests or to redeem any stock options in connection with the Borrower’s Equity Interests).
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“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in the Loan Documents initially (as of the execution of the Loan Documents, the modification, amendment, or renewal of the Loan Documents or otherwise) with respect to Term SOFR or Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial Floor for each of Term SOFR and Daily Simple SOFR shall be 0.00%.
“Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“Foreign Subsidiary Holding Corporation” means any Domestic Subsidiary that holds no other assets other than equity or Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs and other de minimis assets related thereto.
“FRBNY” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“FRBNY Rate” means, for any day, the greater (a) of 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 “FRBNY Rate” means the rate quoted for such day for a federal funds transaction at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“FRBNY’s Website” means the website of the FRBNY at http://www.newyorkfed.org or any successor source.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
“Guarantor” means each Borrower (in each case other than as to its own obligations) and each Subsidiary that is a party to the Guaranty. The Guarantors on the Closing Date are identified as such in Schedule 3.01 hereto.
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“Guaranty” means a Guaranty substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E, by and among each Loan Party party thereto and the Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Hostile Acquisition” means (a) the acquisition of the Equity Interests of a Person through a tender offer or similar solicitation of the owners of such Equity Interests which has not been approved (prior to such acquisition) by the board of directors (or any other applicable governing body) of such Person or by similar action if such Person is not a corporation and (b) any such acquisition as to which such approval has been withdrawn.
“Increasing Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
“Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
“Incremental Term Loan Amendment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
“Incurrence-Based Amounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.05(d).
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding accounts payable and other current accrued expenses incurred and paid in the ordinary course of business), including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Earnout Obligations, (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Finance Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor. For the avoidance of doubt, “Indebtedness” will not include any obligations under any Permitted Equity Derivatives or Permitted Warrant Transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include indebtedness, guarantees, or obligations that are (1) contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business unless and until such obligations are non-contingent, (2) trade payables and commercial guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business, (3) customary purchase money obligations incurred in the ordinary course, (4) earn outs, purchase price holdbacks or similar obligations (provided that any earn out, purchase price holdback or similar obligation that (i) is secured or (ii) has not been paid within three (3) Business Days of becoming due and payable under the applicable acquisition agreement and as reflected on the face of a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, in each case, shall be deemed to be Indebtedness), (5) intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (6) loans and advances made by Loan Parties to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll over or extension of terms), (7) obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
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under any Guarantees or similar instruments, in each case to the extent not in connection with any Indebtedness for borrowed money, and (8) deferred payments in the ordinary course of business.
“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 clause (a) hereof, Other Taxes.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(c).
“Ineligible Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
“Intellectual Property” means Intellectual Property as defined in the Security Agreement.
“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08, which shall be substantially in the form approved by the Administrative Agent and separately provided to the Borrower.
“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the last day of 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 Maturity Date, (c) with respect to any RFR Loan (solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14), each date that is on the numerically corresponding date in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and the Maturity Date and (d) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the Maturity Date.
“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 Commitment), as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (iii) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.14(e) shall be available for specification in such Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Issuing Bank” means each of (a) JPMorgan, (b) Citibank, N.A., (c) Citizens Bank, N.A., (d) Goldman Sachs Bank USA, (e) KeyBank National Association and (f) each other Lender designated by the Borrower as an “Issuing Bank” hereunder that has agreed to such designation (and is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). Any Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term
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“Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. Each reference herein to the “Issuing Bank” in connection with a Letter of Credit or other matter shall be deemed to be a reference to the relevant Issuing Bank with respect thereto.
“Judgment Currency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.21.
“LC Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(j).
“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the Dollar Equivalent of the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Article 29(a) of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or similar terms in the governing rules or laws 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 Bank and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.
“Lender Parent” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.
“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.20 or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank.
“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement. A Letter of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in any Alternative Currency.
“Letter of Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).
“Letter of Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder. The initial amount of each Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.02, or if an Issuing Bank has entered into an Assignment and Assumption or has otherwise assumed a Letter of Credit Commitment after the Closing 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.
“Liabilities” means any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind.
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“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, finance lease or title retention agreement relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities (other than any Convertible Debt Securities or any Permitted Equity Derivative).
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to Section 2.10(e), any Letter of Credit applications, the Collateral Documents, the Guaranty, each Subordination Agreement and all other agreements, instruments and documents identified in Section 4.01 executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent, Issuing Banks or any Lenders and including all other pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, letter of credit agreements, UCC filings, letter of credit applications and any agreements between the Borrower and any Issuing Bank regarding such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment or the respective rights and obligations between the Borrower and such Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit, and any other documents prepared in connection with the other Loan Documents, if any. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.
“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors.
“Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.
“Maintenance Capital Expenditures” shall mean any Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to maintain its vehicle fleet.
“Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes (i) assets comprising all or substantially all or any significant portion of a business or operating unit of a business, or (ii) all or substantially all of the common stock or other Equity Interests of a Person, and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $35,000,000.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Borrower to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any and all other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.
“Material Disposition” means any sale, transfer or disposition of property or series of related sales, transfers, or dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $35,000,000.
“Material Domestic Subsidiary” means each Domestic Subsidiary (a) which, as of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Borrower, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended for which a compliance certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) (or, if prior to the date of the delivery of the first compliance certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c), the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)), contributed greater than five percent (5%) of Consolidated EBITDA for such period or (b) which contributed greater than five percent (5%) of Consolidated Total Assets as of such date; provided that, if at any time the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets attributable to all Subsidiaries that are not Material Domestic Subsidiaries exceeds ten percent (10%) of Consolidated EBITDA for any such period or ten percent (10%) of
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Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of any such fiscal quarter, the Borrower (or, in the event the Borrower has failed to do so within ten (10) Business Days, the Administrative Agent) shall designate sufficient Domestic Subsidiaries as “Material Domestic Subsidiaries” to eliminate such excess, and such designated Domestic Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement constitute Material Domestic Subsidiaries.
“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $35,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.
“Material Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property that is material to the operation of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
“Material Real Property” means any real property located in the United States owned in fee by a Loan Party (or owned by any Person required to become a Loan Party hereunder) if such real property has a fair market value in excess of $10,000,000, but excluding (a) any real property and its improvements located in an area determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) to be located in a special flood hazard area and (b) any Excluded Asset.
“Maturity Date” means July 2, 2031 (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day).
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
“Mortgage” means a mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt, trust deed or other security document entered into by the applicable Loan Party in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties creating a Lien on the Material Real Property described therein, in form and substance reasonably agreed to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (with such changes thereto as may be necessary to account for local law matters) as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“New Israeli Shekel” means the lawful currency of the State of Israel.
“New Zealand Dollar” and “NZD” each means the lawful currency of New Zealand.
“Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Exposure, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations and indebtedness (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of any of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any indemnified party, individually or collectively, existing on the Closing Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, arising or incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made or reimbursement or other obligations incurred or any of the Letters of Credit or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof.
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“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
“Operating Lease” means any lease of assets or other property classified as an “operating lease” under GAAP.
“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, Letter of Credit or Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19(b)).
“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 date of this Agreement, 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 FRBNY as set forth on the FRBNY’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the FRBNY as an overnight bank funding rate.
“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the FRBNY Rate and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
“Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).
“Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).
“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that has the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.
“Patriot Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).
“Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.06(c).
“Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.06(c).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
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“Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise but excluding in any event a Hostile Acquisition) or series of related acquisitions by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of (i) all or substantially all the assets of or (ii) all or substantially all the Equity Interests in, a Person or division or line of business of a Person, if, at the time of and immediately after giving effect thereto, (a) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would arise after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) thereto, (b) there is no material change in the general nature of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (c) all actions required to be taken with respect to such acquired or newly formed Subsidiary under Section 5.09 shall have been taken or shall be taken within thirty (30) days after the consummation of such acquisition (or such later date as agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), (d) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are in compliance, on a pro forma basis, with the covenants contained in Section 6.11 (including giving effect to any Adjusted Covenant Period elected in connection therewith) recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which financial statements are available, as if such acquisition (and any related incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, with any new Indebtedness being deemed to be amortized over the applicable testing period in accordance with its terms) had occurred on the first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance and, if the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition exceeds $100,000,000, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower to such effect, together with all relevant financial information, statements and projections requested by the Administrative Agent and (e) in the case of a merger or consolidation involving (I) any Borrower, the Borrower is the surviving entity of such merger and/or consolidation and (II) any Subsidiary and not the Borrower, a Subsidiary is the surviving entity of such merger and/or consolidation.
“Permitted Encumbrances” means:
(a) Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, landlord’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than sixty (60) days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e) judgment Liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII;
(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(g) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law on items in the course of collection; (ii) attaching to any cash pooling arrangements, commodity trading accounts, or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) in favor of banking or other financial institutions or entities, or electronic payment service providers, arising by virtue of any contractual, statutory, or common law provision and encumbering
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deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking or finance industry;
(h) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and
(i) Liens over rental deposits in connection with the leasing of property in the ordinary course of business;
provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
“Permitted Equity Derivatives” means any forward purchase agreement, block purchase, accelerated share purchase agreement, or call or capped call option (or substantially equivalent derivative transaction) referencing the common stock of the Borrower purchased by the Borrower in connection with any Convertible Debt Securities (or deemed therewith) on customary terms for an agreement of such type (as determined by the Borrower in good faith); provided that, with respect to any such issuance of Convertible Debt Securities, the aggregate cash consideration paid by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for Permitted Equity Derivatives acquired, entered into or issued in connection therewith (net of any proceeds received by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the sale of any Permitted Warrant Transactions entered into or issued in connection therewith) shall not exceed the net cash proceeds to the Borrower of such issuance.
“Permitted Investments” means:
(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(b) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s;
(c) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;
(d) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;
(e) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above;
(f) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and (ii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000; and
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(g) solely with respect to Foreign Subsidiaries, investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (a) through (f) of foreign obligors, which investments or obligors have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies (and with respect to clause (f), are not required to comply with SEC Rule 2a-7).
“Permitted Repurchase” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.07(e).
“Permitted Tax Distributions” means, (x) for any taxable period after the date hereof for which the Borrower (or, if the Borrower is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal and/or applicable state or local income tax purposes, its regarded owner) is properly treated as a member of a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar income Tax group for U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. income Tax purposes (a “Tax Group”) of which a parent company is the common parent, distributions used to pay U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income Taxes of such Tax Group that are attributable to the taxable income of the Borrower and its applicable Subsidiaries; provided that, for each such taxable period, the amount of such payments made in respect of such taxable period in the aggregate shall not exceed the amount of such income Taxes that the Borrower and its applicable Subsidiaries would have been required to pay for such taxable period if they had been stand-alone corporations or a stand-alone Tax Group for all taxable periods ending after the date hereof, reduced by any payments paid or to be paid directly by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries with respect to such income Taxes, and (y) for any taxable period ending after the date hereof for which the Borrower is properly treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal and/or applicable state or local income Tax purposes other than a disregarded entity described in clause (x) herein, distributions to the Borrower’s owners in an amount intended to enable each such owner to pay its U.S. federal, state and local income Taxes attributable to the taxable income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, calculated with respect to each such owner by taking into account (i) the character of income or gain allocated to such direct or indirect owner, (ii) the deductibility of state and local income taxes, (iii) Sections 734(b) and 743(b) of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state law), (iv) any allowable deduction under Sections 199A and 164 of the Code and (v) any net losses and deductions previously allocated to such owner, to the extent not previously utilized as an offset for purposes of computing Permitted Tax Distributions for a prior taxable period.
“Permitted Warrant Transaction” means any call option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Borrower’s common stock sold by the Borrower substantially concurrently with any purchase by the Borrower of a related Permitted Equity Derivative on customary terms for an agreement of such type (as determined by the Borrower in good faith).
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
“Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.
“Pledge Subsidiary” means (i) each Domestic Subsidiary and (ii) each First Tier Foreign Subsidiary.
“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States of America or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected
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Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.
“Proceeding” means any claim, litigation, investigation, action, suit, arbitration or administrative, judicial or regulatory action or proceeding in any jurisdiction.
“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“Public Company Costs” means costs relating to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and other expenses arising out of or incidental to the Borrower’s status as a reporting company, including costs, fees and expenses (including legal, accounting and other professional fees) relating to compliance with provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the rules of securities exchange companies with listed equity securities, directors’ compensation, fees and expense reimbursement, shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders, directors’ and officers’ insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees, and listing fees, in each case to the extent arising solely by virtue of the listing of such Person’s equity securities on a national securities exchange.
“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 9.21.
“Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as applicable.
“Reference Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”.
“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is Term SOFR, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (2) [reserved], (3) if, following a Benchmark Transition Event and Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to Term SOFR, such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such setting, or (4) if such Benchmark is none of Term SOFR or Daily Simple SOFR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.
“Refinancing” means, collectively, (i) the repayment in full of all obligations outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement (including accrued interest and fees) and any guarantees thereof, (ii) the termination of all commitments thereunder, and (iii) the release of all Liens securing the obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement.
“Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the 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.
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“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, employees, agents, advisors and representatives of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means (i) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Dollars, the Board and/or the FRBNY, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board and/or the FRBNY or, in each case, any successor thereto, (ii) [reserved], and (iii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in any other Agreed Currency, (a) the central bank for the currency in which such Benchmark Replacement is denominated or any central bank or other supervisor which is responsible for supervising either (1) such Benchmark Replacement or (2) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement or (b) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (1) the central bank for the currency in which such Benchmark Replacement is denominated, (2) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (A) such Benchmark Replacement or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement, (3) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (4) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.
“Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, Term SOFR, (ii) [reserved], or (iii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing (solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14), Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable.
“Required Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.21, (a) at any time prior to the earlier of the Loans becoming due and payable pursuant to Article VII or the Commitments terminating or expiring, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures and Unfunded Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure and Unfunded Commitments at such time and (b) for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Article VII or the Commitments expire or terminate, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure at such time; provided, further, that, in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender shall be deemed to exclude any amount of its Swingline Exposure in excess of its Applicable Percentage of all outstanding Swingline Loans, adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.21 of the Swingline Exposures of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and the Unfunded Commitment of such Lender shall be determined on the basis of its Revolving Credit Exposure excluding such excess amount.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Responsible Officer” means any director, the president, chief executive officer, chief legal officer, Financial Officer, secretary or other executive officer of the Borrower.
