MTZ 8-K
Mastec Inc (MTZ)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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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:
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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 |
Amendment and Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement
On June 26, 2025, MasTec, Inc. (the “Company”) and MasTec North America, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company (“MasTec North America”) entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”), by and among the Company and MasTec North America, as borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer, and the other lenders party thereto. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Credit Agreement (the “Existing Credit Agreement”), dated as of November 1, 2021, by and among the Company and MasTec North America, as borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer, and the other lenders party thereto. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for a revolving credit facility of an aggregate amount of $1.9 billion (the “Amended and Restated Facility”), (ii) terminates the term loans in the aggregate principal outstanding amount of approximately $328.0 million thereunder, (iii) extends the maturity to five years from the closing date, (iv) eliminates certain restrictions on the ability of the Company to make distributions or repurchase capital stock, and certain other negative covenants, and (v) eliminates the requirement of the Company to maintain a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio.
Outstanding loans under the Amended and Restated Facility bear interest, at the Company’s option, at a rate equal to either (a) Term SOFR, Overnight TIIE, or Term CORRA Rate, in each case as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, plus a margin of 1.125% to 1.625%, or (b) Base Rate (defined below), plus a margin of 0.125% to 0.625%. The Base Rate equals the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate, as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of America’s prime rate, and (iii) Term SOFR plus 1.00%. In each of the foregoing cases, the applicable margin is based on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio and Debt Rating, each as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as of the most recent fiscal quarter. The other terms and conditions of the Existing Credit Agreement remain substantially unchanged.
The lenders and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research and principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Some of the lenders and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with the Company or its affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
The above description of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
New Term Loan Agreement
On June 26, 2025, the Company and MasTec North America entered into a new senior unsecured term loan agreement (the “New Term Loan Agreement”) by and among the Company and MasTec North America, as borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto, which provides for a $600.0 million term loan (the “New Term Loan Facility”). Borrowings under the New Term Loan Facility are to be used to repay in full the aggregate principal amount of approximately $277.5 million of term loans outstanding under that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2022, by and among the Company and MasTec North America, as borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto, and for general corporate purposes.
The New Term Loan Facility will mature on the three year anniversary of the closing date, and loans thereunder are not subject to amortization.
Outstanding loans under the New Term Loan Facility bear interest, at the Company’s option, at a rate equal to either (a) Term SOFR, as defined in the New Term Loan Agreement, plus a margin of 1.00% to 1.50%, or (b) Base Rate (defined below), plus a margin of 0.00% to 0.50%. The Base Rate equals the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate,
as defined in the New Term Loan Agreement, plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of America’s prime rate, and (iii) Term SOFR plus 1.00%. In each of the foregoing cases, the applicable margin is based on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio and Debt Rating, each as defined in the New Term Loan Agreement, as of the most recent fiscal quarter.
The obligations under the New Term Loan Agreement are not guaranteed and are not secured by any assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The New Term Loan Agreement requires the Company to maintain a Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as defined in the New Term Loan Agreement, of not more than 3.50:1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter (subject to the Acquisition Adjustment described below). The New Term Loan Facility provides that, for purposes of calculating the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, funded indebtedness excludes undrawn standby performance letters of credit included in the calculation of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (as defined in the New Term Loan Agreement). Additionally, notwithstanding the terms discussed above, subject to certain conditions, if a permitted acquisition or series of permitted acquisitions having consideration exceeding $200.0 million occurs during a fiscal quarter, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio may be temporarily increased to up to 4.00:1.00 during such fiscal quarter and the subsequent four fiscal quarters (the “Acquisition Adjustment”). Subject to customary exceptions, the New Term Loan Agreement limits the borrowers’ ability to engage in certain activities, including but not limited to acquisitions, mergers and consolidations, debt incurrence, investments, asset sales, and lien incurrence. The New Term Loan Agreement provides for customary events of default and carries cross-default provisions with the Company’s other significant debt instruments, including the Company’s indemnity agreement with its surety provider, as well as customary remedies, including the acceleration of repayment of outstanding amounts.
The lenders and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research and principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Some of the lenders and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with the Company or its affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
The above description of the New Term Loan Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
| Item 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The information set forth above under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit |
Description | |
| 10.1* | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2025, by and among MasTec, Inc. and MasTec North America, Inc. as Borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and the other lenders party thereto. | |
| 10.2* | Term Loan Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2025, by and among MasTec, Inc. and MasTec North America, Inc., as Borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |
| * | Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| MASTEC, INC. | ||||||
| Date: June 27, 2025 | By: | /s/ Alberto de Cardenas | ||||
| Alberto de Cardenas | ||||||
| Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||||||
Exhibit 10.1
Execution Version
Published CUSIP Number: 57632EAY1
Published Committed (USD) Facility CUSIP Number: 57632EBC8
Published Committed (MC) Facility CUSIP Number: 57632EAZ8
Florida documentary stamp tax required by law in the amount of $2,450 has been paid or will
be paid directly to the Department of Revenue. Certificate of Registration No. 26-8000694050-8.
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 26, 2025
among
MASTEC, INC.
and
MASTEC NORTH AMERICA, INC.,
as Borrowers,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer,
and
THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC,
TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
and
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
TRUIST BANK,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Co-Syndication Agents
| ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS | 1 | |||||||
|
|
1.01 |
Defined Terms | 1 | |||||
| 1.02 |
Other Interpretive Provisions | 41 | ||||||
| 1.03 |
Accounting Terms | 42 | ||||||
| 1.04 |
Rounding | 43 | ||||||
| 1.05 |
Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents | 43 | ||||||
| 1.06 |
Change of Currency | 44 | ||||||
| 1.07 |
Times of Day | 44 | ||||||
| 1.08 |
Letter of Credit Amounts | 44 | ||||||
| 1.09 |
Making Calculations on a Pro Forma Basis | 44 | ||||||
| 1.10 |
Interest Rates; Licenses | 44 | ||||||
| 1.11 |
Currency Equivalents Generally | 45 | ||||||
| 1.12 |
Limited Condition Transactions | 45 | ||||||
| ARTICLE II. COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS | 47 | |||||||
| 2.01 |
Loans | 47 | ||||||
| 2.02 |
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans | 48 | ||||||
| 2.03 |
Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances | 50 | ||||||
| 2.04 |
Swing Line Loans | 63 | ||||||
| 2.05 |
Prepayments | 66 | ||||||
| 2.06 |
Termination or Reduction of Commitments | 67 | ||||||
| 2.07 |
Repayment of Loans | 67 | ||||||
| 2.08 |
Interest | 68 | ||||||
| 2.09 |
Fees | 69 | ||||||
| 2.10 |
Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate | 70 | ||||||
| 2.11 |
Evidence of Debt | 70 | ||||||
| 2.12 |
Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback | 71 | ||||||
| 2.13 |
Sharing of Payments by Lenders | 73 | ||||||
| 2.14 |
Company as Borrowing Agent; Joint and Several Liability | 74 | ||||||
| 2.15 |
Incremental Increases | 77 | ||||||
| 2.16 |
Cash Collateral | 80 | ||||||
| 2.17 |
Defaulting Lenders | 81 | ||||||
| 2.18 |
Extensions of Maturity Date | 84 | ||||||
| 2.19 |
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries | 86 | ||||||
| ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY | 87 | |||||||
| 3.01 |
Taxes | 87 | ||||||
| 3.02 |
Illegality | 93 | ||||||
| 3.03 |
Inability to Determine Rates | 94 | ||||||
| 3.04 |
Increased Costs | 97 | ||||||
| 3.05 |
Compensation for Losses | 99 | ||||||
| 3.06 |
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 100 | ||||||
| 3.07 |
Survival | 100 | ||||||
i
| ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS | 100 | |||||||
| 4.01 | Conditions to Closing Date | 100 | ||||||
| 4.02 | Conditions to all Credit Extensions | 103 | ||||||
| ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 104 | |||||||
| 5.01 | Existence, Qualification and Power | 104 | ||||||
| 5.02 | Authorization; No Contravention | 104 | ||||||
| 5.03 | Governmental Authorization; Other Consents | 104 | ||||||
| 5.04 | Binding Effect | 104 | ||||||
| 5.05 | Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect | 105 | ||||||
| 5.06 | Litigation | 105 | ||||||
| 5.07 | No Default | 106 | ||||||
| 5.08 | Ownership of Property; Liens | 106 | ||||||
| 5.09 | Environmental Compliance | 106 | ||||||
| 5.10 | Insurance | 106 | ||||||
| 5.11 | Taxes | 106 | ||||||
| 5.12 | ERISA Compliance | 106 | ||||||
| 5.13 | Subsidiaries; Equity Interests | 108 | ||||||
| 5.14 | Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act | 108 | ||||||
| 5.15 | Disclosure | 108 | ||||||
| 5.16 | Compliance with Laws | 109 | ||||||
| 5.17 | Taxpayer Identification Number; Other Identifying Information | 109 | ||||||
| 5.18 | Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. | 109 | ||||||
| 5.19 | Solvency | 109 | ||||||
| 5.20 | Casualty, Etc. | 109 | ||||||
| 5.21 | Labor Matters | 110 | ||||||
| 5.22 | [Reserved] | 110 | ||||||
| 5.23 | OFAC; Anti-Corruption Laws | 110 | ||||||
| 5.24 | [Reserved] | 110 | ||||||
| 5.25 | Affected Financial Institution | 110 | ||||||
| 5.26 | Beneficial Ownership Certification | 110 | ||||||
| 5.27 | Covered Entities | 110 | ||||||
| ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 110 | |||||||
| 6.01 | Financial Statements | 110 | ||||||
| 6.02 | Certificates; Other Information | 112 | ||||||
| 6.03 | Notices | 113 | ||||||
| 6.04 | Payment of Obligations | 114 | ||||||
| 6.05 | Preservation of Existence, Etc. | 114 | ||||||
| 6.06 | Maintenance of Properties | 114 | ||||||
| 6.07 | Maintenance of Insurance | 114 | ||||||
| 6.08 | Compliance with Laws | 115 | ||||||
| 6.09 | Books and Records | 115 | ||||||
| 6.10 | Inspection Rights | 115 | ||||||
| 6.11 | Use of Proceeds | 115 | ||||||
| 6.12 | Compliance with Environmental Laws | 115 | ||||||
| 6.13 | Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Sanctions | 116 | ||||||
ii
| ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS | 116 | |||||||
| 7.01 | Liens | 116 | ||||||
| 7.02 | Acquisitions | 118 | ||||||
| 7.03 |
Indebtedness | 118 | ||||||
| 7.04 |
Fundamental Changes | 120 | ||||||
| 7.05 |
Dispositions | 121 | ||||||
| 7.06 |
Change in Nature of Business | 122 | ||||||
| 7.07 |
Transactions with Affiliates | 122 | ||||||
| 7.08 |
Use of Proceeds | 123 | ||||||
| 7.09 |
Consolidated Leverage Ratio | 123 | ||||||
| 7.10 |
Amendments of Organization Documents | 123 | ||||||
| 7.11 |
Fiscal Year | 123 | ||||||
| ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES | 124 | |||||||
| 8.01 | Events of Default | 124 | ||||||
| 8.03 | Application of Funds | 126 | ||||||
| ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 127 | |||||||
| 9.01 | Appointment and Authority | 127 | ||||||
| 9.02 | Rights as a Lender | 128 | ||||||
| 9.03 |
Exculpatory Provisions | 128 | ||||||
| 9.04 |
Reliance by Administrative Agent | 129 | ||||||
| 9.05 |
Delegation of Duties | 129 | ||||||
| 9.06 |
Resignation of Administrative Agent | 130 | ||||||
| 9.07 |
Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent, any Arranger and the Other Lenders | 131 | ||||||
| 9.08 |
No Other Duties, Etc. | 132 | ||||||
| 9.09 |
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 132 | ||||||
| 9.10 |
Certain ERISA Matters | 133 | ||||||
| 9.11 |
Recovery of Erroneous Payments | 134 | ||||||
| ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS | 134 | |||||||
| 10.01 | Amendments, Etc. | 134 | ||||||
| 10.02 | Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication | 136 | ||||||
| 10.03 |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement | 138 | ||||||
| 10.04 |
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 139 | ||||||
| 10.05 |
Payments Set Aside | 142 | ||||||
| 10.06 |
Successors and Assigns | 142 | ||||||
| 10.07 |
Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality | 147 | ||||||
| 10.08 |
Right of Setoff | 148 | ||||||
| 10.09 |
Interest Rate Limitation | 149 | ||||||
| 10.10 |
Integration; Effectiveness | 149 | ||||||
iii
|
|
10.11 |
Survival of Representations and Warranties | 149 | |||||
| 10.12 |
Severability | 149 | ||||||
| 10.13 |
Replacement of Lenders | 150 | ||||||
| 10.14 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. | 151 | ||||||
| 10.15 |
Waiver of Jury Trial | 152 | ||||||
| 10.16 |
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 152 | ||||||
| 10.17 |
Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts | 153 | ||||||
| 10.18 |
USA PATRIOT Act Notice | 154 | ||||||
| 10.19 |
Judgment Currency | 154 | ||||||
| 10.20 |
Designation as Senior Debt | 155 | ||||||
| 10.21 |
Amendment and Restatement; No Novation | 155 | ||||||
| 10.22 |
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 155 | ||||||
| 10.23 |
Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs | 156 |
iv
| ANNEXES | ||
| I |
Existing Letters of Credit | |
| II-A |
Commitments and Applicable Percentages | |
| II-B |
Swing Line Commitments | |
| II-C |
L/C Commitments | |
| SCHEDULES | ||
| 2.10 |
Day Basis for Alternative Currencies | |
| 5.05 |
Supplement to Interim Financial Statements | |
| 5.12(c) |
Closing Date ERISA Events | |
| 5.12(d) |
Closing Date Pension Plans | |
| 5.13 |
Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments | |
| 5.21 |
Labor Matters | |
| 7.01(b) |
Existing Liens | |
| 7.03 |
Existing Indebtedness | |
| 7.08 |
Existing Transactions with Affiliates | |
| 10.02 |
Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices | |
| EXHIBITS | ||
| Form of |
||
| A |
Loan Notice | |
| B |
Swing Line Loan Notice | |
| C |
Note | |
| D |
Compliance Certificate | |
| E |
Assignment and Assumption | |
| F-1 –F-4 |
Tax Compliance Certificates | |
| G |
Bankers’ Acceptance Request | |
| H |
Letter of Credit Report | |
| I |
Notice of Loan Prepayment | |
v
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of June 26, 2025, among MASTEC, INC., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), MASTEC NORTH AMERICA, INC., a Florida corporation (“MasTec NA” and, together with the Company, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each individually a “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and each individually a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto (the “Existing Lenders”) and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which the Existing Lenders have agreed to provide the Borrowers with a term loan facility and certain revolving credit facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed, to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement and extend certain credit facilities to the Borrowers;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“52/53 Week Fiscal Year” means a 52- or 53-week fiscal year, as determined by the Borrowers, where the fourth quarter of each fiscal year ends on or about the end of December or the beginning of January.
“52/53 Week Fiscal Year Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03(d).
“Acceptance Credit” means a commercial Letter of Credit in which the L/C Issuer engages with the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit to accept a time draft.
“Acceptance Documents” means such general acceptance agreements, drafts, applications, certificates and other documents as the L/C Issuer may require in connection with the creation of L/C Issued BAs.
1
“Acquisition” means, by any Person, the acquisition by such Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of (a) more than 50% of the voting Equity Interests of another Person (including the purchase of an option, warrant or convertible or similar type security to acquire such a controlling interest at the time it becomes exercisable by the holder thereof), whether by purchase of such Equity Interest or upon exercise of an option or warrant for, or conversion of securities into, such Equity Interest, or (b) assets of another Person which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person, a division of such Person or a line or lines of business conducted by such Person.
“Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.
“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates) in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Company and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied or approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution, or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
“Aggregate (MC) Commitments” means the MC Commitments of all the Lenders.
“Aggregate (USD) Commitments” means the USD Commitments of all the Lenders.
“Agreed Currency” means Dollars or any Alternative Currency, as applicable.
“Agreement” means this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.
“Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.19.
“Alternative Currency” means each of the following currencies: Canadian Dollars and Mexican Pesos.
“Alternative Currency Daily Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Credit Extension denominated in Mexican Pesos, the rate per annum equal to Overnight TIIE; provided, that, if any Alternative Currency Daily Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement. Any change in an Alternative Currency Daily Rate shall be effective from and including the date of such change without further notice.
2
“Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan” means a Committed (MC) Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the definition of “Alternative Currency Daily Rate.” All Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loans must be denominated in Mexican Pesos.
“Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, by reference to Bloomberg (or such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates), to be the exchange rate for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided, however, that if no such rate is available, the “Alternative Currency Equivalent” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, using any reasonable method of determination its deems appropriate in its sole discretion (and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error).
“Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of the Letter of Credit Sublimit and $250,000,000. The Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Letter of Credit Sublimit.
“Alternative Currency Loan” means an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, as applicable.
“Alternative Currency Term Rate” means, for any Interest Period, with respect to any Credit Extension denominated in Canadian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the forward-looking term rate based on CORRA, as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) (in such case, the “Term CORRA Rate”) on the Rate Determination Date with a term equivalent to such Interest Period plus the Term CORRA Adjustment for such Interest Period; provided, that, if any Alternative Currency Term Rate shall be less than 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for purposes of this Agreement.
“Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan” means a Committed (MC) Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the definition of “Alternative Currency Term Rate.” All Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans must be denominated in Canadian Dollars.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act of 2010, and all other similar applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.
“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any and all laws, statutes, regulations or obligatory government orders, decrees, ordinances or rules related to terrorism financing, money laundering, any predicate crime to money laundering or any financial record keeping, including any applicable provision of the Act and The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act,” 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959).
“Applicable Authority” means, with respect to any Alternative Currency, the applicable administrator for the Relevant Rate for such Alternative Currency or any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator with respect to its publication of the applicable Relevant Rate, in each case acting in such capacity.
3
“Applicable Percentage” means (a) in respect of the Committed (USD) Facility, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate (USD) Commitments represented by such Lender’s USD Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17 and (b) in respect of the Committed (MC) Facility, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate (MC) Commitments represented by such Lender’s MC Commitment at such time. If the commitment of each Lender to make Committed (USD) Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, or if the Aggregate (USD) Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of the Committed (USD) Facility shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender in respect of the Committed (USD) Facility most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. If the commitment of each Lender to make Committed (MC) Loans has been terminated, or if the Aggregate (MC) Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of the Committed (MC) Facility shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender in respect of the Committed (MC) Facility most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of each Facility is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Annex II-A or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
“Applicable (USD) Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage in respect of the Committed (USD) Facility at such time.
“Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below determined by reference to (a) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in, initially, the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(vii) and, from and after the delivery of the first Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a), the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a) and (b) the Debt Rating; provided that (i) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by S&P and Moody’s differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall be used in determining the Applicable Rate (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 4 being the lowest), (ii) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall be used in determining the Applicable Rate, (iii) if the Company has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall be used in determining the Applicable Rate and (iv) if the Company does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 4 shall be used in determining the Applicable Rate; and provided further that if at any time the Consolidated Leverage Ratio corresponds to a Pricing Level that is different than the Pricing Level corresponding to the Debt Rating then in effect, then the Pricing Level resulting in the lower Applicable Rate of such two Pricing Levels shall apply, unless there is a split of more than one Pricing Level in corresponding Pricing Levels, in which case the Pricing Level resulting in the Applicable Rate that is one Pricing Level higher than the lowest Applicable Rate of such two Pricing Levels shall apply (e.g. if the lowest Applicable Rate of such two Pricing Levels was Pricing Level 1, then Pricing Level 2 would apply).