“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in
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the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
“Restricted Payment Requirements” means, with respect to any Restricted Payment made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in reliance upon Section 6.07(h), the following:
(a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing prior to making such Restricted Payment or would arise after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) thereto; and
(b) with respect to any Restricted Payment made in reliance upon Section 6.07(h), (i) there shall be no dollar limit on Restricted Payments made when the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than 2.25 to 1.00 immediately before and after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) to such Restricted Payment (based on the most recently delivered compliance certificate under Section 5.01(c)), and (ii) there shall be an aggregate dollar limit of $15,000,000 beginning on the date on which such Restricted Payment is made and ending twelve months thereafter if the Total Net Leverage Ratio equals or exceeds 2.25 to 1.00 immediately before and after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) to such Restricted Payment (based on the most recently delivered compliance certificate under Section 5.01(c)); provided, that if the Total Net Leverage Ratio falls below 2.25 to 1.00 in a subsequent reporting period, such $15,000,000 limitation shall cease; provided, further, if the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall return to being equal to or greater than 2.25 to 1.00, a new twelve-month period shall begin with a new $15,000,000 cap on Restricted Payments under this clause.
“Reuters” means, as applicable, Thomson Reuters Corp., Refinitiv, or any successor thereto.
“Revaluation Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan denominated in any Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) the date of the Borrowing of such Loan and (ii) (A) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, each date of a conversion into or continuation of such Loan pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and (B) with respect to any RFR Loan, each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month); (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) the date on which such Letter of Credit is issued, (ii) the first Business Day of each calendar month and (iii) the date of any amendment of such Letter of Credit that has the effect of increasing the available balance thereof; and (c) any additional date as the Administrative Agent may determine at any time when an Event of Default exists.
“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 Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the Dollar Equivalent of the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans, its LC Exposure and its Swingline Exposure at such time.
“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.
“RFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the RFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.
“RFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Daily Simple SOFR.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business.
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“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any sale or other transfer of any property or asset by any Person with the intent to lease such property or asset as lessee.
“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, the Crimea, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, Cuba, Iran and North Korea).
“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state having jurisdiction over the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the United Kingdom, (b) any Person located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b), or (d) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.
“Sanctions” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state having jurisdiction over the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the United Kingdom.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all Swap Obligations and Banking Services Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent, one or more Lenders or their respective Affiliates or a Person that was the Administrative Agent, Lender or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender at the time such agreement or transaction was entered into; provided that the definition of “Secured Obligations” shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.
“Secured Parties” means the holders of the Secured Obligations from time to time and shall include (a) each Lender and each Issuing Bank in respect of its Loans and LC Exposure respectively, (b) the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders in respect of all other present and future obligations and liabilities of the Borrower and each Subsidiary of every type and description arising under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (c) the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Affiliate of the Administrative Agent and such Lenders, and any Person that was the Administrative Agent, Lender or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender at the time such agreement or transaction was entered into, in each case in respect of Swap Agreements and Banking Services Agreements entered into with such Person by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (d) each indemnified party under Section 9.03 in respect of the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to such Person hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and (e) their respective successors and (in the case of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, permitted) transferees and assigns.
“Security Agreement” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and any other pledge or security agreement entered into, after the Closing Date by any other Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), or any other Person, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Senior Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(b).
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“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.
“SOFR Administrator” means the FRBNY (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the FRBNY’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”.
“Solvent” means, in reference to any Person, (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, at a fair valuation, will exceed their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which they are engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted after the Closing Date.
“Specified Event of Default” means an event of Default under clauses (a), (b), (h), (i) or (j) of Article VII.
“Specified Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Sterling,” “GBP” and “£” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
“Subordinated Debt Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 6.09(a).
“Subordinated Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary the payment of which is contractually subordinated to payment of the Secured Obligations.
“Subordinated Indebtedness Documents” means any document, agreement or instrument evidencing any Subordinated Indebtedness or entered into in connection with any Subordinated Indebtedness and any Subordination Agreement in respect thereof.
“Subordination Agreement” means, with respect to any Subordinated Indebtedness, any subordination agreement, document or other arrangement in respect of such Subordinated Indebtedness, in each case, reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and to the extent in effect.
“subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests
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representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, Controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled by the parent and/or one or more subsidiaries of the parent.
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Borrower.
“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.21.
“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that none of (i) any 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 its Subsidiaries, (ii) any Permitted Equity Derivatives, (iii) any Permitted Warrant Transactions or (iv) any agreement with respect to a Permitted Repurchase (including any such agreement to be performed at a future date or upon the achievement of specified closing conditions), in each case, shall constitute a Swap Agreement.
“Swap Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements with the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender or a Person that was the Administrative Agent, Lender or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender at the time such Swap Agreement was entered into, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any such Swap Agreement transaction; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any obligations under any Permitted Equity Derivatives, Permitted Warrant Transactions or Permitted Repurchases will not constitute Swap Obligations.
“Swingline Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swingline Loan.
“Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be the sum of (a) its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time (excluding, in the case of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender, Swingline Loans made by such Lender in its capacity as a Swingline Lender that are outstanding at such time to the extent that the other Lenders shall not have funded their participations in such Swingline Loans), adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.21 of the Swingline Exposure of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and (b) in the case of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans made by such Lender as a Swingline Lender outstanding at such time (less the amount of participations funded by the other Lenders in such Swingline Loans).
“Swingline Lender” means JPMorgan, in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.
“Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.05.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), value added taxes, or any other goods and services, use or sales taxes, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
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“Term Benchmark” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to Term SOFR.
“Term SOFR” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided that if Term SOFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of calculating such rate.
“Term SOFR Administrator” means the CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) (or a successor administrator).
“Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of “Term SOFR Reference Rate”.
“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum published by the 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 Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to Term SOFR 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 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.
“Termination Conditions” means, collectively, (a) the payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than (i) contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted, (ii) Swap Obligations, and (iii) Banking Services Obligations) and (b) the termination of the Commitments and the termination or expiration with no pending drawings of all Letters of Credit under this Agreement (unless backstopped or cash collateralized in an amount equal to 103% of the maximum drawable amount of any such Letter of Credit or otherwise in an amount and/or in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Banks).
“Test Period” means either (a) the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), or (b) until the first date after the Closing Date on which such financial statements have been delivered (or if the Borrower otherwise elects) the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which financial statements are available (which may be internal financial statements) and have been delivered to the Administrative Agent.
“Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of the last day of such Test Period minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for such Test Period.
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“Total Revolving Credit Exposure” means the Dollar Equivalent of the sum of the outstanding principal amount of all Lenders’ Revolving Loans, their LC Exposure and their Swingline Exposure at such time; provided, that, clause (a) of the definition of Swingline Exposure shall only be applicable to the extent Lenders shall have funded their respective participations in the outstanding Swingline Loans.
“Transactions” means (a) the Refinancing, (b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (c) the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder and (d) the payment of fees, commissions, transaction costs and expenses incurred in connection with each of the foregoing.
“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 Term SOFR, the Alternate Base Rate or Daily Simple SOFR (solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14).
“UCC” or “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.
“UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“Unfunded Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the Commitment of such Lender less its Revolving Credit Exposure.
“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 Cash” means, at any date, 100% of the unrestricted cash and Permitted Investments maintained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are not subject to any Liens at such time other than Liens created under the Loan Documents and liens arising by virtue of any contractual, statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit of cash and securities in favor of bank, other depository institutions, and brokerage firms (and, as applicable, equivalent liens and encumbrances in any applicable local law jurisdiction); provided that solely for purposes of determining compliance with the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio financial maintenance covenant set forth in Section 6.11(a) (and any pro forma incurrence test with respect to such financial maintenance covenant), Unrestricted Cash shall not exceed the greater of $75,000,000 and 35% of Consolidated EBITDA.
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“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
“U.S. Person” means (i) for purposes of Section 3.22 and Section 6.13, 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 (ii) 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 9.20.
“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(B)(3).
“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 any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.
“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 by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing”).
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person
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shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP; Certain Calculations.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.
(b) All pro forma computations required to be made hereunder giving effect to any acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction shall in each case be calculated (i) giving pro forma effect thereto (and, in the case of any pro forma computation made hereunder to determine whether such acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction is permitted to be consummated hereunder, to any other such transaction consummated since the first day of the period covered by any component of such pro forma computation and on or prior to the date of such computation) as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the most recent fiscal quarter for which a compliance certificate shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) (or, if prior to the date of delivery of any such financial statements, the last fiscal quarter included in the financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 3.04(a)), and, to the extent applicable, to the historical earnings and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of and any related incurrence or reduction of Indebtedness and (ii) excluding, solely for purposes of netting Unrestricted Cash in any such calculation of the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the proceeds of any Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection therewith. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Swap Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness).
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(c) For purposes of determining the permissibility of any action, change, transaction or event that requires a calculation of any financial ratio or test (including the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.11, any Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test or any Total Net Leverage Ratio test and/or the amount of Consolidated EBITDA), such financial ratio or test shall be calculated at the time such action is taken, such change is made, such transaction is consummated or such event occurs, as the case may be (or, in each case, such other time as is applicable thereto pursuant to paragraph (a) above), and no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of a subsequent change in such financial ratio or test.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that does not require compliance with a financial ratio (including the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.11, any Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test or any Total Net Leverage Ratio test and/or the amount of Consolidated EBITDA) (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that requires compliance with a financial ratio (including the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.11, any Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test or any Total Net Leverage Ratio test and/or the amount of Consolidated EBITDA) (any such amounts, the “Incurrence-Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts (even if part of the same transaction or, in the case of Indebtedness, the same tranche, as any Incurrence-Based Amounts) shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio applicable to the Incurrence-Based Amounts, but giving full pro forma effect to any increase in the amount of Consolidated EBITDA resulting from the reliance on the Fixed Amounts. It is further agreed that, in connection with the calculation of any financial ratio applicable to the Incurrence-Based Amounts, such test shall be calculated on a pro forma basis for the incurrence of such Indebtedness (including any Permitted Acquisition or investment consummated concurrently therewith and any other application of the proceeds thereof), but without netting the cash proceeds of such Indebtedness, and in the case of any such Indebtedness constituting revolving Indebtedness or delayed draw Indebtedness, assuming that such Indebtedness is fully drawn.
(e) It is understood and agreed that any Indebtedness, Lien, “asset sale”, investment, Affiliate transaction, Restricted Payment or prepayments of Subordinated Indebtedness or Convertible Debt Securities need not be permitted solely by reference to one clause or subclause of Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.04, 6.06, 6.07 or 6.09, respectively, but may instead be permitted in part under any combination of clauses or subclauses of such Section, all as classified or, to the extent such alternative classification would have been permitted at the time of the relevant action, reclassified by the Borrower in its sole discretion at any time and from time to time, and shall constitute a usage of any availability under such clause or subclause only to the extent so classified or reclassified thereto; provided that the credit facilities established hereunder may only be permitted under Section 6.01(a) and secured by Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(a). In addition, for purposes of determining compliance at any time with Sections 6.01 and 6.04, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, reclassify any Indebtedness or investment (or a portion thereof) that was previously made as having been made under a “ratio-based” basket set forth in Sections 6.01 or 6.04, as applicable, if such Indebtedness or investment (or such portion thereof) would, using the figures as of the end of or for the most recently ended Reference Period, be permitted under the relevant “ratio-based” basket set forth in Sections 6.01 or 6.04, as applicable; provided that the credit facilities established hereunder may only be permitted under Section 6.01(a).
(f) For purposes of determining compliance with this Agreement, (i) the outstanding principal amount of any Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof shall be equal, as of any date of determination, to the principal amount thereof that would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP and (ii) the accrual of interest, the accrual of dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original
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issue discount, the payment of interest or a dividend in the form of additional Indebtedness or additional shares of Equity Interests and/or any increase in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of any fluctuation in the exchange rate of any applicable currency shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness and, to the extent secured, shall not be deemed to result in an increase of the obligations so secured or to be a grant of a Lien securing any such obligations.
SECTION 1.05. Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.14(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. 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 alternative 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. Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of 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 or the terms of any Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the available amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum amount is available to be drawn at such time.
SECTION 1.07. Status of Obligations. In the event that the Borrower or any other Loan Party shall at any time issue or have outstanding any Subordinated Indebtedness, the Borrower shall take or cause such other Loan Party to take all such actions as shall be necessary to cause the Secured Obligations to constitute senior indebtedness (however denominated) in respect of such Subordinated Indebtedness and to enable the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders to have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness. Without limiting the foregoing, the Secured Obligations are hereby designated as “senior indebtedness” and as “designated senior indebtedness” and words of similar import under and in respect of any indenture or other agreement or instrument under which such Subordinated Indebtedness is outstanding and are further given all such other designations as shall be required under the terms of any such Subordinated Indebtedness in order that the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness.
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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.
SECTION 1.09. [Intentionally Omitted].
SECTION 1.10. [Intentionally Omitted].
SECTION 1.11. Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.
(a) The Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks, as applicable, shall determine the Dollar Equivalent amounts of Term Benchmark Borrowings or Letter of Credit extensions denominated in Alternative Currencies. Such Dollar Equivalent shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such amounts until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by the Borrower hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any Agreed Currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks, as applicable.
(b) Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Term Benchmark Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Borrowing, Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be.
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (a) the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment or (b) the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the aggregate 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 Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans of the same Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided, that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall
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be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required. Any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05.
(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans, Term Benchmark Loans, or RFR Loans (solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14). Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. 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.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000. At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing and/or RFR Borrowing (solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14) is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000; provided, that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the aggregate Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $100,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of ten (10) Term Benchmark Borrowings or RFR Borrowings (solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14) 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 Maturity Date.