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| Pricing |
Consolidated Leverage Ratio |
Debt Rating |
Commitment Fee |
Term SOFR Loans, Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loans and Letter of Credit Fees (Financial Standby and Commercial) |
BA Fees | Letter of Credit Fees (Performance Standby) |
Base Rate Loans |
|||||||||||||||||
| 1 | < 0.75 to 1.00 | ≥ BBB+ / BAA1 | 0.150 | % | 1.125 | % | 0.625 | % | 0.3125 | % | 0.125 | % | ||||||||||||
| 2 | ≥ 0.75 to 1.00 but < 2.00 to 1.00 |
BBB / BAA2 | 0.175 | % | 1.250 | % | 0.875 | % | 0.4375 | % | 0.250 | % | ||||||||||||
| 3 | ≥ 2.00 to 1.00 but < 3.25 to 1.00 |
BBB- / BAA3 | 0.200 | % | 1.375 | % | 1.125 | % | 0.5625 | % | 0.375 | % | ||||||||||||
| 4 | ≥ 3.25 to 1.00 | ≤ BB+ / BA1 | 0.225 | % | 1.625 | % | 1.375 | % | 0.6875 | % | 0.625 | % | ||||||||||||
Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating will be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change, and any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level 4 shall be used in determining the Applicable Rate as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b).
“Applicable Time” means, with respect to any Borrowings and payments in an Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.
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“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Arrangers” means, collectively, BAS, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Truist Securities, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in each case, in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.
“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 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a Capital Lease and (c) in respect of any Securitization Transaction of any Person, the amount of obligations outstanding on any date of determination that would be characterized as principal if such Securitization Transaction had been structured as a secured loan rather than a sale.
“Attributed Principal Amount” means, on any day, with respect to any Permitted Receivables Transaction entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the aggregate amount (with respect to any such transaction, the “Invested Amount”) paid to, or borrowed by, such Person as of such date under such Permitted Receivables Transaction, minus the aggregate amount received by the applicable Receivables Financier and applied to the reduction of the Invested Amount under such Permitted Receivables Transaction.
“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.
“Availability Period” means (a) in respect of the Committed (USD) Facility, the period from the Closing Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date with respect to such Facility, (ii) the date of termination of the Aggregate (USD) Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Committed (USD) Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02 and (b) in respect of the Committed (MC) Facility, the period from the Closing Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date with respect to such Facility, (ii) the date of termination of the Aggregate (MC) Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Committed (MC) Loans pursuant to Section 8.02.
“BA Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(j).
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“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Bank of America Fee Letter” means the letter agreement dated May 20, 2025, among the Borrowers, Bank of America and BAS.
“Bankers’ Acceptance” or “BA” means a Clean BA or an L/C Issued BA.
“Bankers’ Acceptance Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “bankers’ acceptance rate”. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
“Bankers’ Acceptance Request” means the written request for the issuance of Clean BAs in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G.
“BAS” means BofA Securities, Inc. and its successors.
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate” and (c) Term SOFR plus 1.00%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.
“Base Rate Committed (USD) Loan” means a Committed (USD) Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.
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“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“Borrower” and “Borrowers” each has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Borrowing” means a Committed (USD) Borrowing, a Committed (MC) Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located; provided that (a) if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of an Alternative Currency Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in an Alternative Currency in respect of any such Alternative Currency Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency; and (b) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to an Alternative Currency Loan, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency.
“Canadian Dollar” and “C$” mean the lawful currency of Canada.
“Capital Lease” means each lease that has been or is required to be, in accordance with GAAP, classified and accounted for as a capital lease or financing lease.
“Captive Insurance Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company operating a regulated captive insurance program established in accordance with customary industry practice and permitted by Section 6.07 for the benefit of one or more of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the L/C Issuer and the Committed (USD) Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of Committed (USD) Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to (i) the Administrative Agent and (ii) the L/C Issuer. “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.
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“Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):
(a) Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Colombian Pesos, Mexican Pesos, Pound Sterling, Euros, the national currency of any participating member state of the European Union or, in the case of any Cash Equivalents of a Foreign Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business (including such Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Colombian Pesos, Mexican Pesos, Pound Sterling, Euros or other currency, as applicable, as are held as overnight bank deposits and demand deposits with any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System or is organized under the laws of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (e) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000); provided that the country credit rating of any country issuing such currency shall be BBB- or higher by S&P or an equivalent rating or higher by another generally recognized rating agency providing country credit ratings;
(b) (i) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof or (ii) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by Canada or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that (A) the full faith and credit of Canada or such member of the European Union, as the case may be, is pledged in support thereof, (B) all obligations of the type specified in this clause (ii) shall have a minimum rating of A-1 or AAA by S&P or P-1 or Aaa by Moody’s, in each case at the time of acquisition thereof and (C) the country credit rating of any country issuing or guaranteeing (or whose governmental agency issues or guarantees) any obligation of the type specified in this clause (ii) shall be AA or higher by S&P or an equivalent rating or higher by another generally recognized rating agency providing country credit ratings;
(c) time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System or is organized under the laws of Canada or any country that is a
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member of the European Union or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of Canada or any country that is a member of the European Union and a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (e) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 360 days from the date of acquisition thereof;
(d) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (b) above entered into with any commercial bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above;
(e) commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America and rated at least “Prime-2” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-2” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof;
(f) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any commercial bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above;
(g) [Reserved]; and
(h) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which are administered by financial institutions that have one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P, and have at least 95% of their assets invested continuously in Investments of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a) through (f) of this definition.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
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“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:
(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) other than any Existing Shareholder becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 38% or more of the equity securities of the Company entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Company on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or
(b) during any period of 18 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Company cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body.
“Clean Bankers’ Acceptance” or “Clean BA” means a negotiable time draft drawn on and accepted by the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(a) to finance the purchase of inventory.
“Closing Date” means June 26, 2025.
“CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Commitment” means a MC Commitment or a USD Commitment, as the context may require.
“Committed Borrowing” means a Committed (USD) Borrowing or a Committed (MC) Borrowing.
“Committed (MC) Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed (MC) Loans of the same Type and having the same Interest Period made by each of the Committed (MC) Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(b).
“Committed (USD) Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed (USD) Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Committed (USD) Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
“Committed (MC) Facility” means, at any time, the revolving credit facility provided in this Agreement pursuant to the Aggregate (MC) Commitments.
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“Committed (USD) Facility” means, at any time, the revolving credit facility provided in this Agreement pursuant to the Aggregate (USD) Commitments.
“Committed (MC) Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has an MC Commitment or outstanding Committed (MC) Loans at such time.
“Committed (USD) Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a USD Commitment or outstanding Committed (USD) Loans or participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans at such time.
“Committed Loans” means a Committed (USD) Loan or a Committed (MC) Loan.
“Committed (MC) Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).
“Committed (USD) Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).
“Communication” means this Agreement, any Loan Document and any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to any Loan Document.
“Company” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.
“Conforming Changes” means, with respect to the use, administration of or any conventions associated with SOFR or any proposed Successor Rate or Term SOFR, as applicable, any conforming changes to the definition of “Base Rate”, the definition of “SOFR”, the definition of “Term SOFR”, the definition of “Interest Period”, the definition of “CORRA”, the definition of “Term CORRA Rate”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definitions of “Business Day” and “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods and the day basis for calculating interest for an Agreed Currency listed on Schedule 2.10) as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Company), to reflect the adoption and implementation of such applicable rate(s) and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Company) determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Document).
“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.
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“Consolidated EBITDA” means, subject to Section 1.09, for any period, for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) interest expense for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income Taxes payable by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) charges included in Consolidated Net Income related to purchase accounting adjustments that are as required by FASB ASC Topic 805, (v) charges relating to stock based compensation which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period, (vi) other charges which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period; (vii) expenses incurred in connection with the prepayment, amendment, modification or refinancing of Indebtedness (whether or not consummated) during such period, (viii) any non-capitalized transaction costs incurred during such period in connection with an incurrence of Indebtedness, during a refinancing thereof, issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, Acquisition, Disposition or recapitalization, in each case, to the extent permitted hereunder (whether or not consummated), (ix) tender premiums, redemption premiums, fees, and other amounts and expenses incurred in connection with the tender for and/or redemption of Indebtedness incurred under Section 7.03(r), (x) earn-out expenses resulting from Permitted Acquisitions in which the Company and/or any Restricted Subsidiary is required to treat such earn-out expenses as compensation costs, (xi) expenses arising from the impact of FASB ASC 470-50-40 on certain capitalized fees and costs, (xii) any net loss incurred in such period from Swap Contracts and the application of FASB ASC Topic 815, (xiii) any net loss incurred in such period from currency translation losses, (xiv) any loss from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments and (xv) (A) other non-recurring or unusual charges and (B) cash charges paid in connection with corporate restructurings (including severance costs in connection with any reduction in the workforce of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries); provided that the charges described in this clause (xv) together with any adjustments made pursuant to Section 1.09 shall only be permitted to be added back for such period to the extent such charges collectively do not increase Consolidated EBITDA by more than 20%; and minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income Tax credits of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, (ii) any net gain incurred in such period from Swap Contracts and the application of FASB ASC Topic 815, (iii) any net gain incurred in such period from currency translation gains, (iv) any gain from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments and (v) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period.
“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds (other than surety bonds), debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, and similar instruments (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the due and payable penal sum under any surety bond called upon by the obligee thereof but excluding the penal sum of any surety bond not then due and payable), (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and Securitization Transactions, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and
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(g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, subject to Section 1.09, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the difference of (i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date (but excluding, to the extent outstanding and undrawn and included in the calculation of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness, the stated amount of all standby performance letters of credit as of such date) minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash as of such date, to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended.
“Consolidated Net Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the amount which in accordance with GAAP would be set forth under the caption “Total Assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries less current liabilities, as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) (or, prior to the first delivery thereof, the financial statements described in Section 5.05(b)).
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the amount which in accordance with GAAP would be set forth under the caption “Total Assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries less Intangible Assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) (or, prior to the first delivery thereof, the financial statements described in Section 5.05(b)).
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for that period, but excluding: (a) any gain or loss arising from the sale of capital assets; (b) any gain or loss arising from any write-up or write-down of assets or liabilities during such period; (c) any portion of the net earnings of any Subsidiary which for any reason is unavailable for payment of distributions to a Borrower; (d) any gain or loss arising from the acquisition of any Equity Interests of a Borrower; and (e) any income (or loss) for such period of any Person if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period shall be included in Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (and in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Restricted Subsidiary, such Restricted Subsidiary is not precluded from further distributing such amount to a Borrower as described in the preceding clause (c)), all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the amount which in accordance with GAAP would be set forth under the caption “Total Assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) (or, prior to the first delivery thereof, the financial statements described in Section 5.05(b)).
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“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“CORRA” means the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average administered and published by the Bank of Canada (or any successor administrator).
“Covered Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 10.23(b).
“Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.
“Daily Simple SOFR” with respect to any applicable determination date means the SOFR published on such date on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source).
“Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating (but not merely a change in outlook/watch) as determined by either S&P or Moody’s of the Company’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees and BA Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Term SOFR Loan or an Alternative Currency Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum and (c) when used with respect to BA Fees, a rate equal to (i) the Bankers’ Acceptance Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate plus (iii) 2% per annum.
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“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.17(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptances or Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Company, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Company, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Company that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Company), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity, or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.17(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Company, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.
“Designated Jurisdiction” means any country, region or territory to the extent that such country, region or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
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“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 or the L/C Issuer, as applicable) by the applicable Bloomberg source (or such other publicly available source for displaying exchange rates) on date that is two (2) Business Days immediately preceding the date of determination (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 or the L/C Issuer, as applicable 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 or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion. Any determination by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer pursuant to clauses (b) or (c) above shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
“Domestic Restricted Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“Earnout Obligation” means those contingent obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred in favor of a seller (or other third party entitled thereto) under or with respect to any Permitted Acquisition.
“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 entity.
“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 Copy” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.17.
“Electronic Record” and “Electronic Signature” shall have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, by 15 USC §7006, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Elevated Ratio Period” has the meaning specified in Section 7.09.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).
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“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, common law, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, written and binding agreements with Governmental Authorities or governmental restrictions relating to pollution, the protection of the environment, human health, safety or natural resources or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.
“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination (provided, however that debt securities that are or by their terms may be convertible or exchangeable into or for Equity Interests shall not constitute Equity Interests prior to conversion or exchange thereof).
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which constitutes grounds
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under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
“Euro” and “€” mean the single currency of the Participating Member States.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to, or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to, the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower hereunder, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), net worth, franchise Taxes and branch profits (or similar) Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender or the L/C Issuer, in which its applicable Lending Office is located or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Company under Section 10.13), any United States withholding Tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender’s assignor immediately before such Foreign Lender became a party hereto (or such Foreign Lender immediately before the time of designation of the new Lending Office) was entitled to receive additional amounts from the relevant Borrower with respect to such United States withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii), Section 3.01(a)(iii) or Section 3.01(c), or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability to comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(e)(ii) (other than as a result of a Change in Law occurring after the date on which such Foreign Lender became a party to this Agreement), (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any increase in the United States withholding Taxes required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender occurring after the date on which such Foreign Lender became a party hereto (or designated a new Lending Office), other than as a result of a Change in Law occurring after the date on which such Foreign Lender became a party hereto (or designated a new Lending Office) (d) any United States Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, and (e) any United States Federal backup withholding Tax.
“Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Existing Lenders” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Existing Letters of Credit” means those letters of credit described on Annex I.
“Existing Shareholders” means Jorge L. Mas and the Family Related Parties.
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“Extended MC Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a)(ii).
“Extended USD Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a)(ii).
“Extending Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a)(ii).
“Extension” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).
“Extension Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).
“Facility” means the Committed (USD) Facility or the Committed (MC) Facility, as the context may require.
“Family Related Parties” means, collectively, (a) any spouse of Jorge L. Mas, Jorge Mas or Jose R. Mas and any child, stepchild, sibling or descendant of Jorge L. Mas, Jorge Mas or Jose R. Mas, (b) the estate of Jorge L. Mas, Jorge Mas and Jose R. Mas and the estate of any other person under preceding clause (a), (c) any person who receives a direct or indirect beneficial interest in the Company from any estate under preceding clause (b) to the extent of such interest, (d) any executor, personal administrator or trustee who holds such direct or indirect beneficial interest in the Company for the benefit of, or as fiduciary for, any person under preceding clause (a), (b) or (c) to the extent of such interest and (e) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, or similar entity, directly or indirectly owned or controlled by Jorge L. Mas, Jorge Mas, Jose R. Mas or any other person or persons identified in preceding clause (a), (b) or (c).
“FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the 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 thereunder or any official interpretations thereof, and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or official practices adopted pursuant to any published intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such sections of the Code.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Fee Letters” means, collectively, the Bank of America Fee Letter and each other fee letter between the Company (or the Borrowers) and an Arranger and/or an Affiliate of such Arranger entered into in connection with this Agreement.
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“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (including such a Lender when acting in the capacity of the L/C Issuer).
“Foreign Restricted Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Committed (USD) Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Committed (USD) Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied, subject to Section 1.03(b).
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness, or
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(iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated or subject to liability pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(d)(i).
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company then having assets with a book value of less than $10,000,000; provided, that if the aggregate book value of the assets of all Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that would otherwise constitute Immaterial Subsidiaries shall exceed $50,000,000, only those such Restricted Subsidiaries having assets with a book value of less than $5,000,000 shall be deemed to constitute Immaterial Subsidiaries.
“Increase Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(e).
“Incremental Amendment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(d).
“Incremental Increases” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
“Incremental Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(c).
“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:
(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;
(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;
(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;
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(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and, in each case, not past due for more than 90 days after the date on which such trade account payable was created or which are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established and reported in accordance with GAAP);
(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;
(f) all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and Securitization Transactions of such Person;
(g) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and
(h) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.
For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.
“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 Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Indemnity Agreement” means (i) that certain General Agreement of Indemnity dated as of August 19, 2010 by and among Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, the Company and certain Subsidiaries thereof, (ii) that certain General Agreement of Indemnity dated as of July 31, 2008 by and among Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, the Company and certain Subsidiaries thereof or (iii) any additional or replacement General Agreement of Indemnity or other indemnity agreement by and among the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the applicable Surety containing terms satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent, as amended or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Intangible Assets” means assets that are considered to be intangible assets under GAAP, including customer lists, goodwill, computer software, copyrights, trade names, trademarks, patents, franchises, licenses, unamortized deferred charges, unamortized debt discount and capitalized research and development costs.
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“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Term SOFR Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Term SOFR Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates, (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made, (c) as to any Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, the last business day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made, and (d) as to any Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates.
“Interest Period” means, as to each Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan and ending (a) in the case of a Term SOFR Loan, on the date that is one, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability for the interest rate applicable to the relevant currency), as selected by the Company in its Loan Notice and (b) in the case of an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars, on the date that is one or three months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability for the interest rate applicable to the relevant currency), as selected by the Company in its Loan Notice (in each case, subject to availability for the interest rate applicable to the relevant currency), as selected by the Company in its Loan Notice; provided that:
(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Term SOFR Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Term SOFR Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.
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“Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.
“IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.18.
“ISP” means the International Standby Practices International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).
“Issuer Documents” means (i) with respect to any Letter of Credit or Acceptance Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and the Company (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit or Acceptance Credit, and (ii) with respect to any Clean BA, the Bankers’ Acceptance Request made by the Company to the L/C Issuer relating to such Clean BA.
“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.19.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.
“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Committed (USD) Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable (USD) Percentage. All L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.
“L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from (i) a drawing under any Letter of Credit (other than an Acceptance Credit) or (ii) a payment of a Bankers’ Acceptance upon presentation, in each case which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Committed (USD) Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.
“L/C Commitment” means, with respect to the L/C Issuer, the commitment of the L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder. The initial amount of the L/C Issuer’s Letter of Credit Commitment is set forth on Annex II-C, or if an L/C Issuer 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 L/C Issuer as its Letter of Credit Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent. The Letter of Credit Commitment of the L/C Issuer may be modified from time to time by agreement between the L/C Issuer and the Company, and notified to the Administrative Agent.
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“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
“L/C Issued BA” means a negotiable time draft, drawn by the beneficiary under an Acceptance Credit and accepted by the L/C Issuer under presentation of documents by the beneficiary of an Acceptance Credit pursuant to Section 2.03, in the standard form for bankers’ acceptances of the L/C Issuer.
“L/C Issuer” means, individually or collectively as the context may indicate, (a) Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances hereunder, or any successor to Bank of America in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances hereunder and (b) any other Lender, selected by the Company in consultation with the Administrative Agent, which consents to its appointment by the Company as an issuer of Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances hereunder in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances hereunder, provided that at no time shall there be more than three L/C Issuers without the consent of the Administrative Agent.
“L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit, plus the sum of the maximum aggregate amount which is, or at any time thereafter may become, payable by the L/C Issuer under all then outstanding Bankers’ Acceptances, plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09. 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 Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, unless the context requires otherwise, includes the Swing Line Lender.
“Lender Parties” and “Lender Recipient Parties” mean, collectively, the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Company and the Administrative Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires each reference to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.
“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit (including an Acceptance Credit) or a standby letter of credit. Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.
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“Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer and, in the case of any Acceptance Credit, shall include the related Acceptance Documents.
“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date of the Committed (USD) Facility then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
“Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i).
“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $750,000,000, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, and (b) the Aggregate (USD) Commitments. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate (USD) Commitments.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
“Limited Condition Transaction” means any Permitted Acquisition the consummation of which is not conditioned (under the applicable purchase agreement or other applicable agreement) on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing (as notified by the Company to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the time at which the applicable Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary enters into such purchase agreement or other applicable agreement), which is financed in whole or in part with the proceeds of a substantially concurrent incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 7.03(r).
“Loan” means a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of this Agreement, the Fee Letters, and each Incremental Amendment and any amendments, modifications or supplements hereto or to any other Loan Document or waivers hereof or to any other Loan Document.
“Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed (MC) Borrowing, (b) a Committed (USD) Borrowing, (c) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (d) a continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any reasonable and customary form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent) and as to which the Company shall have previously been informed in writing, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company.
“MasTec NA” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
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“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the Borrowers taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Borrower of any Loan Document to which it is a party.
“Material Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary.
“Maturity Date” means (a) with respect to the Committed (USD) Facility, June 26, 2030 and (b) with respect to the Committed (MC) Facility, June 26, 2030; provided, however, in each case, that if such date is not a Business Day, the applicable Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.
“MC Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Committed (MC) Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(b) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Annex II-A under the caption “MC Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Mexican Pesos” means the lawful currency of the United Mexican States (Mexico).
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions, and has or would reasonably be expected to have any liability, contingent or otherwise.
“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Company or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.
“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
“Non-SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c)(ii).
“Non-SOFR Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c).
“Note” means a promissory note made by a Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender to such Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
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“Notice of Loan Prepayment” means a notice of prepayment with respect to a Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit I or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any reasonable or customary form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), and as to which the Company shall have been previously informed in writing, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company.
“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances, in each case whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.
“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes or any other excise or property Taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than Excluded Taxes.
“Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Committed Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; (ii) with respect to Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or
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repayments of such Swing Line Loans occurring on such date; and (iii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Company of Unreimbursed Amounts.
“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
“Overnight TIIE” means, with respect to any applicable determination date, the 1 (one) Business Day Overnight Interbank Equilibrium Rate (Tasa de Interés Interbancaria de Equilibrio de Fondeo) published on the fifth Business Day preceding such date by Banco de Mexico through its website or any other electronic or printed media.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Pension Act” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
“Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.
“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Company and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code, or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate could reasonably be expected to have any liability, contingent or otherwise.
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“Permitted Acquisition” means, subject to Section 1.12, any Acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as to which the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to any such Acquisition (including any assumption or incurrence of Indebtedness in connection therewith), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(b) the Company is in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.09 (giving effect to any Elevated Ratio Period, if applicable), calculated on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09 immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition and any assumption or incurrence of Indebtedness in connection therewith;
(c) such Acquisition is not “hostile” or contested;
(d) the material lines of business of the Person to be (or the property of which is to be) so purchased or otherwise acquired shall be similar, related or incidental to one or more of the businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(e) in the case of any Acquisition or series of related transactions for which the total cash and noncash consideration (including the fair market value of all Equity Interests issued or transferred to the sellers thereof, the aggregate amounts paid or to be paid under noncompete, consulting and other affiliated agreements with, the sellers thereof, all write-downs of property and reserves for liabilities with respect thereto and all assumptions of debt, liabilities and other obligations in connection therewith, but excluding all indemnities, earnouts and other contingent payment obligations (based on projected earnings) to the sellers thereof) paid by or on behalf of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is equal to or greater than $250,000,000, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Company signed by a Responsible Officer certifying to the Administrative Agent compliance with the conditions specified in clauses (a) through (d) above.
“Permitted Receivables Transaction” means any one or more receivables financings in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) conveys or sells any accounts (as defined in the UCC), payment intangibles (as defined in the UCC), notes receivable, rights to future lease payments or residuals, including all “claims” as defined in Section 101(5) of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, and any and all rights to receive principal, interest and other amounts in respect of such claims (collectively, together with certain property relating thereto and the right to collections thereon and any proceeds thereof, being the “Transferred Assets”) to any Person that is not a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company (with respect to any such transaction, the “Receivables Financier”), (b) borrows from such Receivables Financier and secures such borrowings by a pledge of such Transferred Assets and/or (c) otherwise finances its acquisition of such Transferred Assets and, in connection therewith, conveys an interest in such Transferred Assets to the Receivables Financier; provided that (i) the aggregate Attributed Principal Amount for all such financings (excluding, however, any supply chain financings initiated by a customer of the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries and consisting of a conveyance or sale of Transferred Assets by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Receivables Financier in exchange for substantially contemporaneous payment to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary for such Transferred Assets pursuant to a limited recourse supply chain financing arrangement on standard market terms) shall not exceed, at the time of creation, incurrence or assumption thereof (and after giving effect thereto), the greater of (A) $500,000,000 and (B) an
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amount equal to 8.5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such creation, incurrence or assumption and (ii) such financings shall not involve any recourse to the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason other than (w) repurchases of non-eligible assets, (x) indemnifications for losses or dilution other than credit losses related to the Transferred Assets, (y) any obligations not constituting Indebtedness under servicing arrangements for the receivables or (z) representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary which the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a receivables financing, including absorbing dilution amounts.
“Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (ii) such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness shall not be subject to any financial covenant which is more restrictive than the financial covenants in the Loan Documents and (iii) at the time of and after giving effect to such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, no Default shall exist.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained for employees of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees, other than a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan, and for which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has or would reasonably be expected to have any liability, contingent or otherwise.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Pound Sterling” and “£” mean the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
“Priority Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, on a consolidated basis, the sum of (without duplication) (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01(aa) as of such date plus (b) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company (other than any Borrower) permitted under Section 7.03(r) as of such date.
“Pro Forma Basis” means, for purposes of giving effect to any Specified Transaction (actual or proposed) for any period, that such Specified Transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of such period and:
(a) all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person disposed of in a Specified Disposition shall be excluded and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition shall be included; provided that such income statement items to be included are reflected in financial statements or other financial data reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and based upon reasonable assumptions and calculations which are expected to have a continuous impact;
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(b) interest accrued during such period on, and the principal of, any Indebtedness repaid in connection with such Specified Transaction shall be excluded; and
(c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with such Specified Transaction shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of such period, and interest thereon shall be deemed to have accrued from such day on such Indebtedness at the applicable rates provided therefor (and in the case of interest that does or would accrue at a formula or floating rate, at the rate in effect at the time of determination) and shall be included in the results for such period.
“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Qualified Securitization Assets” means accounts (as defined in the UCC), payment intangibles (as defined in the UCC), notes receivable, rights to future lease payments or residuals, including all “claims” as defined in Section 101(5) of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, and any and all rights to receive principal, interest and other amounts in respect of such claims, certain property relating thereto, the right to collections thereon, and any proceeds thereof, including all lockboxes, lockbox accounts, collection accounts or other deposit accounts into which such collections or proceeds are deposited.
“Rate Determination Date” means two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (or such other day as is generally treated as the rate fixing day by market practice in such interbank market, as determined by the Administrative Agent); provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then “Rate Determination Date” means such other day as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent).
“Receivables Financier” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Permitted Receivables Transaction”.
“Reconciliation” means, with respect to any financial statement referred to in Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b) (the “Base Financials”), the comparable financial statement prepared by the chief financial officer of the Company presenting on a consolidated basis the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as derived from the Base Financials.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
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“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Relevant Rate” means with respect to any Credit Extension denominated in (a) Dollars, Term SOFR, (b) Canadian Dollars, the Term CORRA Rate, and (c) Mexican Pesos, Overnight TIIE, as applicable.
“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.
“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.
“Required (MC) Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the Outstanding Amount of Committed (MC) Loans plus the aggregate unused MC Commitments. The aggregate Outstanding Amount of Committed (MC) Loans and unused MC Commitment of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required (MC) Lenders at any time.
“Required (USD) Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Committed (USD) Loans plus the aggregate outstanding amount of participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans plus the aggregate unused USD Commitments. The Committed (USD) Loans, the participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans and unused USD Commitment of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required (USD) Lenders at any time; provided that, the amount of any participation in any Swing Line Loan and Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Committed (USD) Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the Swing Line Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in making such determination.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders. The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; provided that the amount of any participation in any Swing Line Loan and Unreimbursed Amounts that any Defaulting Lender which is a Committed (USD) Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Committed (USD) Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the Swing Line Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in making such determination.
“Rescindable Amount” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.12(b)(ii).
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
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“Responsible Officer” means the chairman of the board of directors, the president, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the chief operating officer, the corporate controller, the treasurer or the cash manager of, or in-house legal counsel to, a Borrower, any other officer of a Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a written notice to the Administrative Agent, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of a Borrower designated in or pursuant to an agreement between such Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Borrower. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Borrower. To the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, each Responsible Officer will provide an incumbency certificate and to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, appropriate authorization documentation, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is not listed on Schedule 5.13 as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or has not been designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 2.19 hereof. MasTec NA shall always be a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Revaluation Date” means (a) with respect to any Committed (MC) Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of an Alternative Currency Loan denominated in such Alternative Currency, (ii) with respect to an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, each Interest Payment Date, (iii) each date of a continuation of an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan denominated in such Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall determine or the Required (MC) Lenders shall require; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance denominated in an Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance, amendment and/or extension of a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance denominated in such Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance denominated in such Alternative Currency, (iii) in the case of all Existing Letters of Credit denominated in Alternative Currencies, the Closing Date and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer shall determine or the Required (USD) Lenders shall require.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.
“Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in such Alternative Currency.
“Sanction(s)” means any international economic or financial sanction or trade embargo imposed, administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, His Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.
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“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securitization Transaction” means any financing transaction or series of related financing transactions pursuant to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, convey or otherwise transfer, or grant a security interest in, accounts, payments, receivables, rights to future lease payments or residuals or similar rights to payment to a special purpose Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company that is not a Borrower.
“Senior Notes” means those certain 4.50% unsecured notes of the Company due 2028 and issued pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture in the initial aggregate principal amount of $600,000,000.
“Senior Notes Documents” means, collectively, the Senior Notes Indenture, all supplemental indentures thereto, the Senior Notes and all other material agreements executed in connection therewith.
“Senior Notes Indebtedness” means the Indebtedness evidenced by the Senior Notes and any Permitted Refinancings thereof.
“Senior Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, dated as of August 4, 2020.
“Significant Subsidiary” means, at any time, a Subsidiary of the Company that as of such time meets the definition of a “significant subsidiary” contained as of the Closing Date in Regulation S-X of the SEC (based upon and as of the date of delivery of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company furnished pursuant to Section 6.01).
“Single Employer Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (excluding a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Company and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.
“SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator).
“SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b)(ii).
“SOFR Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).
“Solvent” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is
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not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
“Specified Disposition” means any Disposition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of (a) all or substantially all of its assets or any of its divisions, business units, or lines of business or (b) the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary.
“Specified Transaction” means (a) any Specified Disposition, (b) any Permitted Acquisition, (c) any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (d) the incurrence of any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 2.15 or 7.03(r) as the context may require.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.
“Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c).
“Surety” means (i) Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America and its successors and permitted assigns or (ii) any Person who replaces or supplements the Person identified in clause (i) under the applicable Surety Credit Documents as executor or procurer of bonds pursuant to such Surety Credit Documents, and their co-sureties and reinsurers, and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
“Surety Credit Documents” means, with respect to any Indemnity Agreement, such Indemnity Agreement and each document entered into in connection therewith.
“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
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“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
“Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.
“Swing Line Commitment” means as to any Lender (a) the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Annex II-B hereof or (b) if such Lender has entered into an Assignment and Assumption or has otherwise assumed a Swing Line Commitment after the Closing Date, the amount set forth for such Lender as its Swing Line Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.06(c).
“Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America (through itself or through one of its designated Affiliates or branch offices) in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.
“Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any reasonable and customary form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent) and as to which the Company shall have previously been informed in writing, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company.
“Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $125,000,000, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, and (b) the Aggregate (USD) Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate (USD) Commitments.
“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).
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“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Term CORRA Adjustment” means (a) 0.29547% (29.547 basis points) for an Interest Period of one month’s duration and (b) 0.32138% (32.138 basis points) for an Interest Period of three months’ duration.
“Term CORRA Rate” has the meaning specified in the definition of Alternative Currency Term Rate.
“Term SOFR” means:
(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto, in each case; and
(b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate with a term of one month commencing that day;
provided that if the Term SOFR determined in accordance with either of the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) of this definition would otherwise be less than zero, the Term SOFR shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Term SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Term SOFR.
“Term SOFR Screen Rate” means the forward-looking SOFR term rate administered by CME (or any successor administrator satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).
“Threshold Amount” means $300,000,000.
“Transferred Assets” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Permitted Receivables Transaction”.
“Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of the unused Commitments of such Lender at such time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Loans and the amount of such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations, Bankers’ Acceptances and Swing Line Loans at such time.
“Total (USD) Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Committed (USD) Loans, Swing Line Loans and all L/C Obligations.
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“Type” means, with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan, a Term SOFR Loan, an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York.
“UCP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).
“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person subject to IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(d)(i).
“Unrestricted Cash” means, at any time, the sum of (a) 100% of the cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and its Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries plus (b) the lesser of (i) 100% of the cash and Cash Equivalents of Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) $50,000,000. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall Unrestricted Cash include any amounts held as Cash Collateral.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) each Subsidiary of the Company listed as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13, (b) each Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Company after the Closing Date (whether by reason of being newly created, by acquisition or otherwise) if, at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, the Company notifies the Administrative Agent that such Person shall be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.19 (in which case all arrangements between such Person and the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in existence at the time it becomes an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be subject to Section 7.08), (c) each Subsidiary that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 2.19 and (d) each Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that, for the sake of clarity, (x) each Subsidiary that is a Borrower is ipso facto a Restricted Subsidiary and (y) each Subsidiary shall be deemed a Restricted Subsidiary unless it shall have been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, in no event shall (i) any Subsidiary be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it, or if any of its Subsidiaries, owns or holds (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) any material intellectual property or any other assets material to any Borrower’s or Restricted
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Subsidiary’s business or (ii) (A) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, or any of its Subsidiaries, own or hold (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) or (B) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary transfer (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) to any Unrestricted Subsidiary, or any of its Subsidiaries, any material intellectual property or any other assets material to any Borrower’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s business.
“USD Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed (USD) Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a), (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Annex II-A under the caption “USD Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision
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thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Schedules and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits, Schedules and Annexes to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law, rule or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(d) Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, a limited partnership or any other entity, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company, a limited partnership or any other entity (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company, a limited partnership or any other entity shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company, a limited partnership or any other entity that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).
1.03 Accounting Terms. (a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.
(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP (including any change required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the FASB or its successors) would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (A) such ratio or
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requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (B) the Company shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
(c) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, or to the determination of any amount for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as the case may be, or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Company is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, as defined herein.
(d) 52/53 Week Fiscal Year. In case of a change of the fiscal year of the Borrowers to a 52/53 Week Fiscal Year in accordance with the provision in Section 7.11, each reference to the fiscal year or fiscal quarter of such Borrowers set forth in any Loan Document, commencing from the date the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year is given effect by the Borrowers (the “52/53 Week Fiscal Year Effective Date”), will be deemed to refer to, and be computed in accordance with, the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, references to the fiscal year or fiscal quarter of such Borrowers set forth in any Loan Document which specifically identify fiscal year(s) or fiscal quarter(s) preceding the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year Effective Date will remain unchanged and will not be deemed to refer to the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year.
1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents. (a) The Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies as of each Revaluation Date. 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 Company hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any 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 L/C Issuer, as applicable.
(b) Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Committed (MC) Borrowing, the conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Term SOFR Loan or an Alternative Currency Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Committed (MC) Borrowing, Term SOFR Loan, Alternative Currency Loan, Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar 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 L/C Issuer, as the case may be.
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1.06 Change of Currency. Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.
1.07 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
1.08 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, (a) 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 in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time and (b) the amount of any Bankers’ Acceptance at any time shall be deemed to be the face value of such Bankers’ Acceptance without respect to any discounts.
1.09 Making Calculations on a Pro Forma Basis. When calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period in order to determine compliance with the financial maintenance covenants set forth in Section 7.09 or in order to determine the Applicable Rate, such calculations shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to each Permitted Acquisition or Specified Disposition that occurred during such period. When calculating any financial ratio incurrence test or other incurrence test hereunder at any time in connection with any proposed Specified Transaction, such calculation shall be made (i) based on the financial results for the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) (or, prior to the first delivery thereof, the financial statements described in Section 5.05(b)) but assuming all Indebtedness outstanding at such time was outstanding as of the last day of such period and (ii) on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to the proposed Specified Transaction and each other Specified Transaction that has occurred since the first day of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters through the day on which the proposed Specified Transaction is to be consummated.
1.10 Interest Rates; Licenses.
(a) The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility for, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to any reference rate referred to herein or with respect to any rate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the selection of such rate and any related spread or other adjustment) that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any such rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions or other activities that affect any reference rate referred
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to herein, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or any related spread or other adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any reference rate referred to herein or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing), in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to any Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or other action or omission related to or affecting the selection, determination, or calculation of any rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
(b) By agreeing to make Loans under this Agreement, each Lender is confirming it has all licenses, permits and approvals necessary for use of the reference rates referred to herein as provided for in this Agreement and it will comply with, preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect such licenses, permits and approvals for use of such rates under this Agreement.
1.11 Currency Equivalents Generally. Any amount specified in this Agreement (other than in Articles II, IX and X) or any of the other Loan Documents to be in Dollars shall also include the equivalent of such amount in any currency other than Dollars, such equivalent amount thereof in the applicable currency to be determined by the Administrative Agent at such time in a manner consistent with the definition of Alternative Currency Equivalent.
1.12 Limited Condition Transactions. In the event that the Company notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that any proposed Acquisition is a Limited Condition Transaction and that the Company wishes to test the conditions to such Acquisition, and the Indebtedness under Section 7.03(r) that is to be used to finance such Acquisition or other Investment in accordance with this Section 1.12, then, so long as agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the lenders providing such Indebtedness, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) any condition to such Limited Condition Transaction or such Indebtedness that requires that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such Limited Condition Transaction or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, shall be satisfied if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of the execution of the definitive agreement governing such Limited Condition Transaction (the “LCT Test Date”) both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith (including any such additional Indebtedness);
(b) any condition to such Limited Condition Transaction or such Indebtedness that the representations and warranties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or the incurrence of such Indebtedness shall be deemed satisfied if (i) all representations and warranties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects as of the LCT Test Date, except that (A) if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty shall be required to be true and correct in
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all respects, (B) to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date (except that if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty shall be required to be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), and (C) for purposes of this Section 1.12, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (ii) as of the date of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, (A) the representations and warranties under the relevant definitive agreement governing such Limited Condition Transaction as are material to the lenders providing such Indebtedness shall be true and correct, but only to the extent that the Company or its applicable Subsidiary has the right to terminate its obligations under such agreement or otherwise decline to close such Limited Condition Transaction as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties or the failure of those representations and warranties to be true and correct and (B) certain of the representations and warranties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents which are customary for similar “funds certain” financings and required by the lenders providing such Indebtedness shall be true and correct in all material respects, except that (I) if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty shall be required to be true and correct in all respects, (II) to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date (except that if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty shall be required to be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), and (III) for purposes of this Section 1.12, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01;
(c) any financial ratio test or condition to be tested in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction and the availability of such Indebtedness will be tested as of the LCT Test Date, in each case, after giving effect to the relevant Limited Condition Transaction and any related incurrence of Indebtedness, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09, where applicable, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) such ratios and baskets shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction and (ii) if any of such ratios are exceeded or conditions are not met following the LCT Test Date, but prior to the closing of such Limited Condition Transaction, as a result of fluctuations in such ratio or amount, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded and such conditions will not be deemed unmet as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the relevant transaction or action is permitted to be consummated or taken; and
(d) except as provided in the next sentence, in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated and the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated both (i) on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09 assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated and (ii) assuming such
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Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have not been consummated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any calculation of a ratio in connection with determining the Applicable Rate and determining whether or not the Company is in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.09 shall, in each case, be calculated assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have not been consummated.
The foregoing provisions shall apply with similar effect during the pendency of multiple Limited Condition Transactions such that each of the possible scenarios is separately tested.
ARTICLE II.
COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Loans.
(a) Committed (USD) Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Committed (USD) Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed (USD) Loan”) to the Borrowers, in Dollars, from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period with respect to the Committed (USD) Facility, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s USD Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed (USD) Borrowing, (i) the Total (USD) Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate (USD) Commitments and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed (USD) Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s USD Commitment. Within the limits of each Committed (USD) Lender’s USD Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01(a), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(a). Committed (USD) Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as further provided herein.