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing (other than Swingline Loans, which shall be made pursuant to Section 2.05), the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by submitting a Borrowing Request (a) (x) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days (or for such Borrowing on the Closing Date, one (1) U.S. Government Securities Business Day) before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (y) in the case of an RFR Borrowing (solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14), five 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 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that no such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e) shall be required. Each such Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each such Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing, a Term Benchmark Borrowing, or an RFR Borrowing (solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14);
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(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”; and
(v) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.
If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then such Borrowing shall be a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month’s duration. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Term Benchmark Revolving 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, in no event shall the Borrower be permitted to request pursuant to this Section 2.03, prior to a Benchmark Transition Event and Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to Term SOFR, 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)), as applicable.
SECTION 2.04. [Intentionally Omitted].
SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, from time to time during the Availability Period the Swingline Lender may in its sole discretion make Swingline Loans in Dollars to the Borrower, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $20,000,000, (ii) the Swingline Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding its Commitment or (iii) the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the aggregate Commitments; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.
(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall submit a written notice to the Administrative Agent by telecopy or electronic mail (or transmit by electronic communication, including an Approved Borrower Portal, if arrangements for such transmission have been approved by the Administrative Agent), not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be in a form approved by the Administrative Agent, shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by transfer of immediately available funds to an account of the Borrower designated by the Borrower in the applicable request, by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.
(c) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require the Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the
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Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.
(d) The Swingline Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Swingline Lender and the successor Swingline Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of a Swingline Lender. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid interest accrued for the account of the replaced Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.13(a). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (x) the successor Swingline Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made thereafter and (y) references herein to the term “Swingline Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Swingline Lender, or to such successor and all previous Swingline Lenders, as the context shall require. After the replacement of the Swingline Lender hereunder, the replaced Swingline Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made by it prior to its replacement, but shall not be required to make additional Swingline Loans.
(e) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Swingline Lender, the Swingline Lender may resign as Swingline Lender at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, the Swingline Lender shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.05(d) above.
SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit.
(a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in any Agreed Currency as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any Letter of Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Issuing Bank shall have any obligation hereunder to issue, and shall not issue, any Letter of Credit the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person
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(i) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person or in any Sanctioned Country, (ii) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement, (iii) in any manner that would result in a violation of one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally, or (iv) if any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or require that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense that was not applicable on the Closing Date and that such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it.
(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable Issuing Bank) to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (not later than three (3) Business Days (or such shorter period as the applicable Issuing Bank shall agree) in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount and currency of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to issue, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. In addition, as a condition to any such Letter of Credit issuance, the Borrower shall have entered into a continuing agreement (or other letter of credit agreement) for the issuance of letters of credit and/or shall submit a letter of credit application, in each case, as required by the applicable Issuing Bank and using such Issuing Bank’s standard form (each, a “Letter of Credit Agreement”). A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the amount of the LC Exposure shall not exceed $125,000,000, (ii) no Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure shall exceed its Commitment, (iii) the Total Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Commitments and (iv) with respect to any Issuing Bank, the sum of the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank at such time plus 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 the Letter of Credit Commitment of such Issuing Bank. The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, reduce or increase the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank as provided in the definition of Letter of Credit Commitment; provided that the Borrower shall not reduce or increase the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank if, after giving effect of such reduction or increase, the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above shall not be satisfied.
(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination by notice from the applicable Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Letter of Credit issued in the final year prior to the Maturity Date may, if the Issuing Bank of such Letter of Credit agrees in its sole discretion, expire no later than one year after the Maturity Date, so long as the Borrower cash collateralizes an amount equal to 103% of the face amount of such Letter of Credit, by no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date, in the manner described in Section 2.06(j) and otherwise on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent.
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(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 Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement 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. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
(e) Reimbursement.
(i) If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent, in the currency of such LC Disbursement, the amount equal to such LC Disbursement, calculated as of the date such Issuing Bank made such LC Disbursement not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 1:00 p.m., 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.
(ii) If the Borrower fails to make such payment described in the foregoing clause (e)(i) when due, then the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof and, promptly following receipt of such notice:
(A) subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth in this Agreement (other than (I) delivery of a Borrowing Request, (II) the condition that no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (III) the bring down of the representation and warranty that no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no Borrowing may be made pursuant to this Section 2.06(e)(ii)(A) at any time an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), (x)(i) if such LC Disbursement is denominated in Dollars, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested an ABR Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 in an equivalent amount of such LC Disbursement and (ii) if such LC Disbursement is denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested an ABR Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03, denominated in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Alternative Currency, (y) each Lender shall fund its Applicable Percentage of such deemed ABR Revolving Borrowing as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender and (z) to the extent so financed, the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders and the Borrower’s obligation to reimburse such amount of the LC
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Disbursement so financed shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing; and
(B) to the extent such LC Disbursement is not financed pursuant to an ABR Revolving Borrowing made pursuant to clause (A) above, (x) each 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 Lenders) and (y) the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders; provided, that any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this clause (B) to reimburse any Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.
(iii) Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.06(e), the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made an ABR Revolving Borrowing pursuant to clause (ii)(A) above, then to such Lenders as their interests may appear or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to clause (ii)(B) above to reimburse any Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the applicable Issuing Bank as their interests may appear.
(f) Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Agreement or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, (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 or (v) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Issuing Banks, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms, any error in translation or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of any Issuing Bank; provided, that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any 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 an 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 any Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a nonappealable judgment of 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 issued by any Issuing Bank, such Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion,
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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 applicable 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 a Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank. Each Issuing Bank shall promptly after such examination notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or other electronic communication) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Banks and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.
(h) Interim Interest. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full in the applicable currency 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 reimbursement is due and payable, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans on the Dollar Equivalent thereof 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 the applicable Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.
(i) Replacement and Resignation of an Issuing Bank and Designation of a new Issuing Bank.
(i) Any Issuing Bank may be replaced or any new Issuing Bank (which new Issuing Bank shall be a Lender that has agreed to such designation and is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) may be designated at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and either the new Issuing Bank or the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement or addition 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 addition, (i) the new 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 thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such new or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (A) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (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. In addition, in connection with any addition of a new Issuing Bank, each Issuing Bank may, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent change its Letter of Credit Commitment.
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(ii) 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 Issuing Bank may be replaced in accordance with Section 2.06(i)(i) above.
(j) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day immediately following 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, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 103% of the amount of the LC Exposure in the applicable currencies as of such date plus any 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 clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. 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 remain outstanding after the expiration date specified in said paragraph (c), the Borrower shall immediately deposit into the LC Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to 103% of such LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon.
The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account and the Borrower hereby grants the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse any applicable Issuing Bank (ratably in the case of more than one Issuing Bank) for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs and customary processing charges, and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), 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 Events of Default have been cured or waived.
(k) Issuing Bank Agreements. Unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) promptly following the end of each calendar month, the aggregate amount of Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding at the end of such month, (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letter of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension occurred (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such Issuing Bank shall not permit any issuance, extension, renewal or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any payment under any Letter of Credit, the date of such payment under such Letter of Credit and the amount of such payment, (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to reimburse any payment under any Letter of Credit required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such
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payment and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.
(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 irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees to reimburse, indemnify and compensate the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder for such Letter of Credit (including to reimburse any and all drawings and other LC Disbursements thereunder, the payment of interest thereon and the payment of fees due under Section 2.12(b)) as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of the Borrower and (ii) 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 it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 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; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by transfer of immediately available funds, to an account of the Borrower designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans or Term Benchmark Revolving Loans, as applicable, 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 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 applicable Overnight Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans or in the case of Alternative Currencies, in accordance with such market practice, in each case, as applicable. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. If both the Borrower and such Lender pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent shall refund the payment made by the Borrower.
SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections.
(a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such
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Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Revolving 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. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving 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. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to (i) elect an Interest Period for Term Benchmark Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d) or (ii) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a Type not available under the Class of Commitments pursuant to which such Borrowing was made.
(c) Each Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the principal amount of the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which Interest Period shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Borrower be permitted to request pursuant to this Section 2.08(c), prior to a Benchmark Transition Event and Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to Term SOFR, 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), as applicable).
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing in Dollars 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
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shall be deemed to have an Interest Period that is one month. 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 Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, (A) each Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing and (B) if applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14, each RFR Borrowing, in each case, shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.
(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the Total Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed the aggregate Commitments.
(c) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided, that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other transactions specified therein, in which case the effective date of such termination may be delayed or such termination may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date (as such effective date is previously delayed hereunder)) if such condition is not satisfied or that satisfaction of such condition will be delayed. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the fifth Business Day after such Swingline Loan is made and on the Maturity Date; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding and the proceeds of any such Borrowing shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to repay any Swingline Loans outstanding.
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower
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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) Subject to the entries in the Register, which shall be controlling, the entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the Obligations.
(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) and in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.
SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.11(a). The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by written notice (promptly followed by telephonic confirmation of such request) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of (1) a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of prepayment or (2) an RFR Revolving Borrowing (solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14), not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing (other than Swingline Loans), not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment, or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked or delayed if such notice of termination is revoked or delayed in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments, if any, pursuant to Section 2.16.
(b) If at any time the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all of the Revolving Credit Exposures exceeds the aggregate Commitments, the Borrower shall immediately repay Borrowings or cash collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(j), as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to cause the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Exposures minus the amount of LC Exposure that has been cash collateralized to be less than or equal to the aggregate Commitments.
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SECTION 2.12. Fees.
(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the actual daily Available Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the date on which the Commitment of such Lender terminates; it being understood that the Swingline Exposure of a Lender shall be excluded. 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 Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. 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 but excluding the last day).
(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Revolving Loans on the Dollar Equivalent of the actual daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure and (ii) to each Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate separately agreed by the applicable Issuing Bank (but not to exceed 0.125% per annum) on the Dollar Equivalent of the actual daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank’s reasonable and standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting 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, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Closing Date; provided, that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
(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 immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the applicable Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.13. Interest.
(a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
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(b) The Loans comprising each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall bear interest at Term SOFR for the Interest Period in effect plus the Applicable Rate.
(c) Each RFR Loan (solely to the extent applicable following a Benchmark Replacement or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.14) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to Daily Simple SOFR plus the Applicable Rate.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) during the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default described in paragraph (a) or (b) of Article VII, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (x) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2.00% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (y) in the case of any other amount, 2.00% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section and (ii) during the occurrence and continuance of any other Event of Default, 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 9.02 requiring the consent of “each Lender directly affected thereby” for reductions in interest rates), declare that (x) all Loans shall bear interest at 2.00% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (y) in the case of any other amount outstanding hereunder, such amount shall accrue at 2.00% plus the rate applicable to such fee or other obligation as provided hereunder.
(e) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon termination of the 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 Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Term Benchmark Revolving Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(f) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Term SOFR, and Daily Simple SOFR 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 absent manifest error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining Term SOFR (including because the Term SOFR Reference Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period or (B) at any time (solely if applicable following a Benchmark replacement or otherwise pursuant to this Section 2.14), that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining Daily Simple SOFR; or
(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, Term SOFR for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost
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to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period or (B) at any time (solely if applicable following a Benchmark replacement or otherwise pursuant to this Section 2.14), Daily Simple SOFR will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing;
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Revolving 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 Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Borrowing if Daily Simple SOFR is also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above; 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, solely if applicable pursuant to this Section 2.14, 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, any Term Benchmark Loan (or RFR 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 Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Borrowing if Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above, on such day.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document (and any Swap Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “Loan Document” for the purposes of this Section 2.14), if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” with respect to Dollars for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark (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” with respect to any Agreed Currency 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.
(c) (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Borrower) will have the right to make
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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 Term SOFR) 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 a Term Benchmark Borrowing (or, solely if applicable pursuant to this Section 2.14, RFR Borrowing) of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans (or RFR Loans) to be made, converted or continued 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) denominated into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to (A) an RFR Borrowing so long as Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) an ABR Borrowing if 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, solely if applicable pursuant to this Section 2.14, RFR Loan) in any Agreed Currency is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan (or RFR Loan), then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement for such Agreed Currency is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.14, any Term Benchmark Loan (or RFR 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 Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) an ABR Borrowing if Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day.
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SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs; Illegality.
(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 any Issuing Bank;
(ii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the applicable offshore interbank market for the applicable Agreed Currency any other condition, cost or expense (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, 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 any Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than
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180 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
(e) If any Change in Law shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain Term Benchmark Loans, (i) the commitment of such Lender hereunder to make Term Benchmark Loans, continue Term Benchmark Loans as such and convert ABR Loans to Term Benchmark Loans shall forthwith be suspended until such time as it shall not longer be unlawful for such Lender to make or maintain Term Benchmark Loans, (ii) such Lender’s outstanding Term Benchmark Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be converted automatically to Dollars on the last day of the then-current Interest Period applicable thereto and (iii) such Lender’s Loans then outstanding as Term Benchmark Loans in Dollars, if any, shall be (x) with respect to Term Benchmark Loans made to the Borrower, converted automatically to ABR Loans on the respective last days of the then-current Interest Periods with respect to such Loans or within such earlier period as required by law or (y) with respect to Term Benchmark Loans made to the Borrower, prepaid in full on the respective last days of the then-current Interest Periods with respect to such Loans or within such earlier period as required by law. If any such conversion or prepayment of a Term Benchmark Loans occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant Section 2.16.
(f) If any Change in Law shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain Loans to the Borrower who is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia, then any obligation of such Lender to make, maintain or fund such Loans shall forthwith be suspended until such time as it shall not longer be unlawful for such Lender to make or maintain such Loans.
SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments. 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 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 and is revoked in accordance therewith), (iv) the assignment of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 or 9.02(e) or (v) the failure by the Borrower to make any payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereof) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.17. Taxes.
(a) 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
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by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable 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 Borrower. The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for, Other Taxes.
(c) Evidence of Payments. 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 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) 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 the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(e) Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any 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 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).
(f) Status of Lenders. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative
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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 any Borrower is a U.S. Person:
(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;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or 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 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, executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10-percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to any Loan Party described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable; 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 IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2 or Exhibit D-3, IRS Form W-9,
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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 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 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 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.