(b) Committed (MC) Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Committed (MC) Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed (MC) Loan”) to the Borrowers, in Dollars or an Alternative Currency, from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period with respect to the Committed (MC) Facility, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s MC Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed (MC) Borrowing, (i) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Committed (MC) Loans shall not exceed the Aggregate (MC) Commitments and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed (MC) Loans of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s MC Commitment. Within the limits of each Committed (MC) Lender’s MC Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b). Committed (MC) Loans may be Base Rate Loans, Term SOFR Loans, Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
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2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
(a) Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans shall be made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone or in the form of a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (i) two Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans or of any conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans, (ii) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of or continuation of Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, (iii) five Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or any continuation of Alternative Currency Loans denominated in Mexican Pesos and (iv) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Company pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company. Each Borrowing or continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Loans and each conversion to Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $100,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(d) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $500,000 or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Company is requesting a Committed (USD) Borrowing, a Committed (MC) Borrowing, a conversion of Committed (USD) Loans, Committed (MC) Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed (USD) Loans or Committed (MC) Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, (vi) if applicable, the currency of the Committed (MC) Loans to be borrowed and (vii) the Borrower of the requested Borrowing. If the Company fails to specify a currency in a Loan Notice requesting a Committed (MC) Borrowing, then the Committed (MC) Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars. If the Company fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Company fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed (USD) Loans, Committed (MC) Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Committed (MC) Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, such Loans shall be continued as Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans in Canadian Dollars with an Interest Period of one month. Any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term SOFR Loans. If the Company requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Except as provided pursuant to Sections 2.12(a) and 3.03, no Committed (MC) Loan may be converted into or continued as a Committed (MC) Loan denominated in a different currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original currency of such Committed (MC) Loan and reborrowed in the other currency.
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(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice for a Facility, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender under such Facility of the amount (and, if applicable, the currency) of its Applicable Percentage under such Facility of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Company, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender under the applicable Facility of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuations of Committed (MC) Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, in each case as described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Committed (USD) Borrowing or a Committed (MC) Borrowing, each Lender under the applicable Facility shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the applicable currency not later than 1:00 p.m., in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, and not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of any Committed (MC) Loan in an Alternative Currency, in each case on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Company or the other applicable Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of such Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Company; provided, however, that if, on the date a Loan Notice with respect to a Committed (USD) Borrowing is given by the Company, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and, second, shall be made available to the applicable Borrower as provided above.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, Term SOFR Loans and Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans may be continued and Term SOFR Loan may be converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, as applicable. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as converted to or continued as Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Alternative Currency Loans be redenominated into Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof immediately or, in the case of Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term SOFR Loans and Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate.
(e) After giving effect to all Committed (USD) Borrowings, all Committed (MC) Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than fifteen (15) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Loans.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all of the portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Company, the Administrative Agent, and such Lender.
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(g) With respect to the Alternative Currency Daily Rate, the Alternative Currency Term Rate, SOFR or Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrowers and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
2.03 Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances.
(a) Letter of Credit – BA Commitment.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Committed (USD) Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit and Clean BAs denominated in Dollars or, solely in the case of Bank of America in its capacity as an L/C Issuer, in an Alternative Currency for the account of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit and to make payments under Bankers’ Acceptances and (3) with respect to Acceptance Credits, to create L/C Issued BAs in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof; and (B) the Committed (USD) Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances issued for the account of the Company or its Subsidiaries and any drawings or payments thereunder; provided that (A) after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension, (v) the Total (USD) Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate (USD) Commitments, (w) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed (USD) Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s USD Commitment, (x) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit and (y) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances denominated in an Alternative Currency shall not exceed the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit and (B) as to Clean BAs and Acceptance Credits, the Bankers’ Acceptance created or to be created thereunder shall be an eligible bankers’ acceptance under Section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. § 372). Each request by the Company for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance shall be deemed to be a representation by the Company that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Company may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn
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upon and reimbursed and Bankers’ Acceptances that have matured and been reimbursed. The Company agrees to promptly notify the Administrative Agent of the designation of any Lender as an L/C Issuer. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.
(ii) The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, if:
(A) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur more than eighteen months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required (USD) Lenders have approved such expiry date;
(B) the maturity date of any Bankers’ Acceptance would occur earlier than 30 or later than 180 days from date of issuance or in any event later than 60 days before the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless the Required (USD) Lenders have approved such expiry date; or
(C) the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit, or the maturity date of any Bankers’ Acceptance (including any L/C Issued BA issued under a Letter of Credit), would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Committed (USD) Lenders have approved such expiry date.
(iii) The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, if:
(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing the Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances generally or the Letter of Credit or any Bankers’ Acceptances in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to the Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;
(B) the issuance of the Letter of Credit or any related Bankers’ Acceptance would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer, applicable to letters of credit generally, or the creation of any Bankers’ Acceptance would cause the L/C Issuer to exceed the maximum amount of outstanding bankers’ acceptances permitted by law;
(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, the Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000, in the case of a commercial Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, or $250,000, in the case of a standby Letter of Credit;
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(D) such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency;
(E) the L/C Issuer does not as of the issuance date of such requested Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance issue Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances in the requested currency;
(F) any Committed (USD) Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Company or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which the L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion;
(G) such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; or
(H) such Bankers’ Acceptance is to be used for a purpose other than as described in the last sentence of Section 2.03(c)(i).
(iv) The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue the Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance in its amended form under the terms hereof.
(v) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue the Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance does not accept the proposed amendment to the Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance.
(vi) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Committed (USD) Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.
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(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.
(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Company delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company. Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by facsimile, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the L/C Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to the L/C Issuer. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their reasonable discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Company shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Company and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Committed (USD) Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Borrower, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Company (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Committed (USD) Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.
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(iii) If the Company so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its reasonable discretion, agree to issue a standby Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Company shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Committed (USD) Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required (USD) Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Committed (USD) Lender or the Company that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.
(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c) Procedure for Issuance of Clean Bankers’ Acceptances.
(i) Each Clean Bankers’ Acceptance shall be issued upon the request of the Company delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Bankers’ Acceptance Request, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company. Bankers’ Acceptances Requests may be delivered and accepted electronically. Such Bankers’ Acceptance Request must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (or such later date and time as the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its reasonable discretion) of the proposed issuance date. Each Bankers’ Acceptance Request shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Clean Bankers’ Acceptance (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the shipping information; (E) a description of the inventory; and (F) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may reasonably require. Each Clean Bankers’ Acceptance shall be in a minimum increment of $100,000, shall be endorsed in blank, shall cover the purchase of inventory, shall mature on a Business Day up to one hundred eighty (180) days after the date thereof, and shall not be payable prior to its stated maturity date.
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(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Bankers’ Acceptance Request, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Bankers’ Acceptance Request from the Company and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by the L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Clean Bankers’ Acceptance for the account of the Company, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Clean Bankers’ Acceptance, each Committed (USD) Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Clean Bankers’ Acceptance in an amount equal to the product of such Committed (USD) Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage times the amount of such Clean Bankers’ Acceptance.
(iii) In the event that the L/C Issuer presents a draft on a matured Clean Bankers’ Acceptance for payment and the Company, at the time of such presentment, does not have funds on deposit in its account at the Administrative Agent sufficient to pay the entire amount of the draft (including any charges or expenses paid or incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with such draft), the Administrative Agent shall deem such amount to be an Unreimbursed Amount and proceed in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.03(d)(iii) which relate to a Bankers’ Acceptance not paid on maturity.
(d) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.
(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing or, with respect to any Acceptance Credit, presentation of documents, under such Letter of Credit, or any presentation for payment of a Bankers’ Acceptance, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Company and the Administrative Agent thereof. In the case of a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Company shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in an Alternative Currency, unless (A) the L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the Company shall have notified the L/C Issuer promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that the Company will reimburse the L/C Issuer in Dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance denominated in an Alternative Currency, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Company of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. Not later than 12:00 noon on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance to be reimbursed in Dollars, or the Applicable Time on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Company shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing or Bankers’ Acceptance, as applicable, and in the applicable currency. In the event that (A) a drawing or payment denominated in an Alternative Currency is to be reimbursed in Dollars pursuant to the second sentence in this Section 2.03(d)(i) and (B) the Dollar amount paid by the Company, whether on or after the
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Honor Date, shall not be adequate on the date of that payment to purchase in accordance with normal banking procedures a sum denominated in an Alternative Currency equal to the drawing or payment, the Company agrees, as a separate and independent obligation, to indemnify the L/C Issuer for the loss resulting from its inability on that date to purchase such Alternative Currency in the full amount of the drawing or payment. If the Company fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Committed (USD) Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing or presentation (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance denominated in an Alternative Currency) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage thereof. In such event, the Company shall be deemed to have requested a Committed (USD) Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate (USD) Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(d)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
(ii) Each Committed (USD) Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(d)(i) make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the L/C Issuer, in Dollars, at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments in an amount equal to its Applicable (USD) Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent (which shall not be earlier than the Business Day immediately following the date such notice is given), whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(d)(iii), each Committed (USD) Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed (USD) Loan to the Company in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer in Dollars.
(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed (USD) Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Company shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Committed (USD) Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(d)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.
(iv) Until each Committed (USD) Lender funds its Committed (USD) Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(d) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit or payments made on any Bankers’ Acceptance, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.
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(v) Each Committed (USD) Lender’s obligation to make Committed (USD) Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit and payments made on Bankers’ Acceptances, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(d), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Committed (USD) Lender’s obligation to make Committed (USD) Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(d) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Company of a Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Company to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, together with interest as provided herein.
(vi) If any Committed (USD) Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(d) by the time specified in Section 2.03(d)(ii), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed (USD) Loan included in the relevant Committed (USD) Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Committed (USD) Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(e) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance and has received from any Committed (USD) Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(d), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Company or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable (USD) Percentage thereof in Dollars and in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.
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(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(d)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Committed (USD) Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable (USD) Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Committed (USD) Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(f) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Company to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and each payment under any Bankers’ Acceptance and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Company or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document or endorsement presented under or in connection with such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit or obtain payment under any Bankers’ Acceptance;
(iv) waiver by the L/C Issuer of any requirement that exists for the L/C Issuer’s protection and not the protection of the Company or any waiver by the L/C Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice the Company;
(v) honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance requires that demand be in the form of a draft;
(vi) any payment made by the L/C Issuer in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance if presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable;
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(vii) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;
(viii) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of an Alternative Currency to the Company or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally; or
(ix) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Company or any Subsidiary.
The Company shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto, and each Bankers’ Acceptance, that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Company’s instructions or other irregularity, the Company will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The Company shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.
(g) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Company agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit or making any payment under a Bankers’ Acceptance, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Committed (USD) Lenders or the Required (USD) Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptance or Issuer Document. The Company hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Company’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (ix) of Section 2.03(f); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Company, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Company which the Company proves were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful
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failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit or to honor any Bankers’ Acceptance presented for payment in strict compliance with its terms and conditions. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument endorsing, transferring or assigning or purporting to endorse, transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason. The L/C Issuer may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary.
(h) Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Company when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the UCP shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible to the Company for, and the L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against the Company shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the L/C Issuer required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptance or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where the L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade—International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance chooses such law or practice.
(i) Letter of Credit Fees. The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Committed (USD) Lender in accordance, subject to Section 2.17, with its Applicable (USD) Percentage, in Dollars, a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required (USD) Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.
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(j) BA Fees. The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Committed (USD) Lender in accordance, subject to Section 2.17, with its Applicable (USD) Percentage a Bankers’ Acceptance fee (the “BA Fee”) equal to the Bankers’ Acceptance Rate plus the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum stated amount of all outstanding Bankers’ Acceptances. BA Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Bankers’ Acceptance, on the Maturity Date of the Committed (USD) Facility and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Bankers’ Acceptance Rate or the Applicable Rate for Bankers’ Acceptances during any quarter, the maximum stated amount of all outstanding Bankers’ Acceptances shall be computed and multiplied by the Bankers’ Acceptance Rate or Applicable Rate, as applicable, separately for each period during such quarter that such Bankers’ Acceptance Rate or Applicable Rate, as applicable, was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required (USD) Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all BA Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.
(k) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Company shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, a fronting fee (i) with respect to each commercial Letter of Credit, at the rate specified in the Bank of America Fee Letter with respect to such Letters of Credit issued by Bank of America and, with respect to such Letters of Credit issued by any other L/C Issuer, at a rate determined by the Company and such L/C Issuer, computed on the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of such Letter of Credit, and payable upon the issuance thereof, (ii) with respect to any amendment of a commercial Letter of Credit increasing the amount of such Letter of Credit, at a rate separately agreed between the Borrower and the L/C Issuer, computed on the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of such increase, and payable upon the effectiveness of such amendment, and (iii) with respect to each standby Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Bank of America Fee Letter with respect to such Letters of Credit issued by Bank of America and, with respect to such Letters of Credit issued by any other L/C Issuer, at a rate determined by the Company and such L/C Issuer, computed on the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. The fronting fee referenced in clause (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be due and payable on the tenth day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09. In addition, the Company shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.
(l) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.
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(m) Letters of Credit/Bankers’ Acceptances Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Company shall be obligated to reimburse, indemnify and compensate the L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, as applicable, as if such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, as applicable, had been issued solely for the account of a Borrower. Each Borrower irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance. The Company hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Company, that the Company’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.
(n) Letters of Credit Reports. Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer shall, in addition to its notification obligations set forth elsewhere in this Section 2.03, provide the Administrative Agent a Letter of Credit Report in the form of Exhibit H, as set forth below:
(i) reasonably prior to the time that the L/C Issuer issues, amends, renews, increases or extends a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal, increase or extension and the stated amount of the applicable Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amounts thereof shall have changed);
(ii) on each Business Day on which the L/C Issuer makes a payment pursuant to a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, the date and amount of such payment;
(iii) on any Business Day on which a Borrower fails to reimburse a payment made pursuant to a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance required to be reimbursed to the L/C Issuer on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such payment;
(iv) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances issued by the L/C Issuer; and
(v) for so long as any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance issued by the L/C Issuer is outstanding, the L/C Issuer shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) on the last Business Day of each calendar month, (B) at all other times a Letter of Credit Report is required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, and (C) on each date that (1) an L/C Credit Extension occurs or (2) there is any expiration, cancellation and/or disbursement, in each case, with respect to any such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, a Letter of Credit Report appropriately completed with the information for every outstanding Letter of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptance issued by such L/C Issuer.
(o) Replacement of the L/C Issuer. The L/C Issuer may be replaced at any time by written agreement between the Company, the Administrative Agent, the replaced L/C Issuer and the successor L/C Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the L/C Issuer. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Company shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced L/C Issuer pursuant to
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Section 2.03(k). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor L/C Issuer shall have all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued by it thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “L/C Issuer” shall be deemed to include such successor or any previous L/C Issuer, or such successor and all previous L/C Issuers, as the context shall require. After the replacement of the L/C Issuer hereunder, the replaced L/C Issuer shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
2.04 Swing Line Loans.
(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Committed (USD) Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, shall make loans in Dollars (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Company from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period with respect to the Committed (USD) Facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable (USD) Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Committed (USD) Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s USD Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total (USD) Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate (USD) Commitments and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed (USD) Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s USD Commitment, and provided, further, that the Company shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Committed (USD) Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.
(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the
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Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Committed (USD) Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 4:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Company.
(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.
(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Company (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Committed (USD) Lender make a Base Rate Committed (USD) Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate (USD) Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Company with a copy of the applicable Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Committed (USD) Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable (USD) Percentage of the amount specified in such Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Committed (USD) Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed (USD) Loan to the Company in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed (USD) Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Committed (USD) Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Committed (USD) Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Committed (USD) Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.
(iii) If any Committed (USD) Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative
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processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Committed (USD) Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed (USD) Loan included in the relevant Committed (USD) Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(iv) Each Committed (USD) Lender’s obligation to make Committed (USD) Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Company or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Committed (USD) Lender’s obligation to make Committed (USD) Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Company to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after any Committed (USD) Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable (USD) Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Committed (USD) Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable (USD) Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Committed (USD) Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Company for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Committed (USD) Lender funds its Base Rate Committed (USD) Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable (USD) Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable (USD) Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.
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(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Company shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.
2.05 Prepayments. (a) Each Borrower may, upon notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent pursuant to delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Loan Prepayment, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty subject to Section 3.05; provided that (i) any such notice must be delivered to the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. (A) two Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term SOFR Loans, (B) four Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Alternative Currency Loans and (C) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date, currency and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s ratable portion of such prepayment (based on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage in respect of the relevant Facility). If such notice is given by the Company, the applicable Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.17, each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages in respect of each of the relevant Facilities.
(b) The Company may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.
(c) If at any time the Total (USD) Outstandings exceed an amount equal to the Aggregate (USD) Commitments then in effect, the Borrowers shall prepay Loans in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such Outstanding Amount as of such date of payment to an amount not to exceed the Aggregate (USD) Commitments then in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Collateralization shall not cure or eliminate the Company’s obligation to prepay Loans in an amount necessary such that Total (USD) Outstandings would not exceed the Aggregate (USD) Commitments.
(d) If for any reason the Outstanding Amount of all Committed (MC) Loans at any time exceeds the Aggregate (MC) Commitments at such time, the Borrowers shall prepay Committed (MC) Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.
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2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Optional. The Borrowers may, upon written notice by the Company to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate (USD) Commitments, the Aggregate (MC) Commitments, the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate (USD) Commitments, the Aggregate (MC) Commitments, the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and (iii) the Company shall not terminate or reduce (A) the Aggregate (USD) Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total (USD) Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate (USD) Commitments, (B) the Aggregate (MC) Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Committed (MC) Loans would exceed the Aggregate (MC) Commitments, (C) the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances denominated in an Alternative Currency not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit, (D) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit or (E) the Swing Line Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans would exceed the Swing Line Sublimit.
(b) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate (USD) Commitments, the Aggregate (MC) Commitments, the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit under this Section 2.06. Any reduction of the Aggregate (USD) Commitments shall be applied to the USD Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable (USD) Percentage. Any reduction of the Aggregate (MC) Commitments shall be applied to the MC Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage with respect to the Committed (MC) Facility. All fees in respect of the applicable Facility accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate (USD) Commitments or Aggregate (MC) Commitments, as the case may be, shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
2.07 Repayment of Loans. (a) Each Borrower shall repay to the Committed (USD) Lenders on the Maturity Date for the Committed (USD) Facility the aggregate principal amount of Committed (USD) Loans made to such Borrower outstanding on such date.
(b) Each Borrower shall repay to the Committed (MC) Lenders on the Maturity Date for the Committed (MC) Facility the aggregate principal amount of Committed (MC) Loans made to such Borrower outstanding on such date.
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(c) The Company shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date for the Committed (USD) Facility.
2.08 Interest. (a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Term SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; (iii) each Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Alternative Currency Daily Rate plus the Applicable Rate; (iv) each Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Alternative Currency Term Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; and (v) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by any Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such overdue amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) or (g), and upon the request of the Required Lenders while any Event of Default under Section 8.01(b) exists as a result of a failure to comply with Section 7.09, the Borrowers shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
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2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i), (j) and (k) of Section 2.03:
(a) Commitment Fee. (i) The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Committed (USD) Lender in accordance with its Applicable (USD) Percentage, a commitment fee in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate (USD) Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Committed (USD) Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period with respect to the Committed (USD) Facility, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of such Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. For the avoidance of doubt, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans will not be considered when calculating the commitment fee above.
(ii) The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Committed (MC) Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage in respect of the Committed (MC) Facility, a commitment fee in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate (MC) Commitments exceed the Outstanding Amount of Committed (MC) Loans, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period with respect to the Committed (MC) Facility, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of such Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(b) Other Fees. (i) The Company shall pay to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the applicable Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
(ii) The Company shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
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2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate. (a) All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to Term SOFR) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days. All computations of interest for Alternative Currency Loans shall be made on the basis of a year as set forth on Schedule 2.10 for such Alternative Currency and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Company or for any other reason, the Company or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Company as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, each Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under Section 2.03(d)(iii), 2.03(i), 2.03(j) or 2.08(b) or under Article VIII. The Borrowers’ obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
2.11 Evidence of Debt. (a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register in accordance with Section 10.06(c). The accounts or records maintained by each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register in respect of such matters, the Register shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender to a Borrower made through the Administrative Agent, such Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans to such Borrower in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to a Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
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2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback. (a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to principal of and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Committed (MC) Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in such Alternative Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent on the dates specified herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may require (upon reasonable notice) that any payments due under this Agreement be made in the United States. If, for any reason, any Borrower is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Currency, such Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of such Alternative Currency payment amount. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage in respect of the relevant Facility (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent (i) after 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency, shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by any Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable 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 applicable Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate, plus any
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administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans, or in the case of Alternative Currencies, in accordance with such market practice, in each case, as applicable. If such Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to such Borrower the amount of such interest paid by such Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by such Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim such Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by Borrowers; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Borrower prior to the time at which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due.
With respect to any payment that the Administrative Agent makes for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder as to which the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (1) the applicable Borrower has not in fact made such payment; (2) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by such Borrower (whether or not then owed); or (3) the Administrative agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment; then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Overnight Rate.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender to any Borrower as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to such Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall promptly (if possible, on the same day) return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Bankers’ Acceptances and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any
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Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of (a) Obligations in respect of any of the Facilities due and payable to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations due and payable to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on account of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all the Lenders at such time or (b) Obligations in respect of any of the Facilities owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on account of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all of the Lenders at such time, then, in each case under clauses (a) and (b) above, the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (A) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (B) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of Obligations in respect of the Facilities then due and payable to the Lenders or owing (but not due and payable) to the Lenders, as the case may be, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by a Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.16, or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).
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Each 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 such Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.
2.14 Company as Borrowing Agent; Joint and Several Liability.
(a) Because the operations and business activities of the Borrowers are highly integrated and interdependent, at any particular time it is in the mutual best interest of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrowers for the Company, through one or more of its Responsible Officers, to deliver all Requests for Credit Extension and all other such notices, and to take all other action of a Responsible Officer in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, whether on behalf of the Company or any other Borrower, and to determine which of the Borrowers will directly receive the proceeds of a Loan. Each of the Borrowers hereby directs the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each Loan as directed by the Company through a Responsible Officer, and such distribution will, in all circumstances, be deemed to be made to the Borrower to which such proceeds are directed. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably designates, appoints, authorizes and directs the Company (including each Responsible Officer of the Company) to act on behalf of such Borrower for the purposes set forth in this Section 2.14, and to act on behalf of such Borrower for purposes of giving notice to the Administrative Agent of requests for Borrowings, conversions, continuations and for otherwise giving and receiving notices and certifications under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and otherwise for taking all other action contemplated to be taken by the Company (including each Responsible Officer of the Company) hereunder or under any other Loan Document. Each Borrower further appoints the Company as its agent for any service of process. The Administrative Agent is entitled to rely and act on the instructions of the Company, by and through any Responsible Officer, on behalf of each Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of Section 10.04, each Borrower covenants and agrees to assume liability for and to protect, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender from any and all liabilities, obligations, damages, penalties, claims, causes of action, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), which may be incurred by, imposed or asserted against the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, howsoever arising or incurred because of, out of or in connection with the disbursements of Loans and Credit Extensions in accordance with this Section 2.14; provided, however, the liability of the Borrowers pursuant to this indemnity shall not extend to any liability, obligation, damage, penalty, claim, cause of action, cost, charge or expense of any Person (i) determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, (ii) result from a claim brought by any Borrower against any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender for breach in bad faith of such Person’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (iii) attributable to any Taxes, other than Taxes that represent a liability, obligation, damage, penalty, claim, cause of action, cost, charge or expense arising from a non-Tax claim; provided further that the reimbursement of fees, charges and disbursements of counsel shall be limited to one counsel and one local counsel and one applicable regulatory counsel and local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Persons
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indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.14(a). The Company shall maintain detailed accounting and records of all disbursements and payments made to each Borrower with respect to proceeds of Loans. Not in any way in limitation of any other provisions set forth herein, such books and records may be reviewed and copied by the Administrative Agent at the Company’s expense at reasonable intervals and upon reasonable notice given by the Administrative Agent to the Company.
(b) Each Borrower shall be jointly and severally liable for all Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, each of the Borrowers agrees and understands that it shall be jointly and severally liable for the Obligations as described in the preceding sentence, without regard to the identity of the Borrower in whose name any Loan is made or other Obligation is incurred.
(c) It is the intention of the parties that with respect to each Borrower, its obligations under Section 2.14(b) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable irrespective of, and each Borrower hereby expressly waives, to the extent permitted by law, any defense to its Obligations under this Agreement and all the other Loan Documents to which it is a party by reason of:
(i) any lack of legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, of any of the Notes, of any other Loan Document or of any other agreement or instrument creating, providing security for, or otherwise relating to any of the Obligations (the Loan Documents and all such other agreements and instruments being collectively referred to as the “Related Agreements”);
(ii) any action taken under any of the Related Agreements, any exercise of any right or power therein conferred, any failure or omission to enforce any right conferred thereby, or any waiver of any covenant or condition therein provided;
(iii) any acceleration of the maturity of any of the Obligations or of any other obligations or liabilities of any Person under any of the Related Agreements;
(iv) any release, exchange, non-perfection, lapse in perfection, disposal, deterioration in value, or impairment of any security for any of the Obligations or for any other obligations or liabilities of any Person under any of the Related Agreements;
(v) any dissolution of any Borrower or any other party to a Related Agreement, or the combination or consolidation of any Borrower or any other party to a Related Agreement into or with another entity or any transfer or disposition of any assets of any Borrower or any other party to a Related Agreement;
(vi) any extension (including extensions of time for payment), renewal, amendment, restructuring or restatement of, any acceptance of late or partial payments under, or any change in the amount of any borrowings or any credit facilities available under, this Agreement, any of the Notes or any other Loan Document or any other Related Agreement, in whole or in part;
(vii) the existence, addition, modification, termination, reduction or impairment of value, or release of any other guaranty (or security therefor) of any of the Obligations;
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(viii) any waiver of, forbearance or indulgence under, or other consent to any change in or departure from any term or provision contained in this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other Related Agreement, including without limitation any term pertaining to the payment or performance of any of the Obligations or any of the obligations or liabilities of any party to any other Related Agreement; or
(ix) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of any Borrower) which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risks of such Borrower, or might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable defense available to, or discharge of, a surety or a guarantor, including any right to require or claim that resort be had to any Borrower or to any collateral in respect of the Obligations.
(d) Each Borrower hereby waives to the extent permitted by law notice of the following events or occurrences: (i) the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender heretofore, now or from time to time hereafter making Loans and otherwise loaning monies or giving or extending credit to or for the benefit of any other Borrower, or otherwise entering into arrangements with any other Borrower giving rise to Obligations, whether pursuant to this Agreement or the Notes or any other Loan Document or Related Agreement or any amendments, modifications, or supplements thereto, or replacements or extensions thereof; (ii) presentment, demand, default, non-payment, partial payment and protest; and (iii) any other event, condition, or occurrence described in Section 2.14(c). Each Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer and each Lender may heretofore, now or at any time hereafter do any or all of the foregoing in such manner, upon such terms and at such times as the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender, as the case may be, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems advisable, without in any way or respect impairing, affecting, reducing or releasing such Borrower from its Obligations, and each Borrower hereby consents to each and all of the foregoing events or occurrences.
(e) The Obligations of each Borrower under this Section 2.14 are independent, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against any Borrower whether action is brought against any other Borrower or whether any other Borrower is joined in any such action or actions; and each Borrower waives the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder.
(f) Each Borrower represents and warrants that the request for joint handling of the Loans and other Obligations made hereunder was made because (i) such Borrower expects to derive benefit, directly or indirectly, from such availability because the successful operation of the Borrowers is dependent on the continued successful performance of the functions of the group and (ii) the credit extended under this Agreement will enhance the overall financial strength and stability of the Borrowers’ consolidated group of companies.
(g) Each Borrower represents and warrants that (i) it has established adequate means of obtaining from the other Borrower on a continuing basis financial and other information pertaining to the business, operations and condition (financial and otherwise) of the other Borrower and its property, and (ii) it now is and hereafter will be completely familiar with the business, operations and condition (financial and otherwise) of the other Borrower and its property. Each Borrower hereby waives and relinquishes any duty on the part of the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender to disclose to such Borrower any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the other Borrower, or the property of the other Borrower, whether now or hereafter known by the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender, as the case may be, during the life of this Agreement.
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(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere contained herein or in any other Loan Document to which any Borrower is a party, each Borrower waives any right to assert against the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuers or any Lender as a defense, counterclaim, set-off, recoupment or cross claim in respect of its Obligations, any defense (legal or equitable) or other claim which such Borrower may now or at any time hereafter have against any other Borrower or any or all of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or the Lenders without waiving any additional defenses, set-offs, counterclaims or other claims otherwise available to such Borrower.
(i) Each Borrower hereby unconditionally subordinates all present and future debts, liabilities or obligations now or hereafter owing to such Borrower of any other Borrower, to the payment in full of the Obligations. All amounts due under such subordinated debts, liabilities, or obligations shall, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, be collected and, upon request by the Administrative Agent, paid over forthwith to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders on account of the Obligations or such other obligations, as applicable, and, after such request and pending such payment, shall be held by such Borrower as agent and bailee of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders separate and apart from all other funds, property and accounts of such Borrower.
2.15 Incremental Increases.
(a) Request for Incremental Increase. Upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), at any time after the Closing Date, the Company may request one or more increases in the USD Commitments (each, an “Incremental Increase”) by an amount (for all such requests) not exceeding $950,000,000; provided that any Incremental Increase shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than $25,000,000 or any whole multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof.
(b) Ranking and Other Provisions. Each Incremental Increase shall have the same terms (including maturity and pricing) as the Committed (USD) Facility; provided that any upfront fees payable by the Borrowers to the Incremental Lenders with respect to any Incremental Increase may differ from those paid with respect to any existing USD Commitments.
(c) Notices; Lender Elections. Each notice from the Company pursuant to this Section shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the Incremental Increase. Incremental Increases (or any portion thereof) may be provided by any existing Lender or by any other bank or financial institution that is an Eligible Assignee (each such existing Lender or other bank or other financial institution, an “Incremental Lender”), in each case on terms permitted in this Section 2.15 and otherwise on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided that any existing Lender approached to provide all or a portion of any Incremental Increase may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide all or a portion of such Incremental Increase. At the time of the sending of such notice, the Company (in consultation with the Administrative
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Agent) shall specify the time period within which each proposed Incremental Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to such proposed Incremental Lenders (or such shorter period agreed to by the Administrative Agent)). Each proposed Incremental Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to provide any portion of the Incremental Increase and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than requested. Any Person not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to provide any portion of such Incremental Increase; provided that if, within three (3) Business Days following the date of delivery of notice to a proposed Incremental Lender of a request to provide a portion of the Incremental Increase, such proposed Incremental Lender fails to notify the Administrative Agent that it requires additional time in order to obtain approvals necessary to provide a portion of the Incremental Increase, then such proposed Incremental Lender may be deemed by the Company and the Administrative Agent to have declined to provide a portion of the Incremental Increase. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. Any Eligible Assignee invited to become a Lender pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall do so pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(d) Incremental Amendment. Each Incremental Increase shall be effected pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrowers, the applicable Incremental Lenders and the Administrative Agent. An Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such technical amendments to any Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.15. Upon execution, the Administrative Agent shall provide a copy of any Incremental Amendment to all Lenders. No Incremental Increase shall increase the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit without the written consent of the Required (USD) Lenders and the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, except that, in connection with any Incremental Increase, the Letter of Credit Sublimit and/or the Swing Line Sublimit may be increased proportionally (or by a lesser amount) with the written consent of the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, without the requirement of any consent from any other Lender.
(e) Increase Effective Date and Allocations. The Administrative Agent and the Company shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of any Incremental Increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Incremental Lenders of the final allocation of such Incremental Increase and the Increase Effective Date.
(f) Conditions to Effectiveness of Incremental Increase. Any Incremental Increase shall become effective as of such Increase Effective Date and shall be subject to the following conditions precedent:
(i) the applicable Incremental Amendment in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Incremental Lenders shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent;
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(ii) all of the representations and warranties of each Borrower contained in Article V and contained in each other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such Increase Effective Date, except that (A) if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, (B) to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date (except that if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date) and (C) for purposes of this Section 2.15, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01;
(iii) no Default shall exist on such Increase Effective Date immediately prior to or after giving effect to such Incremental Increase or from the application of the proceeds thereof and, after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness and any transaction to be consummated using the proceeds of such additional Indebtedness and assuming that all commitments in respect of any proposed Incremental Increase are fully drawn at such time, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09, with the covenants set forth in Section 7.09;
(iv) to the extent requested by the applicable Incremental Lenders, a certificate of each Borrower signed by a Responsible Officer of such Borrower certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Borrower approving or consenting to the Incremental Amendment and the Incremental Increase provided thereby, and in the case of each Borrower, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) this Section 2.15(f), which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(v) to the extent requested by the applicable Incremental Lenders, a favorable opinion of counsel for the Borrowers, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (including the Incremental Lenders) and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and
(vi) the Borrowers shall have prepaid any Committed (USD) Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Committed (USD) Loans ratable with any revised Applicable (USD) Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the USD Commitments under this Section 2.15 (it being understood that the Borrowers may use advances from the Lenders having new or increased commitments for such prepayment).
(g) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.
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2.16 Cash Collateral.
(a) Certain Credit Support Events. (i) Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer (A) if the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit or made any payment under any Bankers’ Acceptances and such drawing or payment has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (B) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Company shall, in each case, within one Business Day of receipt of such request, Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations.
(ii) At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, the Company shall, within one Business Day of receipt of such request, deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (only to the extent any Fronting Exposure exists after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).
(iii) In addition, if the Administrative Agent notifies the Company at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances denominated in an Alternative Currency at such time exceeds 105% of the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Company shall Cash Collateralize such L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such Outstanding Amount as of such date of payment to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect.
(b) Grant of Security Interest. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked deposit accounts at Bank of America. The cash (together with any interest accrued thereon) held in such cash collateral account may be invested, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion, in Cash Equivalents. The Company, and to the extent provided by any Lender, such Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender), and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.16(c). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the applicable Fronting Exposure and other obligations secured thereby (including by reason of exchange rate fluctuations), the Company or the relevant Defaulting Lender will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.
(c) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.16 or Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.17 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may be provided for herein.
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(d) Release. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 10.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the Administrative Agent’s good faith determination that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, (x) that Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of a Borrower shall not be released during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default (and following application as provided in this Section 2.16 may be otherwise applied in accordance with Section 8.03) and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the L/C Issuer may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.
2.17 Defaulting Lenders.
(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, without in any way limiting the Borrowers’ rights against such Lender, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:
(i) Waivers and Amendments. That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definitions of “Required Lenders”, “Required (USD) Lenders” or “Required (MC) Lenders” and Section 10.01.
(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08, shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to that Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.16; fourth, as the Company may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy that Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to that Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.16; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of
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competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Company as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Company against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances 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 L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders under the applicable Facility on a pro rata basis (and ratably among all applicable Facilities computed in accordance with the Defaulting Lenders’ respective funding deficiencies) prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender under the applicable Facility until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv). 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 2.17(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(iii) Certain Fees.
(A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Company shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).
(B) Each Defaulting Lender which is a Committed (USD) Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees and BA Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable (USD) Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances, as the case may be, for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.16.
(C) With respect to any Letter of Credit Fee or BA Fee, as the case may be, not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (B) above, the Company shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender which is a Committed (USD) Lender that portion of any such Letter of Credit Fee or BA Fee, as the case may be, otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to the applicable L/C Issuer the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.
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(iv) Reallocation of Applicable (USD) Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of that Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders which are Committed (USD) Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable (USD) Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s USD Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate principal amount of any Non-Defaulting Lender’s Committed (USD) Loans plus such Non-Defaulting Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s USD Commitment. Subject to Section 10.22, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.
(v) Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans. If the reallocation described in clause (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Company shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.16.
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Company, the Administrative Agent and, in the case that a Defaulting Lender is a Committed (USD) Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Lender under any Facility is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders under such Facility or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans under such Facility and, in the case of the Committed (USD) Facility, the funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders under such Facility in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Company while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
(c) New Swing Line Loans/Letters of Credit. So long as any Committed (USD) Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to fund any Swing Line Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan and (ii) the L/C Issuer shall not be required to issue, extend, increase, reinstate or renew any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
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2.18 Extensions of Maturity Date.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, pursuant to one or more offers (each, an “Extension Offer”) made from time to time by the Company to all Lenders of any tranche of MC Commitments or USD Commitments with a like maturity date, in each case on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the respective tranche of MC Commitments or USD Commitments with a like maturity date, as the case may be) and on the same terms to each such Lender, each Borrower is hereby permitted to consummate from time to time transactions with individual Lenders that accept the terms contained in such Extension Offers to extend the maturity date of each such Lender’s MC Commitments or USD Commitments, as the case may be, of such tranche and otherwise modify the terms of such Commitments pursuant to the terms of the relevant Extension Offer (including, without limitation, by increasing the interest rate or fees payable in respect of such Commitments (and related outstandings)) (each, an “Extension”, and each group of MC Commitments or USD Commitments, as applicable, in each case as so extended, as well as the original MC Commitments and the original USD Commitments (in each case not so extended), being a separate “tranche”; any Extended MC Commitments shall constitute a separate tranche of MC Commitments from the tranche of MC Commitments from which they were converted and any Extended USD Commitments shall constitute a separate tranche of USD Commitments from the tranche of USD Commitments from which they were converted), so long as the following terms are satisfied:
(i) no Default exists at the time the offering document in respect of an Extension Offer is delivered to the Lenders or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such Extension;
(ii) except as to interest rates, fees and final maturity (which shall be determined by the Borrower and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer), the MC Commitment or USD Commitment, as the case may be, of any Lender that agrees to an Extension with respect to such Commitment (each, an “Extending Lender”) extended pursuant to an Extension (each, an “Extended MC Commitment” or “Extended USD Commitment”, as applicable), and the related outstandings, shall be a MC Commitment (or related outstandings, as the case may be) or a USD Commitment (or related outstandings, as the case may be), as applicable, with the same terms as the original MC Commitments (and related outstandings) or the original USD Commitments (and related outstandings), as applicable; provided that:
(A) the borrowing and repayment (except for (1) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Extended MC Commitments (and related outstandings) or Extended USD Commitments (and related outstandings), (2) repayments required upon the maturity date of the non-extending MC Commitments or USD Commitments and (3) repayment made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments) of Loans with respect to Extended MC Commitments or Extended USD Commitments after the applicable Extension date shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other MC Commitments or USD Commitments, as the case may be;
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(B) all Swing Line Loans, Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all Lenders with USD Commitments in accordance with their Applicable (USD) Percentages;
(C) the permanent repayment of Loans with respect to, and termination of, Extended MC Commitments or Extended USD Commitments after the applicable Extension date shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other MC Commitments or USD Commitments, as the case may be, except that the Borrowers shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate commitments of any such tranche on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other tranche with a later maturity date than such tranche; and
(D) assignments and participations of Extended MC Commitments or Extended USD Commitments and extended Loans related thereto shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to MC Commitments and Loans related thereto or USD Commitments and Loans related thereto, as applicable;
(iii) if the aggregate principal amount of MC Commitments or USD Commitments, as the case may be, in respect of which Committed (MC) Lenders or Committed (USD) Lenders, as the case may be, shall have accepted the relevant Extension Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of MC Commitments or USD Commitments, as the case may be, offered to be extended by the Company pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the MC Commitments or USD Commitments, as the case may be, of such Committed (MC) Lenders or Committed (USD) Lenders, as the case may be, shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Committed (MC) Lenders or Committed (USD) Lenders, as the case may be, have accepted such Extension Offer; and
(iv) all documentation in respect of such Extension shall be consistent with the foregoing.