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 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 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
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amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(h) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments, the expiration or cancellation of all Letters of Credit and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
(i) Administrative Agent. If the Administrative Agent is a U.S. Person, it shall deliver to the Borrower two executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that it is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax. Otherwise, the Administrative Agent (including any successor Administrative Agent that is not a U.S. Person) shall deliver two executed copies of an appropriate IRS Form W-8 and any other required IRS Forms certifying that it is a “U.S. branch” within the meaning of U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv)(A) or a “qualifying intermediary” that assumes primary withholding responsibility under Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 of the Code and primary Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding responsibility for payments hereunder it receives for the account of others, in each case, with the effect that the Loan Parties can make payments to the Administrative Agent (and any successor Administrative Agent) without deduction or withholding of any Taxes imposed by the United States.
(j) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.
SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Allocations of Proceeds; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.
(a) The Borrower shall make each payment or prepayment required to be made by it hereunder in Dollars prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time on the date when due or the date fixed for any prepayment hereunder, in each case in immediately available funds without deduction, set-off, recoupment or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its applicable office or offices as described in an Administrative Questionnaire provided by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower from time to time, except payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. If, for any reason, the Borrower is prohibited by any law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Currency, the Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the Alternative Currency payment amount.
(b) Any payments in respect of the Secured Obligations or proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (i) not constituting a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, such funds shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank from the Borrower, second, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from
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the Borrower, third, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth, to prepay principal on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements and any other amounts owing with respect to Banking Services Obligations and Swap Obligations ratably, fifth, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to 103% of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and the aggregate amount of any unpaid LC Disbursements, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, and sixth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from any Loan Party shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower, or unless a Default is in existence, none of the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any Term Benchmark Loan of a Class, except (a) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Term Benchmark Loan or (b) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans of the same Class and, in any event, the Borrower shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.16. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations.
(c) Intentionally Omitted.
(d) If, except as expressly provided herein, any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other similarly situated Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by all such Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof unless consented to by the Required Lenders (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, 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 applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but
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excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the FRBNY Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(f) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the applicable Issuing Bank to satisfy such Lender’s obligations to it under such Section until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive control as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section; in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.
SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or 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, at the request of the Borrower, such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, (ii) 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 (iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under the Loan Documents to an assignee (other than any Ineligible Institution) that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent (which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, delayed or conditioned) of the Administrative Agent (and if a Commitment is being assigned, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender), in each case to the extent that such consent would be required for such assignment pursuant to Section 9.04, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed or otherwise entered into by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption
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by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants) and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
SECTION 2.20. Expansion Option. The Borrower may from time to time elect to increase the Commitments or enter into one or more tranches of term loans (which may take the form of delayed-draw term loans) (each an “Incremental Term Loan”), in each case in an Agreed Currency and in minimum increments of $10,000,000; provided, that as of the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of all such increases and all such Incremental Term Loans (including undrawn commitments in respect thereof) shall not exceed $100,000,000. The Borrower may arrange for any such increase or Incremental Term Loans to be provided by one or more Lenders (each Lender so agreeing to an increase in its Commitment, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, an “Increasing Lender”), or by one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an “Augmenting Lender”; provided that no Ineligible Institution may be an Augmenting Lender), which agree to increase their existing Commitments, or to participate in or provide such Incremental Term Loans, or provide new Commitments, as the case may be; provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender shall be subject to the approval of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an increase in the Commitments, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Lender, the Borrower and such Increasing Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Lender, the Borrower and such Augmenting Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto. No consent of any Lender (other than the Lenders participating in the increase or any Incremental Term Loan and as set forth in the immediately preceding clause (i)) shall be required for any increase in Commitments or Incremental Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.20. Increases and new Commitments and Incremental Term Loans created pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall become effective on the date agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the relevant Increasing Lenders or Augmenting Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Commitments (or in the Commitment of any Lender) or tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall become effective under this paragraph unless, on the proposed date of the effectiveness of such increase or Incremental Term Loans, (A) other than in the case of any Certain Funds Term Loans, the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied or waived (other than with respect to any Specified Event of Default) by the Lenders providing such increase or Incremental Term Loans and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower, (B) in the case of any Certain Fund Term Loans, the Certain Funds Conditions shall be satisfied or waived (other than with respect to any Specified Event of Default) by the Lenders providing such Certain Funds Term Loans; provided that the conditions set forth in clauses (A) and (B) of this sentence may only be waived or not required if the initial borrowing under such Commitment increase, Incremental Term Loans or Certain Funds Term Loans is incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or a similar investment permitted by Section 6.04. On the effective date of any increase in the Commitments or any Incremental Term Loans being made, (i) each relevant Increasing Lender and Augmenting Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase or such Incremental Term Loans and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lender’s portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Lenders to equal its Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) except in the case of any Incremental Term Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase in the
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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. The Incremental Term Loans (a) shall rank pari passu or junior in right of payment with the Revolving Loans, (b) shall, to the extent secured by a Lien on the Collateral, not be secured by any Lien that does not also secure the Revolving Loans (except (1) customary cash collateral in favor of an agent, letter of credit issuer or similar “fronting” lender, (2) Liens on property or assets applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date of the Revolving Loans at the time of incurrence and (3) any Liens on assets to the extent that a Lien on such asset is also added for the benefit of the Lenders), (c) shall, to the Borrower or any Loan Party that is a borrower or guarantor thereof, not be incurred or guaranteed by any such Person that is not (or is not required to be) a Loan Party (except (1) for obligations of such Persons that are applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date of the Revolving Loans at the time of incurrence and (2) any such Person obligated on such Incremental Term Loans that also guarantees the Revolving Loans for so long as such Person is obligated on such Incremental Term Loan), (d) shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date (but may have amortization prior to such date) and (e) shall be treated substantially the same as (and in any event no more favorably than) the Revolving Loans, other than customary prepayment events applicable to Incremental Term Loans; provided that (i) the terms and conditions applicable to any tranche of Incremental Term Loans maturing after the Maturity Date may provide for material additional or different financial or other covenants or prepayment requirements applicable only during periods after the Maturity Date and (ii) the Incremental Term Loans may be priced differently than the Revolving Loans. Incremental Term Loans may be made hereunder pursuant to an amendment or restatement (an “Incremental Term Loan Amendment”) of this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Increasing Lender participating in such tranche, each Augmenting Lender participating in such tranche, if any, and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Term Loan Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20. Nothing contained in this Section 2.20 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to increase its Commitment hereunder, or provide Incremental Term Loans, at any time. In connection with any increase of the Commitments or Incremental Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.20, any Augmenting Lender becoming a party hereto shall (1) execute such documents and agreements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (2) in the case of any Augmenting Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America, provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act.
SECTION 2.21. 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 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 Article VII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to
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the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to cash collateralize the Issuing Banks’ LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists and subject to the other conditions set forth in this Agreement), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize the Issuing Banks’ future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Banks or the Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto;
(c) the Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, 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;
(d) if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i) all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender (other than, in the case of a Defaulting Lender that is a Swingline Lender, the portion of such Swingline Exposure referred to in clause (b) of the definition of such term) shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that such reallocation does not, as to any non-Defaulting Lender, cause such non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure to exceed its 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 (x) first, prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize for the benefit
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of the applicable Issuing Banks only the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;
(iii) 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;
(iv) if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12(a) and Section 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; and
(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of any Issuing Bank or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable ratably to the applicable Issuing Banks until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and
(e) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.21(d), and participating interests in any such newly made Swingline Loan or any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.21(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 Closing Date and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
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ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers; Subsidiaries. (a) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, (b) Schedule 3.01 hereto identifies, as of the Closing Date, each Subsidiary, noting whether such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, the percentage of issued and outstanding shares of each class of its capital stock or other equity interests owned by the Borrower and the other Subsidiaries, and (c) all of the outstanding shares of capital stock and other equity interests of each Subsidiary are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and nonassessable and, as of the Closing Date, all such shares and other equity interests indicated on Schedule 3.01 as owned by the Borrower or another Subsidiary are owned, beneficially and of record, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens permitted pursuant to this Agreement.
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and, in the case of the Borrower, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, in each case, are within each Loan Party’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions and, if required, actions by equity holders of such Loan Party. The Loan Documents to which each Loan Party is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and, in the case of the Borrower, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, in each case, (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except for filings necessary to perfect Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) will not violate in any material respect (i) any applicable law or regulation binding on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties or (ii) any order of any Governmental Authority, (d) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, instrument or other agreement evidencing any Material Indebtedness binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (e) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or the requirement to create, any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, other than Liens created under the Loan Documents.
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.
(a) The Borrower Audited Financial Statements and the Borrower Unaudited Financial Statements, in each case, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results
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of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the Borrower Unaudited Financial Statements.
(b) Since December 31, 2025, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.05. Properties; Intellectual Property.
(a) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.
(b) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 6.02, all Material Intellectual Property, and the use thereof by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon, misappropriate or violate the rights of any other Person (and no proceeding is pending alleging the same). To the knowledge of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, no Person is infringing, misappropriating or violating the Intellectual Property owned or exclusively licensed to or by the Borrower or any Subsidiary except, in each case, for any such infringements, misappropriations or violations that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) As of the Closing Date, there is no Material Real Property owned by a Loan Party.
SECTION 3.06. Litigation, Environmental and Labor Matters.
(a) There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve this Agreement or any other Loan Documents.
(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any reasonable basis for any Environmental Liability.
(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect (a) there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to their knowledge, threatened and (b) the hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law relating to such matters.
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its
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property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or required to register under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.
SECTION 3.09. Taxes. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) and neither the execution, deliver or performance of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, including the making of any Loan and the issuance of any letter of Credit hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
SECTION 3.11. Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, at the time of and in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time prepared. As of the Closing Date, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Closing Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.
SECTION 3.12. Federal Reserve Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loan have been used or will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.
SECTION 3.13. Liens. There are no Liens on any of the real or personal properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02.
SECTION 3.14. No Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 3.15. No Burdensome Restrictions. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Burdensome Restrictions except Burdensome Restrictions permitted under Section 6.08.
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SECTION 3.16. Solvency.
(a) Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Closing Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are and will be Solvent.
(b) The Borrower does not intend to, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and the Borrower does not believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.
SECTION 3.17. Insurance. The Borrower maintains, and has caused each Subsidiary to maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance on all their real and personal property in such amounts, subject to such deductibles and self-insurance retentions and covering such properties and risks as are adequate and customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.
SECTION 3.18. Security Interest in Collateral. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid perfected Liens on all the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and (subject to any applicable perfection measures being performed in accordance with the Loan Documents) such Liens constitute perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral, securing the Secured Obligations, enforceable against the applicable Loan Party and all third parties, and having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral except in the case of (a) Permitted Encumbrances, to the extent any such Permitted Encumbrances would have priority over the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to any applicable law, (b) Liens perfected only by possession (including possession of any certificate of title) to the extent the Administrative Agent has not obtained or does not maintain possession of such Collateral, and (c) Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02, to the extent any such Liens would have priority over the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to any applicable law.
SECTION 3.19. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers, directors and employees and to the knowledge of the Borrower, its and its Subsidiaries’ agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, its and its Subsidiaries’ employees or agents 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 or other Transactions will violate any Anti-Corruption Law or applicable Sanctions.
SECTION 3.20. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans and Letters of Credit have been used and will be used solely for the purposes provided in Section 5.08.
SECTION 3.21. Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.
SECTION 3.22. 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 indirectly, in (i) a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the
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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 was a U.S. Person or (iii) any other activity that would cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to be in violation of the Outbound Investment Rules or cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to be legally prohibited by the Outbound Investment Rules from performing under this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
SECTION 4.01. Closing Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto and thereto a counterpart of this Agreement, the Security Agreement, each promissory note (to the extent requested at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date), the Patent Security Agreement, Copyright Security Agreement and Trademark Security Agreement, in each case, signed on behalf of such party (which, subject to Section 9.06, may include any Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf, or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page).
(b) Organization Documents, Resolutions, Etc. The Administrative Agent shall have received (x) a good standing certificate (or analogous documentation if applicable) for each Loan Party certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State (or analogous governmental entity) of the jurisdiction of its organization, to the extent generally available in such jurisdiction and (y) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party certifying the following:
(i) that there have been no changes in the Certificate of Incorporation or other charter document of such Loan Party, as attached thereto and as certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of its organization, since the date of the certification thereof by such governmental entity;
(ii) the bylaws or other applicable organizational document, as attached thereto, of such Loan Party is in effect on the date of such certification;
(iii) the resolutions of the board of directors or other governing body of such Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of each Loan Document to which it is a party; and
(iv) the names and true signatures of the incumbent officers or other signatories of each Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (in the case of the Borrower) authorized to request a Borrowing or the issuance of a Letter of Credit hereunder.
(c) Opinions of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have received written opinions (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Closing Date) of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties, covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.
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(d) Closing Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the President, a Vice President, a Financial Officer or another authorized signatory of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (k) of Section 4.02.
(e) Perfection and Priority of Liens (United States). The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the following in respect of each Loan Party incorporated in the United States of America:
(i) results of lien searches with respect to the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries (including a search as to judgments, bankruptcy, tax and UCC matters) in each jurisdiction and filing office in which filings or recordations under applicable Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law should be made to evidence or perfect a security interest with respect to such matters along with copies of the financing statements on file referenced in such searches and, in each case, indicating that the assets of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary are free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder);
(ii) UCC financing statements for each appropriate jurisdiction as is necessary, in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral;
(iii) to the extent not previously delivered to the Administrative Agent, all certificates evidencing any certificated Equity Interests and all other instruments pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with duly executed in blank and undated stock powers, allonges, pledge instructions and acknowledgments, as appropriate, attached thereto;
(iv) evidence that all other actions that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the Security Agreement have been taken (including, without limitation, duly executed short-form filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, receipt of duly executed payoff letters and UCC-3 termination statements); and
(v) certificates of insurance listing the Administrative Agent as (A) lender loss payable for the property casualty insurance policies of the Borrower and the Guarantors, and (B) additional insured via blanket endorsement with respect to the liability insurance of the Borrower and the Guarantors.