(b) With respect to all Extensions consummated by the Borrowers pursuant to this Section, (i) such Extensions shall not constitute prepayments for purposes of Section 2.05 and (ii) unless otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent, each Extension Offer shall be in a minimum principal amount (to be specified in the relevant Extension Offer) for the applicable tranche to be extended of (A) $150,000,000 with respect to MC Commitments and (B) $850,000,000 with respect to USD Commitments (in each case, or, if less, the remaining amount of such tranche). The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the transactions contemplated by this Section (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended MC Commitments and/or Extended USD Commitments on the such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) and hereby waive the requirements of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section.
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(c) No consent of any Lender or the Administrative Agent shall be required to effectuate any Extension, other than (i) the consent of each Lender agreeing to such Extension with respect to one or more of its MC Commitments and/or USD Commitments (or a portion thereof) and (ii) with respect to any Extension of the USD Commitments, the consent of the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. All Extended MC Commitments, Extended USD Commitments and all obligations in respect thereof shall be Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that are pari passu with all other applicable Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Borrowers as may be necessary in order to establish new tranches or sub-tranches in respect of MC Commitments or USD Commitments so extended and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in connection with the establishment of such new tranches or sub-tranches, in each case on terms consistent with this Section. In addition, if so provided in such amendment and with the consent of the L/C Issuer, participations in Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances expiring on or after the Maturity Date in respect of the Committed (USD) Facility shall be re-allocated from Lenders holding USD Commitments to Lenders holding Extended USD Commitments in accordance with the terms of such amendment; provided, however, that such participation interests shall, upon receipt thereof by the relevant Lenders holding USD Commitments, be deemed to be participation interests in respect of such USD Commitments and the terms of such participation interests (including, without limitation, the commission applicable thereto) shall be adjusted accordingly.
(d) In connection with any Extension, the Company shall provide the Administrative Agent at least 20 Business Days (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent) prior written notice thereof, and shall agree to such procedures (including, without limitation, regarding timing, rounding and other adjustments to ensure reasonable administrative management of the credit facilities hereunder after such Extension), if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section, and such reasonable increases in the annual administrative agency fee as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to fairly compensate the Administrative Agent for the additional administrative management of the credit facilities hereunder after such Extension.
2.19 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The Company may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary (as used herein, a “Proposed Re-Designated Subsidiary”) that is not a Borrower or a Material Subsidiary and has not previously been an Unrestricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; in each case, so long as (i) immediately before and after such designation, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) no such Proposed Re-Designated Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if any of its Subsidiaries is a Restricted Subsidiary (in either case unless such Subsidiaries are also Proposed Re-Designated Subsidiaries being designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries simultaneously therewith), (iii) immediately after giving effect to such designation the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09,
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with the covenants set forth in Section 7.09, (iv) such Proposed Re-Designated Subsidiary would not constitute a Material Subsidiary as of the end of the period of twelve consecutive months most recently ended, and (v) prior to the effectiveness of any such designation, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations demonstrating compliance with the preceding clauses (iii) through (vi). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, in no event shall (i) any Subsidiary be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it, or if any of its Subsidiaries, owns or holds (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) any material intellectual property or any other assets material to any Borrower’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s business, (ii) (A) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, or any of its Subsidiaries, own or hold (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) or (B) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary transfer (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) to any Unrestricted Subsidiary, or any of its Subsidiaries, any material intellectual property or any other assets material to any Borrower’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s business or (iii) the aggregate book value of all assets transferred (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) (after giving effect to such transfer) by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from and after the Closing Date to all Unrestricted Subsidiaries and their respective Subsidiaries equal or exceed an amount equal to 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets at the time of such transfer.
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes.
(i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the respective Borrowers hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes. If, however, applicable Laws require any Borrower or the Administrative Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax, such Tax shall be withheld or deducted in accordance with such Laws as determined by the Company or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.
(ii) If any Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding Taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent (acting on its own behalf and on behalf of such Borrower) shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company to be required based upon the information and documentation they have received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Administrative Agent (acting on its own behalf and on behalf of such Borrower) shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by such Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the
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making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction in respect of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes been made.
(iii) If any Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding Taxes, from any payment, then (A) such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company to be required based upon the information and documentation they have received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by such Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction in respect of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, each Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws.
(c) Tax Indemnifications. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above:
(i) (A) Each Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 30 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) withheld or deducted by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent or paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable out of pocket expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.
(B) Each Borrower shall also, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 30 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or the L/C Issuer for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required by clause (ii) of this subsection; provided, that no Borrower shall be required to indemnify the Administrative Agent for any amount attributable to the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Upon receipt of such indemnity payment
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and upon the request of the Borrower that made the indemnity payment, the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to assign to such Borrower any rights for compensation against such defaulting Lender or L/C Issuer (other than the right of set off pursuant to the penultimate sentence of Section 3.01(c)(ii) below) with respect to the amount it has been indemnified by the Borrower.
(C) A certificate prepared in good faith as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to the Company on behalf of the relevant Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(ii) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, indemnify each Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 30 days after demand therefor, against any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Borrower or the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against any Borrower or the Administrative Agent by any Governmental Authority (A) as a result of the failure by such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy, inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to such Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (e), or (B) attributable to such Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii). The agreements in this clause (ii) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
(d) Evidence of Payments. Upon request by the Company on behalf of any Borrower or upon the request by the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by such Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Company on behalf of such Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Company on behalf of such Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.
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(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.
(i) Each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall deliver to the Company and to the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws or when reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information as will permit the Company or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not payments made by the respective Borrowers hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender or the L/C Issuer by the respective Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s status for withholding Tax purposes in the applicable jurisdictions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), 3.01(e)(ii)(B) and 3.01(e)(iv) 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,
(A) The L/C Issuer and any Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient), on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement, executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, or such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable Laws or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will enable such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements; and
(B) Each Foreign Lender that is entitled under the Code or any applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Company 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 request of the Company on behalf of any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(I) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
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(II) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto,
(III) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, and all required supporting documentation,
(IV) 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 F-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of such Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, or
(V) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner with respect to an interest in any Loan, executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2 or Exhibit F-3, Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-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 Company 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 Company on behalf of any Borrower or the Administrative Agent) executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Laws to permit such Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
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(iii) The L/C Issuer and each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Company and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that any Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for Taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.
(iv) If any payment made pursuant to this Agreement to any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation under this Agreement would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such recipient 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), each such Lender, the L/C Issuer or other recipient shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Laws (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Company and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such recipient has complied with such recipient’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. For purposes of this Section 3.01, “Law” shall include FATCA, and, solely for purposes of this clause (iv), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender, the L/C Issuer and any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation under this Agreement agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update and deliver to the Company and Administrative Agent such form or certification or promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Borrower or with respect to which any Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to such Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that each Borrower, upon the
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request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, in no event will the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer be required to pay any amount to any Borrower pursuant to this subsection the payment of which would place Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Person would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This subsection (f) shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Borrower or any other Person.
(g) Survival of Section 3.01. The agreements in this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation and/or the replacement of the Administrative Agent, and any assignment of its rights by, or the replacement of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
3.02 Illegality. If any Lender reasonably determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to a Relevant Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon a Relevant Rate or to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars or any Alternative Currency in the applicable interbank market, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Company (through the Administrative Agent), (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or maintain Alternative Currency Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars, to make or continue Term SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans shall be, in each case, suspended, and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay all Alternative Currency Loans, as applicable, in the affected currency or currencies or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all such Term SOFR Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate), in each case, immediately, or, in the case of Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans and Term SOFR Loans, on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as applicable, to such day and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon SOFR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.
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3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.
(a) Generally. If in connection with any request for a Term SOFR Loan or an Alternative Currency Loan or a conversion of Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans or a continuation of any of such Loans, as applicable, (i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (A) no Successor Rate for the Relevant Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency has been determined in accordance with Section 3.03(b) or Section 3.03(c) and the circumstances under clause (i) of Section 3.03(b) or of Section 3.03(c) or the SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date or the Non-SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred with respect to such Relevant Rate (as applicable), or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not otherwise exist for determining the Relevant Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency for any determination date(s) or requested Interest Period, as applicable, with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Currency Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required (USD) Lenders, in the case of the Committed (USD) Facility, or the Required (MC) Lenders, in the case of the Committed (MC) Facility, determine that, for any reason, the Relevant Rate with respect to a proposed Loan denominated in an Agreed Currency for any requested Interest Period or determination date(s) does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders under the appropriate Facility to make or maintain Term SOFR Loans or Loans in the affected currency or currencies, as applicable, or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans, Alternative Currency Loans, Interest Periods or determination date(s)) and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Term SOFR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required (USD) Lenders or the Required (MC) Lenders, as the case may be, described in clause (ii) of this Section 3.03(a), until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required (USD) Lenders or the Required (MC) Lenders, as the case may be) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, or conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans, or a Borrowing of, or continuation of, Alternative Currency Loans (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans, Alternative Currency Loans, Interest Periods or determination date(s), as applicable) under the appropriate Facility or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars under the appropriate Facility in the Dollar Equivalent of the amount specified therein and (ii) (A) any outstanding Term SOFR Loans shall be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans immediately at the end of their respective applicable Interest Period and (B) any outstanding affected Alternative Currency Loans, at the Company’s election, shall either (1) be converted into a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of such outstanding Alternative Currency Loan immediately, in the case of an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, or at the end of their respective applicable Interest Period, in the case of an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan or (2) be prepaid in full immediately in the case of an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, or at the end of the applicable Interest Period, in the case of an Alternative Currency Term Rate
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Loan; provided that if no election is made by the Company (x) in the case of an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, by the date that is three Business Days after receipt by the Company of such notice or (y) in the case of an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, by the last day of the current Interest Period for the applicable Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, the Company shall be deemed to have elected clause (1) above.
(b) Replacement of SOFR or SOFR Successor Rate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Company or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Company) that the Company or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:
(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR, including, without limitation, because the Term SOFR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or
(ii) CME or any successor administrator of the Term SOFR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator with respect to its publication of Term SOFR, in each case acting in such capacity, has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate shall or will no longer be representative or made available, or permitted to be used for determining the interest rate of U.S. dollar denominated syndicated loans, or shall or will otherwise cease, provided that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that will continue to provide such representative interest periods of Term SOFR after such specific date (the latest date on which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate are no longer available permanently or indefinitely, the “SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date”);
then, on a date and time determined by the Administrative Agent (any such date, the “Term SOFR Replacement Date”), which date shall be at the end of an Interest Period or on the relevant interest payment date, as applicable, for interest calculated and, solely with respect to clause (ii) above, no later than the SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date, Term SOFR will be replaced hereunder and under any Loan Document with Daily Simple SOFR for any payment period for interest calculated that can be determined by the Administrative Agent, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (the “SOFR Successor Rate”).
If the SOFR Successor Rate is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a monthly basis.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) if the Administrative Agent determines that Daily Simple SOFR is not available on or prior to the Term SOFR Replacement Date, or (ii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(b)(i) or (ii) have occurred with respect to the SOFR Successor Rate then in effect, then, in each case, the Administrative Agent
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and the Company may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing Term SOFR or any then current SOFR Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 3.03 at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, as applicable, with an alternative benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such alternative benchmark, and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such benchmark. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments, shall constitute a “SOFR Successor Rate”. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrowers unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.
(c) Replacement of Relevant Rate or Successor Rate with Respect to Alternative Currency Loans. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Company or Required (MC) Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required (MC) Lenders, a copy to the Company) that the Company or Required (MC) Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:
(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Relevant Rate (other than Term SOFR) for an Agreed Currency (other than Dollars) because none of the tenors of such Relevant Rate (other than Term SOFR) under this Agreement is available or published on a current basis, and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or
(ii) the Applicable Authority has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which all tenors of the Relevant Rate (other than Term SOFR) for an Agreed Currency (other than Dollars) under this Agreement shall or will no longer be representative or made available, or permitted to be used for determining the interest rate of syndicated loans denominated in such Agreed Currency (other than Dollars), or shall or will otherwise cease, provided that, in each case, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that will continue to provide such representative tenor(s) of the Relevant Rate (other than Term SOFR) for such Agreed Currency (other than Dollars) (the latest date on which all tenors of the Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency (other than Dollars) under this Agreement are no longer representative or available permanently or indefinitely, the “Non-SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date”);
or if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(c)(i) or (ii) have occurred with respect to the Non-SOFR Successor Rate then in effect, then, the Administrative Agent and the Company may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing such Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency or any then current Non-SOFR Successor Rate for an Agreed Currency in accordance with this Section 3.03(c) with an alternative benchmark rate giving due
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consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States and denominated in such Agreed Currency for such alternative benchmarks, and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States and denominated in such Agreed Currency for such benchmarks (and any such proposed rate, including for the avoidance of doubt, any adjustment thereto, a “Non-SOFR Successor Rate”, and collectively with the SOFR Successor Rate, each a “Successor Rate”), and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrowers unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required (MC) Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required (MC) Lenders object to such amendment.
(d) Successor Rate. The Administrative Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Company and each Lender of the implementation of any Successor Rate.
Any Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.
Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than zero, the Successor Rate will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
In connection with the implementation of a Successor Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrowers and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
(e) Determination of Required Lenders. For the purposes of this Section 3.03, those Lenders that either have not made, or do not have an obligation under this Agreement to make, the relevant Loans in the relevant Alternative Currency shall be excluded from any determination of Required Lenders.
3.04 Increased Costs.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender or the L/C Issuer;
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(ii) subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any Bankers’ Acceptance, any participation in a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance or any Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Currency Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (e) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes); or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or any applicable interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than any Tax) affecting this Agreement or Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer reasonably determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptances or Swing Line Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Company shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 Business Days after receipt thereof.
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(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that no Borrower shall be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Certain Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no Lender or L/C Issuer shall demand compensation for any increased cost or reduction pursuant to this Section 3.04 if it shall not at the time be the general policy or practice of such Lender or L/C Issuer to demand such compensation from similarly situated customers under comparable provisions of similar agreements; provided that nothing in this Section shall require any Lender or any L/C Issuer to disclose any confidential information related to similarly situated customers, comparable provisions of similar agreements or otherwise.
3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Company shall promptly compensate (or cause the applicable Borrower to compensate) such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by any Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Company or the applicable Borrower;
(c) any failure by any Borrower to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency; or
(d) any assignment of a Term SOFR Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 10.13;
including any loss of anticipated profits, any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract. The Company shall also pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Company (or the applicable Borrower) to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan made by it at the Alternative Currency Term Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the interbank market for such currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan was in fact so funded.
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3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to any Borrower through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Company such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, 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 or the L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Company hereby agrees to pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Company may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.
3.07 Survival. All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and resignation of the Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
4.01 Conditions to Closing Date. The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Documentation. The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles or electronic copies (including “PDF” and “TIFF” files) (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Borrower, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement;
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(ii) a Note executed by each Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Borrower as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party;
(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that each Borrower is validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization;
(v) favorable opinions of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP and such local counsel as the Administrative Agent shall request, in each case addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to such matters concerning the Borrowers and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;
(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Borrower either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Borrower and the validity against such Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;
(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying (A) that the representations and warranties of each Borrower contained in Article V and contained in each other Loan Document or in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date, except that if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty is true and correct in all respects, (B) that no Default exists as of the Closing Date or would result from the effectiveness of this Agreement, (C) that there does not exist any pending or threatened action, suit, investigation or proceeding in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that (1) purports to affect any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of any Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (2) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (D) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (E) as to the current Debt Rating and Consolidated Leverage Ratio; and
(viii) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Lenders reasonably may require.
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(b) Fees. Any fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
(c) Expenses. Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Company shall have paid all reasonable and out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced in reasonable detail at least 2 Business Days prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Company and the Administrative Agent and provided further that the Company shall not be required under this clause (c) to pay the fees and expenses of (i) more than one principal outside counsel for the Administrative Agent, (ii) more than one outside counsel acting as regulatory counsel for the Administrative Agent or (iii) more than a single local counsel for the Administrative Agent in any relevant jurisdiction as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (and which may include a single local counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)).
(d) PATRIOT Act / KYC Information. Each Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date in order to comply with requirements of the Act, applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and each Borrower that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have delivered, to each Lender that so requests at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Borrower.
(e) Financial Information. The receipt and satisfactory review by each of the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers of such financial information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers may reasonably request.
(f) Payment of Amounts under Existing Credit Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that, substantially simultaneously with the initial funding of Loans on the Closing Date, (i) all outstanding principal, interest and other obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement with respect to the Term Loans (as defined therein) shall be paid in full and (ii) appropriate arrangements shall have been made among all Lenders and Existing Lenders (including those Existing Lenders not electing to become Lenders hereunder, if any) with respect to all other obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement so as to reflect the Commitments and Applicable Percentages of the Lenders contemplated hereby and cause all applicable outstanding amounts hereunder to be consistent with such Commitments and Applicable Percentages.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
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4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions. Subject to Section 1.12, the obligation of each Lender and each L/C Issuer to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) The representations and warranties of each Borrower contained in Article V and in each other Loan Document or in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except that (A) if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty shall be required to be true and correct in all respects, (B) to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date (except that if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty shall be required to be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), (C) for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (D) the representations and warranties in Section 5.05(d) and Section 5.06 need only be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.
(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or the application of the proceeds thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.
(d) In the case of a Credit Extension to be denominated in an Alternative Currency, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, the Required (MC) Lenders (in the case of any Loans to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) or the L/C Issuer (in the case of any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) would make it impracticable for such Credit Extension to be denominated in such Alternative Currency. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither any Lender nor the L/C Issuer shall be absolved from any obligation to honor any Request for Credit Extension as a result of this Section 4.02(d) unless any of the Administrative Agent, the Required (MC) Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, is generally electing not to make extensions of credit of the type referred to herein to similarly situated customers under similar agreements as a result of one or more of the events described herein; provided that nothing in this Section shall require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to disclose any confidential information related to similarly situated customers, comparable provisions of similar agreements or otherwise.
Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans) submitted by the Company shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.
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ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. Each Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of each Loan Document to which such Borrower is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action. The execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of each Loan Document to which such Borrower is party do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law; except in each case referred to in clause (b) or (c), to the extent that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for the authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect.
5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Borrower that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Borrower, enforceable against each Borrower that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws.
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5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for material Taxes, commitments and Indebtedness.
(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries dated March 31, 2025, and the related consolidated statement of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments. Schedule 5.05 sets forth all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of such financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, including liabilities for material Taxes, commitments and Indebtedness.
(c) Any Reconciliations delivered with respect to the financial statements described in clauses (a) and (b) above (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of the financial statements described in clause (b), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.
(d) Since December 31, 2024, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their respective properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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5.07 No Default. Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to (a) any Contractual Obligation the breach of which could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) any Senior Notes Document. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. The Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.
5.09 Environmental Compliance. The Company has reasonably concluded that existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are insured with (a) financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company and/or (b) a Captive Insurance Subsidiary, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary operates and as otherwise required by the applicable provisions of this Agreement.
5.11 Taxes. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all U.S. Federal and all other material Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all U.S. Federal and all other material Taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed Tax assessment in writing against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.12 ERISA Compliance.
(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state laws. Each Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or is entitled to rely upon an opinion letter or advisory opinion issued by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to a prototype plan document, to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from Federal income Tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service. To the best knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.
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(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) (i) Other than those listed on Schedule 5.12(c) hereto, no ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Company and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Single Employer Pension Plan (and to the actual knowledge of the Company and its ERISA Affiliates, in respect of each Multiemployer Plan and Multiple Employer Plan) and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained with respect to any Single Employer Pension Plan (and to the actual knowledge of the Company and its ERISA Affiliate, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and Multiple Employer Plan); (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Single Employer Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.
(d) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (A) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 5.12(d) hereto and (B) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.
(e) With respect to each scheme or arrangement mandated by a government other than the United States (a “Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement”) and with respect to each employee benefit plan maintained or contributed to by any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Borrower that is not subject to United States law (a “Foreign Plan”):
(i) any employer and employee contributions required by law or by the terms of any Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement or any Foreign Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued, in accordance with normal accounting practices, except to the extent that the failure to comply with such law or such terms could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
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(ii) the fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Foreign Plan funded through insurance or the book reserve established for any Foreign Plan, together with any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations, as of the Closing Date, with respect to all current and former participants in such Foreign Plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to account for such obligations in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles, except to the extent that such insufficiency could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(iii) each Foreign Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, except to the extent that such failure to register or maintain good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Each Borrower represents and warrants as of the Closing Date that such Borrower is not and will not be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments.
5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, the Company has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Persons in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens except Liens permitted by Section 7.01(c). As of the Closing Date, the Company has no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those separately disclosed in the Schedule of Investments provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on the Closing Date. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Company have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Set forth on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13 is a complete and accurate list of all Restricted Subsidiaries and all Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. The copy of the charter of each Borrower and each amendment thereto provided pursuant to Section 4.01(a) is a true and correct copy of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force and effect.
5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) No Borrower is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.
(b) None of the Company, any Person Controlling the Company, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
5.15 Disclosure. The Company has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and 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. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions
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contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other written information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole and in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no actual or purported oral statement shall be deemed to modify or qualify any written statement and provided further that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that projected financial information is as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts, projected financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Borrowers, that no assurance can be given that any particular projected financial information will be realized and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any of such projected financial information may differ significantly from the projected results and such differences may be material).
5.16 Compliance with Laws. Each Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.17 Taxpayer Identification Number; Other Identifying Information. The true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number of the Company is set forth on Schedule 10.02.
5.18 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. To the best knowledge of the Company and except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person and (ii) no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.19 Solvency. The Company is, together with its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, Solvent, and the Borrowers are, on a consolidated basis, Solvent.
5.20 Casualty, Etc. Neither the businesses nor the properties of any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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5.21 Labor Matters. Except as specifically disclosed on Schedule 5.21, there are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years.
5.22 [Reserved].
5.23 OFAC; Anti-Corruption Laws.
(a) Neither any Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent, or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is, (i) currently the subject or target of any applicable Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, His Majesty’s Treasury’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with all Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions and, to the extent applicable, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Anti-Corruption Laws, such Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions.
5.24 [Reserved].
5.25 Affected Financial Institution. No Borrower is an Affected Financial Institution.
5.26 Beneficial Ownership Certification. As of the Closing Date, the information included in any Beneficial Ownership Certification, if applicable, is true and correct in all material respects.
5.27 Covered Entities. No Borrower is a Covered Entity.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than any contingent obligation in respect of which no claim has been made) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance shall remain outstanding, the Company shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:
6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (or, if earlier, 15 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (giving
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effect to any extension permitted by the SEC so long as the Company provides the Administrative Agent, prior to the date of any such extension, with a reasonably detailed written explanation of its reason for seeking such extension)) (commencing with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (or, following the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year Effective Date, the equivalent date pursuant to the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year)), (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of BDO USA, LLP or another independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception (other than with respect to, or resulting from, a current debt maturity) or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit, (ii) to the extent there are any Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year, a Reconciliation with respect to each of the financial statements described in the foregoing clause (i), all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Company as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and (iii) a report summarizing contracts in progress as at the end of such fiscal year; and
(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 50 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company (or, if earlier, 5 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC so long as the Company provides the Administrative Agent, prior to the date of any such extension, with a reasonably detailed written explanation of its reason for seeking such extension)), (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statement of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Company’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Company’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in each case in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Company as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, (ii) to the extent there are any Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter, a Reconciliation with respect to each of the financial statements described in the foregoing clause (i), all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Company as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and (iii) a report summarizing contracts in progress as at the end of such fiscal quarter.
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As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(b), the Company shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Company to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.
6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Company (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent, or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);
(b) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Company, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Company may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;
(c) promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including, without limitation, the Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation; and
(d) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(b) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Company’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Company’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that the Company shall deliver paper copies or soft copies (i.e. by electronic mail) of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Company to deliver such paper copies or soft copies. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Company with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
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Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or an Arranger may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to any of the Borrowers or their respective Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. Each Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”, such Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to such Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information”; and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information”.
6.03 Notices. Reasonably promptly (and in any event within 5 Business Days) after any Borrower obtains knowledge thereof notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (it being agreed that notice to the Lenders may be accomplished by the Administrative Agent posting such information on the Platform to the extent requested by the Company):
(a) of the occurrence of any Default;
(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including a Material Adverse Effect that has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, from (i) a breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Company or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;
(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;
(d) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any determination by the Company referred to in Section 2.10(b);
(e) of any default under any Senior Notes Document;
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(f) of the addition of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Indemnitor under the Indemnity Agreement and of the occurrence of (i) any Default under and as defined in the Indemnity Agreement or (ii) of any fact, condition or event that only with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would become a Default under and as defined in the Indemnity Agreement; and
(g) of any announcement by Moody’s or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating.
Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than pursuant to Section 6.03(g)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Company setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(f) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of any Surety Credit Documents that have been breached.
6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable (a) all U.S. Federal and all other material Tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary; and (b) all lawful material claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property.
6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05, except to the extent a failure to maintain good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Maintenance of Properties. Except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof.
6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with (a) financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company and/or (b) a Captive Insurance Subsidiary, (i) insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons and (ii) business interruption insurance in an amount not less than $3,000,000 per occurrence.
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6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall comply with all Laws, orders, writs, injunctions and decrees described in Section 5.23 in all respects.
6.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.
6.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Company and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; provided, however, that (a) representatives and independent contractors of each Lender may accompany the representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent on each such visit and inspection and participate therein, but at such Lender’s own expense, (b) unless an Event of Default exists, only one such visit, inspection, examination or discussion may be conducted per fiscal year and (c) when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing as often as may be reasonably desired at the expense of the Company at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.
6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document, (b) to finance Permitted Acquisitions, (c) to repay, prepay, redeem or repurchase the Senior Notes Indebtedness or any other Indebtedness and (d) in the case of the Loans advanced on the Closing Date, to repay in full all obligations outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement.
6.12 Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, comply, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance with the requirements of all applicable Environmental Laws; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.
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6.13 Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Sanctions. Conduct its businesses in compliance in all material respects with all Anti-Corruption Laws and, to the extent applicable, all Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Laws and Sanctions.
ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than any contingent obligation in respect of which no claim has been made) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance shall remain outstanding, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:
(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;
(b) Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.01(b) and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.03(d), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.03(d);
(c) Liens for Taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;
(d) statutory and common law liens of landlords and carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;
(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;
(f) deposits to secure the performance of tenders, bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory or regulatory obligations, bankers’ acceptances, appeal bonds, government contracts, and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, municipal and zoning ordinances and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;
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(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);
(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(g); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value (as determined by the Company in good faith), whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;
(j) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks and other depositary institutions and Liens of a collecting bank arising under the UCC on checks and other items of payment in the course of collection;
(k) Liens in favor of a Receivables Financier created or deemed to exist in connection with a Permitted Receivables Transaction (including any related filings of any financing statements and any Liens on deposit and securities accounts maintained in connection with any Permitted Receivables Transaction), but only to the extent that any such Lien relates to the applicable Transferred Assets actually sold, contributed, financed or otherwise conveyed or pledged pursuant to such transaction;
(l) Liens arising as a matter of law which secure the obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (including any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or an Investment permitted by this Agreement) under any surety bond provided in the ordinary course of business;
(m) Liens on property, assets or revenues of a Person that becomes a Subsidiary existing at the time that such Person becomes a Subsidiary in connection with an Acquisition permitted pursuant to Section 7.02, or of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries existing at the time such property, assets or revenues is purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such an Acquisition; provided that (i) such Liens are not incurred in connection with, or in anticipation of, such Acquisition, (ii) such Liens do not encumber any property, assets or revenues other than property, assets or revenues encumbered at the time of such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such property, assets or revenues were acquired and the proceeds and products thereof and are not all asset Liens, (iii) such Liens do not attach to any other property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (iv) such Liens will secure only those obligations which it secures at the time such Acquisition occurs;
(n) Liens on Qualified Securitization Assets securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(h);
(o) Liens on cash set aside with respect to any Indebtedness in connection with a prepayment permitted hereunder, or government securities purchased with such cash, in either case, to the extent but only to the extent that such cash or government securities pre-fund the payment of principal and/or interest on such Indebtedness and are held in a collateral or escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose; provided that such Indebtedness is permitted to be defeased under the terms thereof at the time such cash is set aside or securities are purchased;
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(p) leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(q) Liens of lessors in any property subject to any operating lease, including Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statements or similar filings made in respect of such leases;
(r) [Reserved];
(s) Liens in favor of any Borrower;
(t) [Reserved];
(u) 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;
(v) [Reserved];
(w) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the past practices of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date;
(x) Liens solely on cash earnest money deposits made in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in connection with an Investment permitted hereunder;
(y) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to capital stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement; provided that any entity formed as part of such joint venture remains subject to the provisions of this Agreement to the extent provided herein;
(z) Liens on cash reserves securing Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of surety bonds permitted by Section 7.03(o)(i); provided that the aggregate amount of all such deposits and cash reserves provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of surety bonds permitted by Section 7.03(o)(i) shall not, at any time, exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of all such surety bonds; and
(aa) other Liens; provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of all Priority Indebtedness shall not exceed, at the time of creation, incurrence or assumption of such Lien (and after giving effect thereto), the greater of (i) $600,000,000 and (ii) an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such creation, incurrence or assumption.
7.02 Acquisitions. Make any Acquisition, except Permitted Acquisitions.
7.03 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;
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(b) [Reserved];
(c) [Reserved];
(d) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(e) (i) Guarantees of any Borrower in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Borrower and (ii) Guarantees of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than MasTec NA) in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any other Restricted Subsidiary (other than MasTec NA);
(f) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation;
(g) (i) Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(i); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness, together with the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to subclause (ii) of this clause (g), outstanding at the time of such incurrence (after giving effect to such Indebtedness) shall not exceed the greater of (A) $900,000,000 and (B) an amount equal to 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such incurrence; and (ii) Permitted Refinancings of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the foregoing subclause (i) of this clause (g);
(h) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Securitization Transactions; provided that the aggregate amount of all such Attributable Indebtedness shall not exceed, at the time of creation, incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness (and after giving effect thereto), the greater of (i) $500,000,000 and (ii) an amount equal to 8.5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such creation, incurrence or assumption;
(i) Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person became a Subsidiary in connection with an Acquisition permitted pursuant to Section 7.02 or that is otherwise assumed in connection with such Acquisition; provided that (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary or the acquisition of such assets and (ii) neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary thereof (other than such Person or any other Person that such Person merges with or that acquires the assets of such Person) shall have any liability or other obligation with respect to such Indebtedness;
(j) unsecured Indebtedness of any Borrower; provided, however, that (i) immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the Company will be in compliance, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09, with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.09 and (ii) such Indebtedness shall not be subject to any financial covenant which is more restrictive than the financial covenants in the Loan Documents at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness;
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(k) Indebtedness (which is unsecured if owed by a Borrower) owed (i) to a Borrower or (ii) to any other Restricted Subsidiary;
(l) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;
(m) indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnout or similar obligations (including any Earnout Obligations), in each case, on customary terms incurred or assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or permitted Disposition of any business or assets of any Restricted Subsidiary or Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary;
(n) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business;
(o) (i) obligations of any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under surety bonds provided in the ordinary course of business (and indemnity and reimbursement obligations related thereto), (ii) obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries under any Surety Credit Documents, and (iii) obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (including any Person with which such Restricted Subsidiary is merged or consolidated pursuant to the applicable Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted by this Agreement) that in either case is acquired subsequent to the Closing Date pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted by this Agreement with respect to any surety bonds in existence at the time of the applicable Permitted Acquisition or other Investment; provided that such surety bonds (x) were provided in the ordinary course of business or (y) are released or replaced with surety bonds issued pursuant to Surety Credit Documents in accordance with this Agreement, or replaced with surety bonds provided in the ordinary course of business, within two hundred twenty-five (225) days of the date of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment;
(p) [Reserved];
(q) obligations in connection with any Permitted Receivables Transaction, to the extent such obligations constitute Indebtedness; and
(r) other Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of all Priority Indebtedness shall not exceed, at the time of creation, incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness (and after giving effect thereto), the greater of (i) $600,000,000 and (ii) an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such creation, incurrence or assumption.
7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:
(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with (i) the Company; provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that when MasTec NA is merging into or consolidating with another Restricted Subsidiary, MasTec NA shall be the continuing or surviving Person;
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(b) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is MasTec NA, then the transferee must be the Company;
(c) in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided that (i) the Person surviving such merger or consolidation shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) in the case of any such merger or consolidation to which MasTec NA is a party, MasTec NA or the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person; and
(d) each of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided that such merger or consolidation is permitted under Section 7.02 (and, if not an Acquisition, such merger or consolidation is part of a transaction or series of transactions that would satisfy the requirements set forth in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition”, if such merger or consolidation were an Acquisition, and does not conflict with any other provision of this Agreement) and provided further, however, that in each case, immediately after giving effect thereto (i) in the case of any such merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party, the Company is the surviving Person and (ii) in the case of any merger or consolidation to which the Company is not a party, (A) the Person surviving such merger or consolidation shall be a Restricted Subsidiary and (B) in the case of any such merger or consolidation to which MasTec NA is a party, MasTec NA or the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person.
7.05 Dispositions. Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:
(a) Dispositions of obsolete, worn out, excess, surplus or idle property or property no longer used in the business of such Person, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;
(b) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(c) Dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;
(d) Dispositions of property by any Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary to any Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary;
(e) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04;
(f) [Reserved];
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(g) Dispositions by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05; provided that at the time of such Disposition, (i) no Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition, (ii) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (g) (after giving effect to such Disposition) after the Closing Date shall not exceed an amount equal to 35% of Consolidated Total Assets at the time of such Disposition and (iii) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (g) (after giving effect to such Disposition) after the Closing Date in a single Disposition transaction shall not exceed an amount equal to 20% of Consolidated Total Assets at the time of such Disposition;
(h) non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of IP Rights in the ordinary course of business and substantially consistent with past practice, and leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(i) Dispositions of non-core assets acquired in a Permitted Acquisition by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries within 18 months of such Permitted Acquisition; provided that such non-core assets, in the aggregate, do not exceed 40% of the consolidated net assets (measured using the definition of “Consolidated Net Assets” mutatis mutandis and measured as of the date of such Permitted Acquisition) acquired pursuant to such Permitted Acquisition;
(j) any settlement of or payment in respect of, or series of settlements or payments in respect of, any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(k) Dispositions of property constituting the making of Permitted Acquisitions permitted under Section 7.02; and
(l) (i) the sale of past due accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business consistent with the practices of similarly situated companies and (ii) Dispositions made as part of a Permitted Receivables Transaction or a Securitization Transaction;
provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to clauses (a) through (k) shall be for fair market value.
7.06 Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by it on the Closing Date and any business or activities which are similar, related or incidental thereto.
7.07 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any material transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business; provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (a) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; (b) payment of reasonable compensation to officers and employees for services actually rendered to Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries; (c) payment of customary directors’ fees and indemnities; (d) transactions with Affiliates that were consummated prior to the Closing Date and are set forth on Schedule 7.07; (e) transactions with Affiliates upon fair and reasonable terms and are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary; and (f) transactions between or among the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries subject to compliance by such Subsidiaries with the other requirements of Article VII.
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7.08 Use of Proceeds.
(a) Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.
(b) Directly, or to any Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions to the extent in violation of applicable Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender, or otherwise) of applicable Sanctions.
(c) Directly, or to any Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach any Anti-Corruption Law or any Anti-Money Laundering Law.
7.09 Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2025) to be greater than 3.50 to 1.00.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Permitted Acquisition or series of Permitted Acquisitions with aggregate consideration of more than $200,000,000 occurs during a fiscal quarter ending on or after the Closing Date, the Company shall have the right to permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed 3.50 to 1.00 during such fiscal quarter and the subsequent four fiscal quarters (such five fiscal quarters, an “Elevated Ratio Period”) so long as the Consolidated Leverage Ratio does not exceed 4.00 to 1.00 at any time during the Elevated Ratio Period.
7.10 Amendments of Organization Documents. Amend any of its Organization Documents, except for amendments that do not affect (a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary’s right and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party or (b) the authority and obligation of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to perform and pay the Obligations.
7.11 Fiscal Year. Make any change in its fiscal year, other than changing to a 52/53 Week Fiscal Year.
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ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an event of default, (each, an “Event of Default”):
(a) Non-Payment. Any Borrower fails to (i) pay when and as required to be paid herein, and in the currency required hereunder, any amount of principal of any Loan due on the final maturity date thereof or any L/C Obligation or deposit any funds as Cash Collateral in respect of L/C Obligations, (ii) pay within three Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, any fee due hereunder, or (iii) pay within five Business Days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. (i) Any Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02(a), 6.03(a), 6.03(b), 6.05 (in respect of any Borrower), 6.10 or 6.11 or Article VII; or
(c) Other Defaults. Any Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days following the earlier to occur of (i) the date a Responsible Officer obtains knowledge of such failure and (ii) the date that a Responsible Officer receives notice from the Administrative Agent of such failure; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Borrower herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or
(e) Cross-Default. (i) The Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and penal sums under any surety bond and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party
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(as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Company or any Significant Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Company or any Significant Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or
(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer meets the requirements set forth in Section 6.07, has been notified of the potential claim and does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or
(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount during any period of twelve consecutive months in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or
(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Borrower or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document;
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(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or
(l) Default under Indemnity Agreement. There shall occur a Default under, and as defined in, the Indemnity Agreement and the Company (as defined in the Indemnity Agreement) shall have exercised any remedies in respect thereof.
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers;
(c) require that the Company Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and
(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Company to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.16 and 2.17, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
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Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest, Letter of Credit Fees and BA Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer arising under the Loan Documents and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and BA Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, and Bankers’ Acceptances to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.16, ratably among the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fifth held by them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Company or as otherwise required by Law.
Subject to Section 2.03(d) and 2.16, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.
ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and no Borrower shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.
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9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial, advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or to provide notice or consent of the Lenders with respect thereto.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Administrative Agent, nor any Arranger, as applicable, shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent or any Arranger, as applicable, and its Related Parties:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law;
(c) shall not have any duty or responsibility to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Borrowers or any of their respective Affiliates, that is communicated to, obtained or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Related Parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein;
(d) shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Company, a Lender or the L/C Issuer; and
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(e) shall not be responsible for or have any duty or obligation to any Lender or participant or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.
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9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Company. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank (a) with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States, and (b) prior to an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 8.01(a) or (f) approved by the Company. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring Administrative Agent as of the effective date of such resignation), and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Company to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Company and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and (ii) after such resignation for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including (A) acting as collateral agent or otherwise holding any collateral security on behalf of any of the Lenders and (B) in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.
Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. If Bank of America resigns as the L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as the L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative
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Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances in substitution for the Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as another Lender is willing to act as a swing line lender, such successor shall not be required to succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Swing Line Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as another L/C Issuer is willing to and has satisfied the provisions of clause (c) of the preceding sentence, such successor shall not be required to succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer nor satisfy the requirements of such clause (c).
9.07 Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent, any Arranger and the Other Lenders. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer expressly acknowledges that none of the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or such Arranger to any Lender or the L/C Issuer as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent or such Arranger has disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer represents to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrowers hereunder. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrowers. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender or L/C Issuer for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or L/C Issuer, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or
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hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Co-Syndication Agents, Co-Documentation Agents, the Joint Lead Arrangers or Joint Bookrunners listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, 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, L/C Obligations 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 L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i), (j) and (k), 2.09, 2.10(b) and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer 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 and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09, 2.10(b) and 10.04.