(f) [Reserved].
(g) Financial Matters. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received:
(i) audited financial statements of the Borrower for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025;
(ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2026; and
(iii) annual management prepared financial projections that are reasonably acceptable to the Arrangers (including balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements) for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. The
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Administrative Agent and the Arrangers acknowledge that the management prepared financial projections delivered prior to the date hereof are acceptable.
(h) PATRIOT Act, Etc. (i) The Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall have received all documentation and other information about the Borrower, the Guarantors and their Subsidiaries that shall have been reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date and that the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and (ii) to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to the Borrower at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the condition set forth in this clause (g)(ii) shall be deemed to be satisfied).
(i) Fees; Expenses; Accrued Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) all fees due and payable to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders on or prior to the Closing Date and (ii) all expenses to be paid or reimbursed to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers that have been invoiced prior to the Closing Date.
(j) Refinancing. The Refinancing shall have been consummated, and the Administrative Agent shall have received confirmation thereof, together with evidence of any release of guarantees and liens associated thereof (or a customary payoff letter authorizing the release thereof substantially concurrently with the Closing Date).
(k) IPO and Conversion. (i) The Closing Date IPO shall have been consummated and the 2020 and 2021 Convertible Notes shall have been repaid or converted to common stock and (ii) all liens securing the Borrower’s obligations under the 2020 and 2021 Convertible Notes shall have been released.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Closing Date (and shall distribute a fully executed copy of this Agreement to the Lenders and an executed promissory note to each Lender requesting a promissory note pursuant to Section 2.10(e)), and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan subsequent to the Closing Date on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit subsequent to the Closing Date, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if the applicable representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if the applicable representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) as of such earlier date.
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(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(c) The Administrative Agent (and in the case of clause (ii) below, the applicable Issuing Bank) shall have received, as applicable, (i) a Borrowing Request meeting the requirements of Section 2.03 or (ii) a notice requesting the extension of a Letter of Credit meeting the requirements of Section 2.06(b).
Each Borrowing subsequent to the Closing Date and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit subsequent to the Closing Date shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower(s) on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the funding of any Certain Funds Term Loans shall only be subject to the Certain Funds Conditions and the other conditions set forth in Section 2.20 and not, for the avoidance of doubt, the conditions set forth in this Section 4.02.
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
So long as the Termination Conditions have not been satisfied, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the end of the fiscal year in which the Closing Date occurs), its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing in the United States (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception (other than any such statement, qualification or exception resulting from (i) an actual or anticipated financial covenant default under this Agreement or any other Indebtedness incurred in compliance with this Agreement or (ii) an upcoming Maturity Date hereunder or an upcoming “maturity date” under any other Indebtedness incurred in compliance with this Agreement) and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or within ninety (90) days after the end of the first fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date and commencing with the first such full fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date), its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers or other executive officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of
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operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to year-end and audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
(c) within five (5) Business Days after the delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations prepared in accordance with GAAP demonstrating compliance with Section 6.11, and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 5.01(a) and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
(d) as soon as available, but in any event not more than sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the forecast (including a projected consolidated and consolidating balance sheet, income statement and funds flow statement) of the Borrower for each quarter of the upcoming fiscal year in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC or such Governmental Authority, as applicable, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and
(f) promptly following any request therefor, (x) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request and (y) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (e) of this Section 5.01 may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such documents are filed for public availability on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System; provided, that the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly provide to each Lender) of the filing of any such documents and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, promptly provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents to it and maintaining its copies of such documents.
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent (which the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Lender) prompt written notice of the following:
(a) the occurrence of any Default;
(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that could
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reasonably be expected to be adversely determined and, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, written notice of which will be provided as soon as possible and in any event within thirty (30) days after the Borrower knows that any ERISA Event has occurred;
(d) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect; and
(e) any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification.
Each notice delivered under this Section 5.02 shall (i) contain a heading or a reference line that reads “Notice under Section 5.02 of Neutron Holdings, Inc. Credit Agreement dated July 2, 2026” and (ii) be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect (a) its legal existence and good standing in its jurisdiction of organization and (b) the rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, governmental authorizations and Intellectual Property owned by or exclusively licensed to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each other jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except, in the case of this clause (b), as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.
SECTION 5.04. Payment of Taxes. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its Tax liabilities that, if not paid, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including Material Intellectual Property, in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain with financially sound and reputable carriers insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks and such other hazards, as is customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders), upon request of the Administrative Agent, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained. The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent endorsements (x) to all “All Risk” physical damage insurance policies on all of the tangible personal property and assets insurance policies of the Borrower and the Guarantors naming the Administrative Agent as lender loss payable, and (y) to all general liability policies of the Borrower and the Guarantors naming the Administrative Agent an additional insured via blanket endorsement. In the event the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at any time or times
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hereafter shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies or insurance required herein or to pay any premium in whole or in part relating thereto, then the Administrative Agent, without waiving or releasing any obligations or resulting Default hereunder, may at any time or times thereafter (but shall be under no obligation to do so) obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premiums and take any other action with respect thereto which the Administrative Agent deems advisable. All sums so disbursed by the Administrative Agent shall constitute part of the Obligations, payable as provided in this Agreement. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders prompt written notice of any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of the Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding.
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which entries which are full, true and correct in all material respects are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice (or without notice during the continuance of an Event of Default), to visit and inspect its Material Real Property, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, including environmental assessment reports and, with respect to Material Real Property, Phase I or Phase II studies, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested; provided, however, that (a) a representative of the Borrower shall be given the opportunity to be present for any discussion with its independent public accountants and (b) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (i) no more than one visit per fiscal year may be made and (ii) the Borrower shall not be required to pay for more than one such visit per fiscal year. The Borrower acknowledges that the Administrative Agent, after exercising its rights of inspection, may prepare and distribute to the Lenders certain reports pertaining to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries’ assets for internal use by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including without limitation Environmental Laws) and (ii) perform in all material respects its obligations under material agreements to which it is a party, except in each case under this Section 5.07 where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including to finance acquisitions permitted hereunder any other transactions that are not prohibited by the terms of the Loan Documents and to pay fees, commissions, transaction costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions). No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X. The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, directly or knowingly indirectly, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned
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Country, or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
SECTION 5.09. Guarantors; Pledges; Additional Collateral; Further Assurances.
(a) As promptly as possible but in any event but not later than the delivery of the certificate required to be delivered under Section 5.01(c) (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) in respect of the fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which any Person becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary or any Subsidiary qualifies independently as, or is designated by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as, a wholly-owned Material Domestic Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Material Domestic Subsidiary” (or, at the Borrower’s election, any other Subsidiary organized in an Approved Guarantor Jurisdiction), the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with written notice thereof and shall cause each such Subsidiary to deliver to the Administrative Agent a joinder to the Guaranty (in the form contemplated thereby) and (x) to the extent such Subsidiary is organized under the laws of the United States, any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia, a joinder to the Security Agreement (in the form contemplated thereby), or (y) to the extent such Subsidiary is organized under any other Approved Guarantor Jurisdiction, such other Security Agreement in a form to be agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, pursuant to which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions thereof, such Guaranty and such Security Agreement to be accompanied by appropriate corporate resolutions, other corporate documentation and legal opinions consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(b) The Borrower will cause, and will cause each other Loan Party to cause, all of its owned property (whether personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed) to be subject at all times to perfected Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents, subject in any case to Liens permitted by Section 6.02. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower will cause the Applicable Pledge Percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each Pledge Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower or any other Loan Party to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents or such other pledge and security documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Loan Party shall be required to provide any pledge or security agreement that is governed by any law other than the laws of an Approved Guarantor Jurisdiction, and (ii) no such pledge agreement in respect of the Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary shall be required hereunder to the extent the Administrative Agent or its counsel determines that such pledge would not provide material credit support for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to legally valid, binding and enforceable pledge agreements.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, but subject to the limitations in the last sentence of Section 5.09(b), the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent such documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 4.01, as applicable), which may be required by law or which the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created by the Collateral Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the disclosure of any additional assets constituting Collateral pursuant to any updates of the exhibits to the Security Agreement as required thereby); provided that, with respect to any real property, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Subsidiary to deliver any Mortgages
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and related real estate deliverables as set forth in Section 5.11, in accordance with the requirements and timeframes set forth therein, all at the expense of the Borrower.
SECTION 5.10. Post-Closing Requirements. Notwithstanding any other provisions set forth herein, not later than the dates set forth in Schedule 5.10 (or such later dates as the Administrative Agent shall agree in its sole discretion) or as otherwise required thereunder, the Borrower shall take the actions set forth on Schedule 5.10.
SECTION 5.11. Material Real Property. Within ninety (90) days (or such longer time as Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) after the acquisition of any Material Real Property by a Loan Party (or such later date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), the applicable Loan Party shall execute and/or deliver, or cause to be executed and/or delivered, to the Administrative Agent, for such Material Real Property, the following, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i) a fully executed and acknowledged Mortgage in form suitable for filing or recording in all filing or recording offices necessary in order to create a valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject only to Liens permitted by Section 6.02) on such Material Real Property;
(ii) a title insurance policy relating to the Mortgage referred to above, issued by a title insurer reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with endorsements customarily available at reasonable rates, in an amount (not to exceed the fair market value of such Material Real Property) and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and insuring that the Mortgage on such Material Real Property is a valid and enforceable mortgage lien on such Material Real Property, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02;
(iii) a current A.L.T.A. survey in respect of such Material Real Property, certified to the Administrative Agent by a licensed surveyor or an update to an existing A.L.T.A. survey or an existing A.L.T.A. survey with a “no change” affidavit sufficient to allow the title insurance policy to remove the standard survey exception and issue the survey related endorsements;
(iv) a completed “Life of Loan” standard flood hazard determination form as to such Material Real Property;
(v) a PZR Zoning Report, or equivalent zoning report or municipal zoning letter for such Material Real Property; and
(vi) an opinion of local counsel in each state in which such Material Real Property is located with respect to the enforceability of the form of Mortgage to be recorded in such state and such other matters as are customary and as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
(vii) From time to time, if the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that obtaining appraisals is necessary in order for the Administrative Agent or any Lender to comply with applicable laws or regulations (including any appraisals required to comply with FIRREA), and at any time if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent may, or may require the Borrower to, in either case at the Borrower’s expense, obtain appraisals in form and substance and from appraisers reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent stating the then current fair market value of all or any portion of the personal property of any Loan Party and the fair market value or such other value as determined by the Administrative Agent (for example, replacement cost for purposes of flood insurance) of any Material Real Property of any Loan Party.
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ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
So long as the Termination Conditions have not been satisfied, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) the Secured Obligations;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and, to the extent having an aggregate outstanding principal amount (or face amount in the case of letters of credit) in excess of $1,000,000 on the Closing Date, set forth on Schedule 6.01, and refinancings, extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness with Indebtedness of a similar type that does not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (except to the extent of prepayment premiums and fees owing in connection with such refinancing, extension, renewal or replacement);
(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, in each case, to the extent the related investment, loan or advance is permitted pursuant to Section 6.04(d);
(d) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of any Guarantee made for the benefit of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, such Guarantee must also be permitted pursuant to Section 6.04(d);
(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Finance Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and refinancings, extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (except to the extent of prepayment premiums and fees owing in connection with such refinancing, extension, renewal or replacement); provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed the greater of $50,000,000 and an amount equal to 25% of Consolidated EBITDA at any time outstanding;
(f) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as an account party in respect of trade letters of credit and letters of credit issued in connection with self-insured workers’ compensation liabilities or as otherwise required by applicable law;
(g) (i) Indebtedness the proceeds of which are used to finance or to repay Loans used to fund, (ii) Indebtedness assumed in connection with, and (iii) Indebtedness of any subsidiary acquired in connection with, in each case, any Permitted Acquisition; provided that, (x) after giving pro forma effect to such Permitted Acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.11 (including giving effect to any Adjusted Covenant Period elected in connection therewith) based on the most recent compliance certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) (or, if prior to the date of delivery of any such compliance certificate, the last fiscal quarter included in the financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 3.04(a))
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and (y) no Event of Default shall exist and be continuing immediately prior to or after giving effect to any incurrence of such Indebtedness;
(h) Indebtedness owed to any Person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(i) Indebtedness consisting of financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business;
(j) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary secured by a Lien on any asset (not constituting Collateral) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (j) shall not in the aggregate exceed the greater of $20,000,000 and an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated EBITDA at any time;
(k) deferred compensation incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(l) unsecured Indebtedness so long as, at the time of incurrence thereof and immediately after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) thereto, (i) (x) to the extent not incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or similar investment permitted under Section 6.04, the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00 and (y) to the extent incurred in connection with any investment under Section 6.04, the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.11 (including giving effect to any Adjusted Covenant Period elected in connection therewith) and (ii) no Event of Default exists and is continuing or would result therefrom; provided that, to the extent any Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this clause (l) constitutes Material Indebtedness, such Indebtedness shall (A) have a stated maturity that is no earlier than 91 days after the Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (B) not have any scheduled prepayment, amortization, mandatory redemption, sinking fund or similar obligations prior to the date that is 91 days after the Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred (except for customary offers to purchase with proceeds of asset sales or upon the occurrence of a change of control (or, with respect to Convertible Debt Securities, fundamental change offers) and, with respect to Convertible Debt Securities, pursuant to settlements upon conversion), (C) not be subject to any Guarantee by any Person other than a Loan Party, (D) not contain any financial maintenance covenants that are more restrictive than any financial maintenance covenant set forth in this Agreement and (E) have covenants and events of default that are not, when taken as a whole, more favorable to the holders of such Indebtedness than those applicable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents (except for such terms applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred) unless such terms for such Indebtedness (x) are reflective of market terms and conditions for the type of Indebtedness incurred or issued at the time of issuance or incurrence thereof (in each case, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith); provided that a certificate of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material covenants and events of default of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has reasonably determined in good faith that such covenants and events of default satisfy the foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such covenants and events of default satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower within such five (5) Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonably detailed description of the basis upon which it disagrees) or (y) are otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided further that, Indebtedness incurred pursuant this clause (l) by any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, shall not in the aggregate exceed $20,000,000 at any one time outstanding;
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(m) unsecured Subordinated Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the greater of $60,000,000 and an amount equal to 30% of Consolidated EBITDA at any time outstanding, to the extent subject to a Subordination Agreement;
(n) Indebtedness arising from receivables factoring arrangements in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the greater of $30,000,000 and an amount equal to 15% of Consolidated EBITDA at any time outstanding;
(o) Indebtedness incurred in connection with corporate credit cards in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(p) cash management obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and similar arrangements and Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;
(q) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of letters of credit (other than Letters of Credit issued hereunder or any letters of credit permitted under clause (b) above) in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $75,000,000;
(r) obligations in respect of the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business; and
(s) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of $20,000,000 and 10% of Consolidated EBITDA.
SECTION 6.02. Liens. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:
(a) Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document;
(b) Permitted Encumbrances;
(c) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided, that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and refinancings, extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (except to the extent of prepayment premiums and fees owing in connection with such refinancing, extension, renewal or replacement);
(d) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and refinancings, extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (except to
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the extent of prepayment premiums and fees owing in connection with such refinancing, extension, renewal or replacement);
(e) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(f) Liens on any property or asset acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition provided that (i) such Liens secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (g) of Section 6.01, (ii) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such Permitted Acquisition, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the consideration paid for such Permitted Acquisition and (iv) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(g) Liens on assets (not constituting Collateral) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted above so long as the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness and other obligations subject to such Liens does not at any time exceed the greater of $20,000,000 and an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated EBITDA;
(h) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations in an aggregate principal amount as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred, not to exceed the greater of $20,000,000 and an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated EBITDA determined as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred;
(i) Liens on receivables arising in connection with receivables factoring arrangements permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(n);
(j) Liens on cash collateral or other deposits in respect of letters of credit permitted pursuant to Section 6.01; and
(k) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar filings made in respect of operating leases or consignments entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes and Asset Sales.
(a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) any of its assets (including pursuant to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction), or any of the Equity Interests of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that:
(i) to the extent constituting an asset of the Borrower, the Borrower may sell, transfer, lease, or otherwise dispose of any of its Equity Interests held as treasury stock;
(ii) any Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (A) if the Borrower is a party in such transaction, the Borrower is the
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surviving entity; and (B) if any Guarantor is a party in such transaction and the Borrower is not, the surviving entity shall be or become a Guarantor;
(iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets (A) to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or (B) to the extent constituting an investment governed by Section 6.04, in any transaction permitted pursuant to Section 6.04;
(iv) any Loan Party may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets (A) to another Loan Party or (B) to the extent constituting an investment governed by Section 6.04, in any transaction permitted pursuant to Section 6.04;
(v) Borrower or any Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with another Person in order to consummate a transaction that is otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 6.04; provided that (A) if the Borrower is a party in such transaction, the Borrower is the surviving entity; and (B) if any Guarantor is a party in such transaction and the Borrower is not, the surviving entity shall be or become a Guarantor;
(vi) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may (A) sell inventory in the ordinary course of business, (B) effect sales, trade-ins or dispositions of used equipment for value in the ordinary course of business, (C) subject to Section 6.14, enter into licenses of technology or other Intellectual Property (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of any exclusive licenses to Persons that are not Loan Parties or required to become Loan Parties, the Intellectual Property subject to such exclusive license does not constitute Material Intellectual Property) in the ordinary course of business, and (D) make any other sales, transfers, leases or dispositions (and any merger or consolidation with another Person in order to consummate such sale, transfer, lease or disposition) in an aggregate amount not to exceed 30% of Consolidated Total Assets, measured as of the last day of the fiscal quarter most recently ended prior to the date of such sale, transfer, lease, or disposition for which a compliance certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) (or, if prior to the date of the delivery of the first compliance certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c), the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)), so long as at the time of any such sale, transfer, lease or disposition involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of the greater of $5,000,000 and an amount equal to 2.5% of Consolidated EBITDA determined as of the date of such sale, transfer, lease or disposition, (x) no Event of Default then exists or would immediately result therefrom and (y) such sale is for fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) and at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received in connection with such sale, transfer, lease or disposition is comprised of cash or Permitted Investments;
(vii) the use or transfer of cash or cash equivalents in a manner that is not prohibited by the terms of the Agreement;
(viii) sales, transfers or dispositions of accounts in the ordinary course of business for purposes of collection or settlement of disputed claims;
(ix) sales, transfers or dispositions of assets resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of;
(x) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided, that if any such dissolved or liquidated Subsidiary is a
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Loan Party, such Subsidiary shall sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of its assets to another Loan Party prior to or concurrently with such dissolution or liquidation;
(xi) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may unwind or otherwise settle any Permitted Equity Derivative or Permitted Warrant Transaction the entry into which was not prohibited by this Agreement; and
(xii) dispositions of obsolete, damaged, worn out, used, or surplus property (including for purposes of recycling), whether now owned or hereafter acquired and dispositions of property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that is no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business or economically practicable or commercially desirable to maintain;
provided, that any such merger or consolidation involving a Person that is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger or consolidation shall not be permitted unless it is also permitted by Section 6.04.
(b) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto or reasonable extensions thereof.
(c) The Borrower will not change its fiscal year from the basis in effect on the Closing Date.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Section 6.03 shall prohibit the Closing Date IPO Transactions.
SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger or consolidation with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger or consolidation) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any Person or any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:
(a) cash and Permitted Investments;
(b) Permitted Acquisitions;
(c) investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof in the capital stock of its Subsidiaries;
(d) investments, loans or advances made by the Borrower in or to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary in or to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary and Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided, that at the time of any such investment, loan, advance by any Loan Party in, or Guarantee by any Loan Party for the benefit of, any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, the aggregate amount outstanding of all such investments, loans, advances, and Guarantees shall not exceed the greater of $30,000,000 and an amount equal to 15% of Consolidated EBITDA;
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(e) investments in any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed the greater of $20,000,000 and an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated EBITDA at any time;
(f) investments consisting of Indebtedness (including Guarantees) permitted by Section 6.01, Liens permitted by Section 6.02, fundamental changes and asset sales permitted by Section 6.03, and Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.04;
(g) (i) intercompany advances between and among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries relating to their cash management, tax, and accounting operations in the ordinary course of business, (ii) intercompany loans, advances, or Indebtedness between and among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries having a term not exceeding 364 days and made in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any Guarantees or similar instruments, in each case to the extent not in connection with any Indebtedness for borrowed money;
(h) investments in negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business;
(i) advances made in connection with purchases of goods or services in the ordinary course of business;
(j) investments received in settlement of delinquent obligations to the Borrower or any Subsidiary effected in the ordinary course of business or owing to the Borrower or any Subsidiary as a result of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding involving an account debtor or upon the foreclosure or enforcement of any Lien in favor of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(k) investments, loans, advances and Guarantees existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.04;
(l) investments arising under Swap Agreements entered into in compliance with Section 6.05;
(m) loans or advances made by Borrower or any Subsidiary to its employees in the ordinary course of business consistent for travel and entertainment expenses, relocation costs and similar purposes up to a maximum of $1,500,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;
(n) investments, loans and advances owned by, and Guarantees made by, any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of a Borrower or consolidates or merges with a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including in connection with a Permitted Acquisition) so long as such investments, loans, advances and Guarantee were not made in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary or of such consolidation or merger;
(o) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;
(p) any endorsement of a check or other medium of payment for deposit or collection, or any similar transaction, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(q) investments arising under Permitted Equity Derivatives entered into in compliance with the terms of this Agreement;
(r) the Closing Date IPO Transactions;
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(s) investments among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries consisting of contributions, dispositions, or other transfers of vehicles and related spare parts and batteries in the ordinary course of business;
(t) any other investment, loan, advance or Guarantee (other than acquisitions) so long as during the term of this Agreement, at the time of making any such investment, loan, advance or Guarantee and immediately after giving pro forma effect thereto, the aggregate amount of all such investments, loans, advances and Guarantees which are outstanding do not exceed the greater of $60,000,000 and an amount equal to 30% of Consolidated EBITDA; and
(u) other investments so long as, at the time of making any such investment and immediately after giving pro forma effect thereto, (i) Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than 3.25 to 1.00 and (ii) no Event of Default exists and is continuing or would result therefrom.
SECTION 6.05. Swap Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order 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 interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
SECTION 6.06. Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, in each case involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $2,500,000, except (a) at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its wholly owned Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.07, (d) any transactions between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries involving the provision of cash management or general corporate services, and (e) the Closing Date IPO Transactions.
SECTION 6.07. Restricted Payments. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:
(a) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may declare and make Restricted Payments payable in the form of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock not otherwise permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01);
(b) Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments ratably with respect to their Equity Interests so long as such Restricted Payment is not prohibited by Sections 6.03 and 6.04;
(c) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments (i) pursuant to and in accordance with stock option or equity-based plans or other benefit plans for future, present, or former directors, officers, employees, managers, consultants, or independent contractors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (or their respective Affiliates, estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses or permitted transferees), (ii) payments made or expected to be made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable or expected to be payable by any future, present, or former director, officer, employee, manager, consultant, or independent contractor of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
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(or their respective Affiliates, estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses or permitted transferees) in connection with the exercise of stock options or the grant, vesting, or delivery of Equity Interests, and (iii) loans or advances to officers, directors, employees, managers, consultants, and independent contractors of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower; provided, that no cash is actually advanced pursuant to this clause (iii) other than to pay taxes due in connection with such purchase, unless immediately repaid;
(d) (i) the purchase or any other payment in respect of any Permitted Equity Derivatives in connection with the issuance of any Convertible Debt Securities permitted under Section 6.01 (and the replacement of any such Permitted Equity Derivatives) and (ii) the partial or complete unwinding, acceleration, settlement or termination of any Permitted Equity Derivatives or Permitted Warrant Transactions the entry into which was not prohibited by this Agreement;
(e) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to repurchase its Equity Interests or to redeem any stock options in connection with its Equity Interests, in each case, so long as at the time of such Restricted Payment (i) no Default exists and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio, after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment, is less than or equal to 0.50 to 1.00 less than the then applicable maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted by Section 6.11(a) at such time (any such Restricted Payment, a “Permitted Repurchase”);
(f) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments, the proceeds of which will be used to pay operating costs and expenses (including Public Company Costs) of the Borrower incurred in the ordinary course of business and other 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, attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(g) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make Permitted Tax Distributions;
(h) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make any other Restricted Payment so long as the Restricted Payment Requirements are satisfied in connection with such Restricted Payment; and
(i) the Closing Date IPO Transactions.
SECTION 6.08. Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets to secure the Secured Obligations, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to holders of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee the Secured Obligations; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by any Loan Document, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary or any other asset pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is, or the assets that are, to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder or a condition to the closing of such sale is the payment in full of this Agreement or a consent under this Agreement (it being understood and agreed that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be required to grant any such consent), (iii) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof, (v) the foregoing shall not apply
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to restrictions and conditions contained in other Indebtedness permitted under this Agreement so long as such restrictions and conditions are not more onerous for the Borrower and the Subsidiaries than the restrictions and conditions contained in the Loan Documents, and (vi) the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions contained in joint venture agreements and related to the organizational documents of non-wholly owned Subsidiaries; provided, that the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary shall use reasonable efforts to exclude any such limitations or restrictions from such joint venture agreements and organizational documents.
SECTION 6.09. Subordinated Indebtedness and Amendments to Subordinated Indebtedness Documents; Payments in respect of Convertible Debt Securities.
(a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly prepay, defease or in substance defease, purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire, any Subordinated Indebtedness or any Indebtedness from time to time outstanding under the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents (any of the foregoing, a “Subordinated Debt Payment”), in each case other than in connection with any refinancings, extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not decrease the outstanding principal amount thereof, unless:
(i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing prior to making such Subordinated Debt Payment or would arise after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) thereto; and
(ii) (i) there shall be no dollar limit on Subordinated Debt Payments made when the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than 2.50 to 1.00 immediately before and after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) to such Subordinated Debt Payment (based on the most recently delivered compliance certificate under Section 5.01(c)), and (ii) there shall be an aggregate dollar limit of $12,500,000 beginning on the date on which such Subordinated Debt Payment (with such Subordinated Debt Payment applied toward usage under such cap) is made and ending twelve months thereafter if the Total Net Leverage Ratio equals or exceeds 2.50 to 1.00 immediately before and after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) to such Subordinated Debt Payment (based on the most recently delivered compliance certificate under Section 5.01(c), as applicable); provided, that if the Total Net Leverage Ratio falls below 2.50 to 1.00 in a subsequent reporting period, such $12,500,000 limitation shall cease; provided, further, if the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall return to being equal to or greater than 2.50 to 1.00, a new twelve-month period shall begin with a new $12,500,000 cap on Subordinated Debt Payment under this clause:
provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subordinated Debt Payment shall be permitted to the extent such payment is prohibited by the terms of the applicable Subordination Agreement.
(b) Except as expressly permitted under the terms of the applicable Subordination Agreement, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, amend the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents or any document, agreement or instrument evidencing any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents (or any refinancings, replacements, substitutions, extensions or renewals thereof) or pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued where such amendment, modification or supplement provides for the following or which has any of the following effects:
(i) increases the overall principal amount of any such Indebtedness (other than as permitted pursuant to Section 6.01) or increases the amount of any single scheduled installment of principal or interest that is required to be made prior to the Maturity Date;
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(ii) shortens or accelerates the date upon which any installment of principal or interest becomes due or adds any additional mandatory redemption provisions, in each case, prior to the Maturity Date;
(iii) shortens the final maturity date of such Indebtedness or otherwise accelerates the amortization schedule with respect to such Indebtedness, in each case prior to the Maturity Date;
(iv) increases the rate of interest accruing on such Indebtedness;
(v) provides for the payment of additional fees or increases existing fees;
(vi) amends or modifies any financial or negative covenant (or covenant which prohibits or restricts the Borrower or any Subsidiary from taking certain actions) in a manner which is more onerous or more restrictive in any material respect to the Borrower or such Subsidiary or which is otherwise materially adverse to the Borrower, any Subsidiary and/or the Lenders or, in the case of any such covenant, which places material additional restrictions on the Borrower or such Subsidiary or which requires the Borrower or such Subsidiary to comply with more restrictive financial ratios or which requires the Borrower to better its financial performance, in each case from that set forth in the existing applicable covenants in the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents or the applicable covenants in this Agreement, unless, in each case, such amendment or modification is intended to match an amendment or modification to the Loan Documents and maintain the same cushion as is in the existing Subordinated Indebtedness Documents and the Loan Documents; or
(vii) amends, modifies or adds any affirmative covenant in a manner which (i) when taken as a whole, is materially adverse to the Borrower, any Subsidiary and/or the Lenders or (ii) is more onerous than the existing applicable covenant in the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents or the applicable covenant in this Agreement, unless, in each case, such amendment, modification or addition is intended to match an amendment, modification or addition to the Loan Documents and maintain the same cushion as is in the existing Subordinated Indebtedness Documents and the Loan Documents.
(c) The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, redeem, repurchase, convert, exchange or settle any Convertible Debt Securities, other than (i) any such redemption, repurchase, conversion, exchange or settlement made solely with Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock); provided that the Borrower shall also be permitted to pay cash in lieu of fractional shares in connection with such redemption, repurchase, conversion, exchange or settlement, (ii) any such redemption, repurchase, conversion, exchange or settlement made solely with an amount not to exceed the principal amount of Convertible Debt Securities incurred pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and (iii) any other redemption, repurchase, conversion, exchange or settlement so long as (x) at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) thereto, (A) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (B) the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.11 and (y) the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments paid in connection with all such redemptions, repurchases, conversions, exchanges and settlements made in reliance on this Section 6.09(c)(iii) does not exceed the sum of (1) the principal amount of the Convertible Debt Securities plus (2) any payments received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the exercise, settlement or termination of any related Permitted Equity Derivative; provided, that if the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than 2.50 to 1.00 both before and immediately after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) thereto, such redemption, repurchase, conversion, exchange or settlement shall not be included in such dollar limitation.
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SECTION 6.10. Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, other than Sale and Leaseback Transactions in respect of which the net proceeds received in connection therewith does not exceed $30,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement, determined on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 6.11. Financial Covenants.
(a) Maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio. Commencing with the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, the Borrower will not permit the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as of the last day of any Test Period, to be greater than 3.25 to 1.00; provided, that (i) so long as no Event of Default exists and is continuing at such time or would result therefrom, the Borrower may, on not more than two (2) occasions during the term of this Agreement, elect to increase the maximum permitted Total Net Leverage Ratio under this Section 6.11(a) by 0.50 to 1.00 for four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower in connection with a Material Acquisition occurring during the first of such fiscal quarters (any such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower subject to such election under this clause (i) being referred to as an “Adjusted Covenant Period”) and (ii) notwithstanding the foregoing clause (i), the Borrower may not elect an Adjusted Covenant Period for at least one (1) full fiscal quarter of the Borrower following the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period before a new Adjusted Covenant Period is available again pursuant to the preceding clause (i) for a new period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower as described in the foregoing clause (i).
(b) Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Commencing with the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, the Borrower will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, determined as of the end of any Test Period, to be less than 1.25 to 1.00.
SECTION 6.12. Right to Cure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6.11, in the event that the Total Net Leverage Ratio is greater than the amount set forth in Section 6.11(a) as of the applicable date of determination, the cash proceeds of any equity contribution made to the Borrower, and the cash proceeds of any issuance by the Borrower of its Equity Interests (which shall be common equity or other equity (such other equity to be on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) (contributed in turn as cash common equity to the Borrower), but not Disqualified Stock), in each case, received after the first day of such applicable date of determination and on or prior to the day that is fifteen (15) Business Days after the day on which financial statements are required to be delivered for such date of determination will, at the request of the Borrower, be included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA solely for the purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 6.11(a) at the end of such applicable date of determination and any subsequent period that includes a fiscal quarter in such applicable date of determination (any such equity contribution, a “Specified Equity Contribution”); provided, that:
(a) no Revolving Lender or Swing Line Lender shall be required to make any new extension of credit under a Loan Document, and no Issuing Banks shall be required to issue, increase the face amount of, or extend any Letter of Credit, during the fifteen (15) Business Day period referred to above if the Borrower has not received the proceeds of such Specified Equity Contribution prior to or concurrently with such extension, issuance or increase;
(b) the Borrower shall not be permitted to so request that a Specified Equity Contribution be included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA with respect to any fiscal quarter unless, after giving effect to such requested Specified Equity Contribution, there would be at least two (2) fiscal quarters in the relevant four fiscal quarter period in which no Specified Equity Contribution has been made;
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(c) no more than five (5) Specified Equity Contributions will be made in the aggregate;
(d) the amount of any Specified Equity Contribution will be no greater than the minimum amount required to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 6.11(a);
(e) any proceeds of Specified Equity Contributions will be disregarded for all other purposes under the Loan Documents (including calculating Consolidated EBITDA for purposes of determining leverage-based basket levels and other items governed by reference to Consolidated EBITDA); and
(f) there shall be no reduction in Indebtedness pursuant to a cash netting provision with the proceeds of any Specified Equity Contribution for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.11 for the fiscal quarter for which such Specified Equity Contribution was made.
SECTION 6.13. 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 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 was a U.S. Person or (iii) any other activity that would cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to be in violation of the Outbound Investment Rules or cause the Administrative Agent or any Lender to be legally prohibited by the Outbound Investment Rules from performing under this Agreement.
SECTION 6.14. Material Intellectual Property. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (x) the Borrower will not permit any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party (other than a Subsidiary that is required to become a Loan Party pursuant to Section 5.09, but only prior to the deadline for joining such Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.09) to hold, own or exclusively license or exclusively sublicense any Material Intellectual Property and (y) except on an arms-length basis with a third party that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower, the Borrower will not, nor will the Borrower permit any other Loan Party to, (i) sell, assign or otherwise transfer legal or beneficial ownership or title of any Material Intellectual Property to any Person that is not a Loan Party or (ii) exclusively license or exclusively sublicense any Material Intellectual Property to any Person that is not a Loan Party.
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or shall fail to make any payment required under the Guaranty when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;
(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or any
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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;
(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to each Borrower’s existence), 5.08, 5.09 or 5.10 or in Article VI;
(e) the Borrower or any other Guarantor, as applicable, shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article) or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of the Required Lenders);
(f) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods);
(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or (ii) any redemption, repurchase, conversion, exchange or settlement with respect to any Convertible Debt Securities pursuant to its terms (or the occurrence of any event that permits the foregoing) unless such redemption, repurchase, conversion, exchange or settlement results from a default thereunder or an event of the type that constitutes an Event of Default;
(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Material Domestic Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Material Domestic Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding,
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(v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(j) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $35,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment and in each case, the judgment or attachment shall remain undischarged, not dismissed and unsatisfied for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed; provided, that any such amount shall be calculated after deducting from the sum so payable any amount of such judgment that is covered by a valid and binding policy of insurance in favor of the Borrower or such Subsidiary (but only if the applicable insurer shall have been advised of such judgment and of the intent of the Borrower or such Subsidiary to make a claim in respect of any amount payable by it in connection therewith and such insurer shall not have disputed coverage);
(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(m) a Change in Control shall occur;
(n) the occurrence of any “Event of Default” as defined in the Security Agreement or the failure of any Guarantor to make any payment required under the Guaranty;
(o) any material provision of any Loan Document for any reason ceases to be valid, binding, and enforceable in accordance with its terms (or the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing, or engage in any action or inaction based on any such assertion, that any provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or otherwise is not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms) except (i) as permitted by, or as a result of a transaction not prohibited by, the Loan Documents (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 6.03) or (ii) as a result of the satisfaction of the Obligations or Termination Conditions; or
(p) any material Collateral Document shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof, or any Loan Party shall so assert in writing, or any Lien created by any such Collateral Document shall cease to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority purported to be created thereby, except (i) as a result of the satisfaction of the Obligations or Termination Conditions or (ii) to the extent that (x) any such loss of perfection or priority results solely from (A) the Administrative Agent no longer having possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under any Collateral Document or (B) a Uniform Commercial Code filing having lapsed because a Uniform Commercial Code continuation statement (or similar statements or filings in other jurisdictions) was not filed in a timely manner and (y) the Loan Parties take such action as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to remedy such loss of perfection or priority;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments (including the Letter of Credit Commitments of each Issuing Bank), and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable),
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and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower, and (iii) require cash collateral for the LC Exposure in accordance with Section 2.06(j) hereof and (iv) the Administrative Agent may, or at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks all rights and remedies available to it; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding and cash collateral for the LC Exposure, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may, or at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks all rights and remedies available to it. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC.
In addition to any other rights and remedies granted to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties may exercise all rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC or any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law referred to below) to or upon any Loan Party or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived by the Borrower on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries), may in such circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, or consent to the use by any Loan Party of any cash collateral arising in respect of the Collateral on such terms as the Administrative Agent deems reasonable, and/or may forthwith sell, lease, assign give an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of and deliver, or acquire by credit bid on behalf of the Lenders, the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or elsewhere, upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery, all without assumption of any credit risk. The Administrative Agent or any Lender shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in any Loan Party, which right or equity is hereby waived and released by the Borrower on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries. The Borrower further agrees on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, at the Administrative Agent’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Administrative Agent at places which the Administrative Agent shall reasonably select, whether at the premises of the Borrower, another Loan Party or elsewhere. The Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Article VII, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred in connection therewith or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any other way relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part of the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents, in the order set forth in Section 2.18(b), and only after such application and after the payment by the Administrative Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, including Section 9-615(a)(3) of the UCC, need the Administrative Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Loan Party. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries waives all Liabilities it may acquire against the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. If any notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral
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shall be required by law, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent
SECTION 8.01. Authorization and Action.
(a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Bank authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than within the United States, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby grants to the Administrative Agent any required powers of attorney to execute and enforce any Collateral Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s behalf. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.
(b) As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and each Issuing Bank; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(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
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(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:
(A) the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of any other obligation other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby;
(B) where the Administrative Agent is required or deemed to act as a trustee in respect of any Collateral over which a security interest has been created pursuant to a Loan Document expressed to be governed by the laws of an Approved Guarantor Jurisdiction (other than the United States), or required or deemed to hold any Collateral “on trust” pursuant to the foregoing, the obligations and liabilities to the Administrative Agent to the Secured Parties in its capacity as trustee shall be excluded to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; and
(C) nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account;
(d) The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.
(e) The Arrangers shall not 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 the Arrangers shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.
(f) In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective
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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:
(A) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Disbursements and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(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 proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.03). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.
(g) The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Secured Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.
SECTION 8.02. Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc.
(a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such party, the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf, or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.
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(b) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any (i) notice of any of the events or circumstances set forth or described in Section 5.02 unless and until written notice thereof stating that it is a “notice under Section 5.02” in respect of this Agreement and identifying the specific clause under said Section is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, or (ii) notice of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of Default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank. Further, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any Liabilities, costs or expenses suffered by the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any Lender or any Issuing Bank as a result of, any determination of the Revolving Credit Exposure, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or Issuing Bank, or any exchange rate or Dollar Equivalent.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
SECTION 8.03. Posting of Communications 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, ClearPark or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).
(a) 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 Closing Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and
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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 acknowledge and agree 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.
(b) 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, THE ARRANGERS OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.
“Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.
(c) 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.
(d) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.
SECTION 8.04. The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitment, Loans (including Swingline Loans), Letter of Credit Commitments and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any
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similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.
SECTION 8.05. Successor Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 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. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned and not to be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and, to the extent required, consented to by the Borrower, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank; provided that in no event shall any successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. 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. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor 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 paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Collateral Document and Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Collateral Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices
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and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (i) above.
SECTION 8.06. 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) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or Issuing Bank, in each case in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument (and each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers 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, the Arrangers 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 Closing 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 Closing Date.
(c)
(i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the
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Administrative Agent at the greater of the FRBNY Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 8.06(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(ii) Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the FRBNY Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
(iii) The Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party.
(iv) Each party’s obligations under this Section 8.06(c) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.
(d) 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 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 and/or its Affiliates acting in different capacities, including as Lender, lead bank, arranger or potential securities investor, independent of such entities’ role as administrative agent hereunder. The Lenders acknowledge that neither JPMorgan 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 or in any other Loan Document, 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
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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.
SECTION 8.07. Collateral Matters.
(a) Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.08 or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the 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.
(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 under any Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Secured Party that is a party to any Banking Services Agreement or Swap Agreement in respect of Swap Obligations, as applicable, shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph.
(c) The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02(b). The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.
SECTION 8.08. Credit Bidding. The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the
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equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid, (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 9.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership interests, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.
SECTION 8.09. Subordination Arrangements. Each Lender, on behalf of itself and any of its Affiliates that are Secured Parties, hereby (a) irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to enter into any Subordination Agreement contemplated hereby (and any amendments, amendments and restatements, restatements or waivers of or supplements to or other modifications to, such agreements or arrangements in connection with the incurrence by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness to the extent permitted hereby), and (b) acknowledges and agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any Subordination Agreement entered into in connection herewith or contemplated hereby.
SECTION 8.10. Borrower Communications.
(a) The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks agree that 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”).
(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 Closing Date, a user ID/password authorization system), each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower acknowledge and agree that the distribution of
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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 the Borrower that are added to the Approved Borrower Portal, 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 approve 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 (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER COMMUNICATION, 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 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE ARRANGERS OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF THE BORROWER’S TRANSMISSION OF BORROWER COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED BORROWER PORTAL, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES, DAMAGES OR EXPENSES ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH APPLICABLE PARTY; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY APPLICABLE PARTY HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, LENDER, ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (AS OPPOSED TO DIRECT OR ACTUAL DAMAGES).
“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 the Borrower 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.
(d) Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower agree 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 IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01. Notices.
(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy or e-mail, as set forth on Schedule 9.01.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through Approved Electronic Platforms or Approved Borrower Portals, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).
(b) Notices and other communications to the Borrower, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Approved Electronic Platforms or Approved Borrower Portals (as applicable), in each case, pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in their 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.
(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” or “read receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(d) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments.
(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall
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be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
(b) Except as provided in Section 2.20 with respect to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment or pursuant to any fee letter entered into by the Borrower in connection with this Agreement (which may be amended by the parties thereto) and subject to Section 2.14(b), (c) and (d) and clauses (c) and (f) below, neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby ((x) other than any reduction of any rate of interest accrued pursuant to Section 2.13(d) and (y) except that any amendment or modification of the financial covenants in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (ii)), (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (other than any reduction of the amount of, or any extension of the payment date for, the mandatory prepayments required under Section 2.11, in each case which shall only require the approval of the Required Lenders), (iv) change Section 2.09(c) or 2.18(b) or (d) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction of Commitments or the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby or the waterfall provisions thereof, as the case may be, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (it being understood that, solely with the consent of the parties prescribed by Section 2.20 to be parties to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment, Incremental Term Loans may be included in the determination of Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Commitments and the Revolving Loans are included on the Closing Date), (vi) release all or substantially all of the Guarantors from their obligations under the Guaranty, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender, (vii) except as provided in clause (d) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender, (viii) change the payment waterfall provisions of Section 2.21(b) without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby or (ix) without the prior written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, except as otherwise expressly permitted in the Loan Documents (as in effect on the Closing Date), any express subordination of the Obligations hereunder in right of payment to any other indebtedness or any subordination of the liens on all or substantially all of the Collateral securing the Obligations to any other lien on such Collateral securing any other indebtedness (any such other indebtedness, the “Senior Indebtedness”), unless each Lender is offered the bona fide opportunity to provide its pro rata share of such Senior Indebtedness and the terms of such Senior Indebtedness, on the date it is actually incurred, are in all material respects substantially equivalent to the terms on which the Lenders were offered the opportunity to provide such Senior Indebtedness; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be (it being understood that any change to Section 2.21 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender); provided further that no such agreement shall amend
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or modify the provisions of Section 2.06 or any letter of credit application, Letter of Credit Agreement and any bilateral agreement between any Borrower and any Issuing Bank regarding the respective rights and obligations between the Borrower and such Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Bank, respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly affected by such amendment, waiver or other modification.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (x) to add one or more credit facilities (in addition to the Incremental Term Loans pursuant to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment) to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Revolving Loans, Incremental Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Lenders.
(d) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, to release, and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to release, any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of all the Commitments, payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations), and the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations under clause (a) of the definition thereof in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Borrower certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), (iii) constituting property leased to the Borrower or any Subsidiary under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or (iv) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VII. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral. In addition, each of the Lenders, on behalf of itself and any of its Affiliates that are Secured Parties, irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, (i) to subordinate any Lien on any assets granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02(e) or Section 6.02(f) or (ii) in the event that the Borrower shall have advised the Administrative Agent that, notwithstanding the use by the Borrower of commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of such holder (but without the requirement to pay any sums to obtain such consent) to permit the Administrative Agent to retain its liens (on a subordinated basis as contemplated by clause (i) above), the holder of such other Indebtedness requires, as a condition to the extension of such credit, that the Liens on such assets granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document be released, to release the Administrative Agent’s Liens on such assets.
(e) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender directly affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently
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with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity (other than any Ineligible Institution) which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, and (ii) the Borrower shall pay or cause to be paid to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) the outstanding principal amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17 and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed or otherwise entered into 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 (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency.
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary external counsel and one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facility provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit by such Issuing Bank or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit; provided that, for purposes of this clause (iii), the Borrower shall only be required to pay the fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary external counsel for the Administrative Agent and all Lenders and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel for the Administrative Agent and all Lenders in each relevant jurisdiction (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) or, solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest between the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
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where the Lenders affected by such conflict inform the Borrower of such conflict, one additional primary external counsel and one additional local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of similarly situated affected Lenders.
(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, 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 expenses, including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary external counsel for all Indemnitees (and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel for all Indemnitees in each relevant jurisdiction (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) or, solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest between any of the Indemnitees where the Indemnitees affected by such conflict inform the Borrower of such conflict, one additional primary external counsel and one additional local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of similarly situated affected Indemnitees), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, (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 action taken in connection with this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the payment of principal, interest and fees, (iv) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (v) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (vi) any actual or prospective Proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such Proceeding is brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party or its 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 nonappealable judgment to have resulted from (x) bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or such Indemnitee’s Related Parties, (y) without limiting clause (z) below, a material breach by such Indemnitee of its express obligations under this Agreement pursuant to a claim initiated by the Borrower or any other Loan Party (as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) or (z) any dispute among Indemnitees or their Related Parties that does not arise from any act or omission of the Borrower or its Affiliates (other than claims against the Administrative Agent, any Arrangers or any of the Lenders in its capacity as an agent, arranger, bookrunner, Issuing Bank, Swingline Lender or similar capacity). This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.
(c) Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by the Borrower under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 9.03 to the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Agent Indemnitee”), in each case, to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so, ratably according to their respective Applicable Percentage in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Applicable Percentage immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all Liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the
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transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent Indemnitee under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that the unreimbursed expense or Liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in its capacity as such; provided further that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such Liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waive, any claim against any Indemnitee 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).
(e) No Indemnitee nor the Borrower nor any of its Related Parties shall have any Liabilities, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that nothing in this Section 9.03(e) shall relieve the Borrower or any Loan Party of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee, as provided in Section 9.03(b), against any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.
(f) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than fifteen (15) days after written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns.
(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b)
(i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its 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, delayed or conditioned) of
(A) the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof); provided, further, that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for (x) an
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assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee or (y) any assignment made to a lender reasonably acceptable to the Borrower in connection with the primary syndication of the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement and during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date separately agreed by the Borrower and the Arrangers;
(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of any Commitment to an assignee that is a Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) with a Commitment immediately prior to giving effect to such assignment;
(C) each Issuing Bank; and
(D) the Swingline Lender.
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $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;
(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;
(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders; and
(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.
For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the terms “Approved Fund” and “Ineligible Institution” have the following meanings:
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“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Ineligible Institution” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, (d) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof and (e) each other Person identified below:
(i) those Persons identified in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Arrangers on or prior to the Closing Date, including any such Person that the Borrower has determined (which determination shall be conclusive) is a competitor of the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries;
(ii) competitors of the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries identified in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date; and
(iii) any Affiliate of a Person described in the preceding clauses (i) or (ii) that (in each case, other than any Affiliates that are banks, financial institutions, bona fide debt funds or investment vehicles that are engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course (except to the extent separately identified under clauses (i) or (ii) above)), in each case, is either reasonably identifiable as such on the basis of its name or is identified as such in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower (A) to the Arrangers on or prior to the Closing Date, or (B) to the Administrative Agent from time to time after the Closing Date.
The Administrative Agent shall be permitted to disclose the list of Ineligible Institutions set forth in clause (e) of the definition thereof to any Lender upon request by such Lender and, subject to Section 9.12, Lenders shall be permitted to disclose the list of Ineligible Institutions set forth in clause (e) of the definition thereof to prospective assignees and participants. The Borrower, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, may from time to time in its sole discretion permanently of temporarily remove any entity from the list of Ineligible Institutions set forth in clause (e) of the definition thereof, and such entity permanently removed from the list of Ineligible Institutions set forth in clause (e) of the definition thereof shall no longer be an Ineligible Institution for any purpose under any Loan Document, unless subsequently identified in writing in accordance with this definition. The Administrative Agent shall have no duty to ascertain, monitor, or enforce compliance with the list of Ineligible Institutions set forth in clause (e) of the definition thereof. The Borrower shall deliver the list of competitors described in clause (e) the definition of “Ineligible Institutions” and any modifications thereto to the Administrative Agent via email to [email protected]. If such list or any modifications thereto are (i) not delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the foregoing sentence then such list or such update, as applicable, shall be deemed not received by the Administrative Agent and shall not be effective or (ii) delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the foregoing sentence then such list or such update, as applicable, shall become effective three (3) Business Days following receipt of such list, but shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any Persons that have previously acquired or entered into a trade for a participation interest in, or taken an assignment of, any Loans or Commitments, or who was designated a competitor of the Borrower before such designation was made available to the Lenders on an Approved Electronic Platform.
(iv) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the
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assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.
(v) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive 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.
(vi) Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
(c) Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities other than an Ineligible Institution (a “Participant”), in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged; (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations; and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant,
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agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 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 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided that 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 the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(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 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.
SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.
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SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to (i) fees payable to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers and (ii) the reductions or increases of the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 9.01), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic Signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower and each Loan Party hereby (i) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Borrower and the Loan Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (ii) the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (iii) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (iv) waives any claim against any Lender Related Person for any Liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page,
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including any Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower and/or any Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.
SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of 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 hereof or thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Secured Party is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final and in whatever currency denominated) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Secured Party to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any Guarantor against any of and all of the Secured Obligations held by such Secured Party, irrespective of whether or not such Secured Party shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of a Secured Party different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or other obligations; 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 2.21 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. The rights of each Secured Party under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Secured Party may have. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER CASED IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE AND WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
(b) Each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, notwithstanding the governing law provisions of any applicable Loan Document, any claims brought against the Administrative Agent by any Lender or Secured Party relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Collateral or the consummation or administration of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(c) Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan) and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan
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Document or the transactions relating thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such Federal (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(d) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(e) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
(f) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers the Borrower as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service and of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any such action or proceeding and the Borrower hereby accepts such designation and appointment.
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; Reference Proceeding. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and who are subject to customary confidentiality obligations of professional practice or who agree to be bound by the terms of this
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paragraph (or language substantially similar to this paragraph) (with such Credit Party being responsible for such Person’s compliance with this paragraph)), (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 applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (1) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (2) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to (1) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facility provided for herein or (2) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the credit facility provided for herein, (h) with the prior written consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (1) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (2) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower and the Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or its or their business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry. 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 THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWER OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 9.12 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
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extent that any such prohibition on disclosure set forth in this Section 9.12 shall be prohibited by the laws or regulations applicable to such Regulatory Authority.
SECTION 9.13. USA PATRIOT Act and Beneficial Ownership. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the Patriot Act and Beneficial Ownership Regulation hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act and Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act and Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
SECTION 9.14. 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.
SECTION 9.15. Releases of Guarantors.
(a) A Guarantor (other than the Borrower) shall automatically be released from its obligations under the Guaranty upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement as a result of which such Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary; provided that (x) if so required by this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction and the terms of such consent shall not have provided otherwise and (y) no Guarantor which ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower after the Closing Date as a result of the disposition of less than all of such Guarantor’s Equity Interests shall be released pursuant to this clause (a) unless such disposition is made in good faith to a bona fide unaffiliated third party and for bona fide business purposes. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to) execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.
(b) Further, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to), upon the request of the Borrower, release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Guarantor is no longer a Material Domestic Subsidiary.
(c) At such time as the principal and interest on the Loans, all LC Disbursements, the fees, expenses and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents and the other Secured Obligations (other than Banking Services Obligations, Swap Obligations, and other Obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination) shall have been paid in full in cash, the Commitments shall have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Guaranty and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of each Guarantor thereunder shall automatically terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person.
SECTION 9.16. 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
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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 FRBNY Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
SECTION 9.17. 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. Each Borrower agrees that it will not assert any claim against any Credit Party based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by such Credit Party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Additionally, each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that no Credit Party is advising the Borrower as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction. Each Borrower shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Loan Documents, and the Credit Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to either Borrower with respect thereto.
(b) The Borrower further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party 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 it may have commercial or other relationships. With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Credit Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.
(c) In addition, 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 or its Subsidiaries 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.
SECTION 9.18. Acknowledgment 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:
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(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 9.19. 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, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement;
(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, and the conditions for exemptive relief thereunder are and will continue to be satisfied in connection therewith;
(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) and (k) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement; or
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(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).
SECTION 9.20. Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
SECTION 9.21. Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such
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sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).
[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.
| NEUTRON HOLDINGS, INC., | |||||||||||
| as the Borrower | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Ann Gugino | ||||||||||
| Name: | Ann Gugino | ||||||||||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., | |||||||||||
| as Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, a | |||||||||||
| Lender, and an Issuing Bank | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Alexander Freedman | ||||||||||
| Name: | Alexander Freedman | ||||||||||
| Title: | Authorized Signer | ||||||||||
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
| CITIZENS BANK, N.A., as a Lender and as an Issuing Bank | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Martin Rohan | ||||||||||
| Name: | Martin Rohan | ||||||||||
| Title: | Senior Vice President | ||||||||||
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
| GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Lender and as an Issuing Bank | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Dan Starr | ||||||||||
| Name: | Dan Starr | ||||||||||
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | ||||||||||
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender and as an Issuing Bank | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Michael Pettigrew | ||||||||||
| Name: | Michael Pettigrew | ||||||||||
| Title: | Vice President | ||||||||||
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
| Citibank, N.A., as a Lender and as an Issuing Bank | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Shek Kablan | ||||||||||
| Name: | Shek Kablan | ||||||||||
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | ||||||||||
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
| Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as a Lender | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Minxiao Tian | ||||||||||
| Name: | Minxiao Tian | ||||||||||
| Title: | Director | ||||||||||
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]