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 the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer or authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.
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9.10 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 any Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement,
(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,
(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
(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 either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding subsection (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Borrower, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into,
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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 Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
9.11 Recovery of Erroneous Payments. Without limitation of any other provision in this Agreement, if at any time the Administrative Agent makes a payment hereunder in error to any Lender Recipient Party, whether or not in respect of an Obligation due and owing by any Borrower at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each Lender Recipient Party receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Lender Recipient Party in Same Day Funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount is received by it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Overnight Rate. Each Lender Recipient Party irrevocably waives any and all defenses, including any “discharge for value” (under which a creditor might otherwise claim a right to retain funds mistakenly paid by a third party in respect of a debt owed by another) or similar defense to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount. The Administrative Agent shall inform each Lender Recipient Party promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Lender Recipient Party comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount.
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc. Subject to Section 3.03(c) and the last two paragraphs of this Section 10.01, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Borrowers, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01 (other than Section 4.01(c)) without the written consent of each Lender;
(b) extend or increase any Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document (except as expressly provided in Section 2.18) without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any interest, fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to such amount; provided, however, that only the consent of the
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Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of any Borrower to pay interest, Letter of Credit Fees or BA Fees at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;
(e) change (i) Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would have the effect of altering the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender or (ii) subordinate, or have the effect of subordinating, the Obligations hereunder to any other Indebtedness or other obligation, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby except in the case of (A) any Indebtedness that is expressly permitted by this Agreement to be senior to the Obligations and/or be secured, (B) any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to an asset based facility, factoring, securitization or other similar facility, the incurrence of which is otherwise approved by the Required Lenders, (C) any “debtor-in-possession” facility (or similar financing under applicable law) that does not provide for the “roll up” of any existing obligations or the use of cash collateral in any insolvency proceeding or (D) any other Indebtedness so long as the opportunity to participate in such Indebtedness is offered ratably to all adversely affected Lenders;
(f) change (i) any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder (other than as provided in subclause (ii) of this clause (f)), without the written consent of each Lender or (ii) the definition of “Required (USD) Lenders” or “Required (MC) Lenders” without the written consent of each Committed (USD) Lender or each Committed (MC) Lender, as the case may be;
(g) impose any greater restriction on the ability of any Lender under a Facility to assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the Required (USD) Lenders, in the case of the Committed (USD) Facility or the Required (MC) Lenders, in the case of the Committed (MC) Facility; or
(h) amend the definition of “Alternative Currency” or “Alternative Currency Daily Rate” or “Alternative Currency Term Rate” without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) the Fee Letters may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any
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amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender or all Lenders or each affected Lender under a Facility may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) no Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may be increased or extended without the consent of such Defaulting Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment, consent or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender or all Lenders or each affected Lender under a Facility that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Company and the Incremental Lenders providing the relevant Incremental Increase to permit the Incremental Amendment in accordance with Section 2.15 and (2) the Letter of Credit Sublimit and the Swing Line Sublimit may be increased by the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, in accordance with Section 2.15(d) without the consent of any Lender.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement and each other Loan Document may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated, such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the schedules and exhibits thereto), then the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or electronic mail as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to a Borrower, the Administrative Agent or Bank of America, in its capacity as an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
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(ii) if to any other Lender or L/C Issuer, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Company).
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile or electronic mail shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Company may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, e-mail or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, e-mail or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its
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Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to any Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.
(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic notices, Loan Notices, Letter of Credit Applications, Notices of Loan Prepayment, and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Borrowers or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuer; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrowers shall, jointly and severally, pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (limited in respect of legal fees to reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent, and of a single regulatory counsel and single local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction which may include a special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptance or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer (limited in respect of legal fees to the fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel and one local counsel and one applicable regulatory counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and one counsel and one local counsel and one applicable regulatory counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Lenders (and, in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel to all such affected Lenders similarly situated, taken as a whole)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with Loans made or Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans, Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances.
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(b) Indemnification by the Borrowers. The Borrowers shall, jointly and severally, indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by any Borrower arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without limitation, the Indemnitee’s reliance on any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature, or in the form of an Electronic Record), the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan, Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any such presence, alleged presence, release or Environmental Liability resulting solely from acts or omissions by Persons other than any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the Administrative Agent sells the applicable property pursuant to a foreclosure or has accepted a deed in lieu of foreclosure), or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Borrower, 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 losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) relate to the matters referred to in Sections 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05 (which Sections set forth the sole remedies in respect of the matters set forth therein) or relate to any other Taxes (other than Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses arising from a non-Tax claim), (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (y) result from a claim brought by any Borrower against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) arise out of, or in connection with, any proceeding that does not involve an act or omission by a Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is brought by an Indemnitee against any other Indemnitee (other than any proceeding against any Indemnitee in its capacity or fulfilling its role as the Administrative Agent, an Arranger, the L/C Issuer or any similar role); provided further that the reimbursement of fees, charges and disbursements of counsel shall be limited to one counsel and one local counsel and one applicable regulatory counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and one counsel and one local counsel and one applicable regulatory counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the other Indemnitees (and, in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel to all such affected Indemnitees similarly situated, taken as a whole).
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(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrowers for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no Borrower shall assert, and each Borrower hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, and no Indemnitee shall assert, and each Indemnitee hereby waives, any claim against any Borrower, in each case on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan, Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
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10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitment(s) and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that (in each case with respect to any Facility) any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment under any Facility and/or the Loans at the time owing to it (in each case with respect to any Facility) or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
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(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the applicable Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. 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 and the other Loan Documents with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans.
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 8.01(a) or 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment; provided that the Company 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;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any USD Commitment or any MC Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect of the applicable Facility, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and
(C) the consent of the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Committed (USD) Facility.
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
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(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) to a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural Persons).
(vi) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
(vii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, each Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.
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(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by each of the Borrowers and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, any Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the L/C Issuer, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural Persons, a Defaulting Lender or the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in, or enter into a swap or derivative transaction in respect of all or a portion of, such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment(s) and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 3.01(e)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 10.13 as if it were an assignee under subsection (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation 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
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the Company’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrowers to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 and Section 10.13 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, 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.
(e) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note(s), if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(f) Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its USD Commitment and Loans under the Committed (USD) Facility pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (A) upon 30 days’ notice to the Company and the Committed (USD) Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (B) upon 30 days’ notice to the Company, resign as Swing Line Lender, and (ii) if at any time any other Lender acting as an L/C Issuer assigns all of its USD Commitment and Loans under the Committed (USD) Facility pursuant to subsection (b) above, such Lender may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Company and the Committed (USD) Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Company shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Company to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, or any other Lender as an L/C Issuer. If Bank of America or any other Lender resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances outstanding and issued by it as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed (USD) Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(d)). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and
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outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed (USD) Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances in substitution for the Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America or such other retiring L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America or such other retiring L/C Issuer, as the case may be, with respect to such Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances issued by it.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates, its auditors and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.15(c) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to a Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Company or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder, (ii) the provider of any Platform or other electronic delivery service used by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender to deliver Borrower Materials or notices to the Lenders or (iii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the application, issuance, publishing and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Company or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section, (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company or (z) is independently discovered or developed by a party hereto without utilizing any Information received from the Company or violating the terms of this Section 10.07. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.
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For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Company or any Subsidiary relating to the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from the Company or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein prohibits any individual from communicating or disclosing information regarding suspected violations of laws, rules, or regulations to a governmental, regulatory, or self-regulatory authority without any notification to any person.
10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower against any and all of the obligations of such Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, the L/C Issuer or such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender, the L/C Issuer or such Affiliate different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Company 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.
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10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Company. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
10.10 Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer 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 that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance shall remain outstanding.
10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
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10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If the Company is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender (as defined below), then the Company 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, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to 100% of the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(d) in the case of any such assignment by a Non-Consenting Lender, the assignee must have approved in writing the substance of the amendment, waiver or consent which caused the assignor to be a Non-Consenting Lender; and
(e) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
For the purposes of this Section 10.13, a “Non-Consenting Lender” means (a) any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (i) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (ii) has been approved by the Required Lenders, (b) any Committed (USD) Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (i) requires the approval of all Committed (USD) Lenders or all affected Committed (USD) Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (ii) has been approved by the Required (USD) Lenders or (c) any Committed (MC) Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (i) requires the approval of all Committed (MC) Lenders or all affected Committed (MC) Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (ii) has been approved by the Required (MC) Lenders.
Each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 10.13 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have
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consented to be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided, further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.13 to the contrary, (i) any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements satisfactory to such Lender (including the furnishing of a backstop standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer, reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer or the depositing of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to such outstanding Letter of Credit and (ii) the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.06.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
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(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR 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 APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between such Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) such Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) such Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for such Borrower or any of its Affiliates or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to such Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders and their
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respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of such Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to such Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrowers hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
10.17 Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts. This Agreement, any Loan Document and any other Communication, including Communications required to be in writing, may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures. Each of the Borrowers and each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender Party agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered. Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and electronic counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Administrative Agent and each of the Lender Parties may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (“Electronic Copy”), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document. All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer nor Swing Line Lender is under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lender Parties shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower and/or any Lender Party without further verification and (b) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.
Neither the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer nor Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s, L/C Issuer’s or Swing Line Lender’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means). The Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any Communication (which writing may be a fax,
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any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution or signed using an Electronic Signature) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
Each of the Borrowers and each Lender Party hereby waives (i) any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement or such other Loan Document, and (ii) any claim against the Administrative Agent, each Lender Party and each Related Party of any of the foregoing for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender Party’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrowers to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.
10.18 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers, which information includes the name and address of each Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Borrower in accordance with the Act. Each Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including the Act.
10.19 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 each Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, 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, any Lender or any L/C Issuer from any Borrower in the Agreement Currency, such Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, 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, any Lender or any L/C Issuer in such currency, the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to such Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).
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10.20 Designation as Senior Debt. All Obligations shall be “Designated Senior Indebtedness” (or any similar term) for purposes of and as defined in any documentation evidencing any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in which such concept is applicable.
10.21 Amendment and Restatement; No Novation. This Agreement constitutes an amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement, effective from and after the Closing Date. The execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not constitute a novation of any indebtedness or other obligations owing to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under the Existing Credit Agreement based on facts or events occurring or existing prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement. On the Closing Date, the credit facilities described in the Existing Credit Agreement, shall be amended, supplemented, modified and restated in their entirety by the facilities described herein, and all loans and other obligations of the Borrowers outstanding as of such date under the Existing Credit Agreement, shall be deemed to be loans and obligations outstanding under the corresponding facilities described herein, without any further action by any Person, except that the Administrative Agent shall make such transfers of funds as are necessary in order that the outstanding balance of such Loans, together with any Loans funded on the Closing Date, reflect the respective Applicable Percentages of the Lenders hereunder and the Borrowers agree to pay any amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 in connection with such transfers as if all Loans under the Existing Credit Agreement were repaid on the Closing Date, to the extent not waived by the applicable Lenders.
10.22 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Solely to the extent any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution is a party to this Agreement and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender or L/C Issuer 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
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(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.
10.23 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the 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):
(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
(b) As used in this Section 10.23, the following terms have the following meanings:
“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
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“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).
[Signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| BORROWERS: | ||
| MASTEC, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Paul DiMarco | |
| Name: Paul DiMarco | ||
| Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | ||
| MASTEC NORTH AMERICA, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Paul DiMarco | |
| Name: Paul DiMarco | ||
| Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT: | ||
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., | ||
| as Administrative Agent | ||
| By: | /s/ Felicia Brinson | |
| Name: Felicia Brinson | ||
| Title: Assistant Vice President | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| LENDERS: | ||
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Julia H. Greenwell | |
| Name: Julia H. Greenwell | ||
| Title: Senior Vice President | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Gabriel Villar del Saz | |
| Name: Gabriel Villar del Saz | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| TRUIST BANK, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ William P. Rutkowski | |
| Name: William P. Rutkowski | ||
| Title: Director | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Bryan Girouard | |
| Name: Bryan Girouard | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Abhishek Joshi | |
| Name: Abhishek Joshi | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| BANK OF MONTREAL, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ John Armstrong | |
| Name: John Armstrong | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| CITIZENS BANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Robert Maddox | |
| Name: Robert Maddox | ||
| Title: Senior Vice President | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael King | |
| Name: Michael King | ||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Eric Fertig | |
| Name: Eric Fertig | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Austin Will | |
| Name: Austin Will | ||
| Title: Duly Authorized Signatory | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Brian Fox | |
| Name: Brian Fox | ||
| Title: Senior Vice President | ||
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
ANNEX I
EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT
ANNEX II-A
COMMITMENTS
AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES
ANNEX II-B
SWING LINE COMMITMENTS
ANNEX II-C
L/C COMMITMENTS
SCHEDULE 2.10
DAY BASIS FOR ALTERNATIVE CURRENCIES
SCHEDULE 5.05
SUPPLEMENT TO INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SCHEDULE 5.12(c)
CLOSING DATE ERISA EVENTS
SCHEDULE 5.12(d)
CLOSING DATE PENSION PLANS
SCHEDULE 5.13
Part (a)
SUBSIDIARIES; OTHER EQUITY INVESTMENTS
SCHEDULE 5.13
Part (c)
UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE 5.21
LABOR MATTERS
SCHEDULE 7.01(b)
EXISTING LIENS
SCHEDULE 7.03
EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
SCHEDULE 7.07
EXISTING TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
SCHEDULE 10.02
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OFFICE;
CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF LOAN NOTICE
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF SWING LINE LOAN NOTICE
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF NOTE
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
EXHIBIT E
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
EXHIBIT F-1
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT F-2
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT F-3
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT F-4
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT G
FORM OF BANKERS’ ACCEPTANCE REQUEST
EXHIBIT H
FORM OF LETTERS OF CREDIT REPORT
EXHIBIT I
FORM OF NOTICE OF LOAN PREPAYMENT
Exhibit 10.2
Execution Version
Published CUSIP Number: 57632EBA2
Published Term Loan Facility CUSIP: 57632EBB0
Florida documentary stamp tax required by law in the amount of $2,450 has been paid or will be paid directly to the Department of Revenue. Certificate of Registration No. 26-8000694050-8.
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 26, 2025
among
MASTEC, INC.
and
MASTEC NORTH AMERICA, INC.,
as Borrowers,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,
and
THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC,
TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
and
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
TRUIST BANK,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Co-Syndication Agents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
| ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS | 1 | |||||||
|
|
1.01 |
Defined Terms |
1 | |||||
| 1.02 |
Other Interpretive Provisions |
27 | ||||||
| 1.03 |
Accounting Terms |
28 | ||||||
| 1.04 |
Rounding |
28 | ||||||
| 1.05 |
[Reserved.] |
28 | ||||||
| 1.06 |
[Reserved.] |
28 | ||||||
| 1.07 |
Times of Day |
29 | ||||||
| 1.08 |
[Reserved.] |
29 | ||||||
| 1.09 |
Making Calculations on a Pro Forma Basis |
29 | ||||||
| 1.10 |
Interest Rates |
29 | ||||||
| 1.11 |
[Reserved] |
29 | ||||||
| 1.12 |
Limited Condition Transactions |
29 | ||||||
| ARTICLE II. COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS | 31 | |||||||
| 2.01 |
Loans |
31 | ||||||
| 2.02 |
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans |
31 | ||||||
| 2.03 |
[Reserved] |
32 | ||||||
| 2.04 |
[Reserved] |
32 | ||||||
| 2.05 |
Prepayments |
32 | ||||||
| 2.06 |
Termination of Commitments |
32 | ||||||
| 2.07 |
Repayment of Loans |
32 | ||||||
| 2.08 |
Interest |
32 | ||||||
| 2.09 |
Fees |
33 | ||||||
| 2.10 |
Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate |
33 | ||||||
| 2.11 |
Evidence of Debt |
34 | ||||||
| 2.12 |
Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback |
34 | ||||||
| 2.13 |
Sharing of Payments by Lenders |
36 | ||||||
| 2.14 |
Company as Borrowing Agent; Joint and Several Liability |
36 | ||||||
| 2.15 |
Defaulting Lenders |
39 | ||||||
| 2.16 |
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries |
40 | ||||||
| ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY | 41 | |||||||
| 3.01 |
Taxes |
41 | ||||||
| 3.02 |
Illegality |
45 | ||||||
| 3.03 |
Inability to Determine Rates |
46 | ||||||
| 3.04 |
Increased Costs |
48 | ||||||
| 3.05 |
Compensation for Losses |
49 | ||||||
| 3.06 |
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders |
49 | ||||||
| 3.07 |
Survival |
50 | ||||||
| ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT | 50 | |||||||
| 4.01 |
Conditions to Closing Date |
50 | ||||||
| ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 52 | |||||||
| 5.01 |
Existence, Qualification and Power |
52 | ||||||
| 5.02 |
Authorization; No Contravention |
53 | ||||||
| 5.03 |
Governmental Authorization; Other Consents |
53 | ||||||
i
|
|
5.04 |
Binding Effect |
53 | |||||
| 5.05 |
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect |
53 | ||||||
| 5.06 |
Litigation |
54 | ||||||
| 5.07 |
No Default |
54 | ||||||
| 5.08 |
Ownership of Property; Liens |
54 | ||||||
| 5.09 |
Environmental Compliance |
54 | ||||||
| 5.10 |
Insurance |
54 | ||||||
| 5.11 |
Taxes |
54 | ||||||
| 5.12 |
ERISA Compliance |
55 | ||||||
| 5.13 |
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests |
56 | ||||||
| 5.14 |
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act |
56 | ||||||
| 5.15 |
Disclosure |
56 | ||||||
| 5.16 |
Compliance with Laws |
57 | ||||||
| 5.17 |
Taxpayer Identification Number; Other Identifying Information |
57 | ||||||
| 5.18 |
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. |
57 | ||||||
| 5.19 |
Solvency |
57 | ||||||
| 5.20 |
Casualty, Etc. |
57 | ||||||
| 5.21 |
Labor Matters |
57 | ||||||
| 5.22 |
[Reserved] |
57 | ||||||
| 5.23 |
OFAC; Anti-Corruption Laws |
57 | ||||||
| 5.24 |
[Reserved.] |
58 | ||||||
| 5.25 |
Affected Financial Institution |
58 | ||||||
| 5.26 |
Beneficial Ownership Certification |
58 | ||||||
| 5.27 |
Covered Entities |
58 | ||||||
| ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 58 | |||||||
| 6.01 |
Financial Statements |
58 | ||||||
| 6.02 |
Certificates; Other Information |
59 | ||||||
| 6.03 |
Notices |
60 | ||||||
| 6.04 |
Payment of Obligations |
61 | ||||||
| 6.05 |
Preservation of Existence, Etc. |
61 | ||||||
| 6.06 |
Maintenance of Properties |
61 | ||||||
| 6.07 |
Maintenance of Insurance |
62 | ||||||
| 6.08 |
Compliance with Laws |
62 | ||||||
| 6.09 |
Books and Records |
62 | ||||||
| 6.10 |
Inspection Rights |
62 | ||||||
| 6.11 |
Use of Proceeds |
62 | ||||||
| 6.12 |
Compliance with Environmental Laws |
62 | ||||||
| 6.13 |
Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Sanctions |
62 | ||||||
| ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS | 63 | |||||||
| 7.01 |
Liens |
63 | ||||||
| 7.02 |
Acquisitions |
65 | ||||||
| 7.03 |
Indebtedness |
65 | ||||||
| 7.04 |
Fundamental Changes |
67 | ||||||
| 7.05 |
Dispositions |
67 | ||||||
| 7.06 |
Change in Nature of Business |
68 | ||||||
| 7.07 |
Transactions with Affiliates |
68 | ||||||
| 7.08 |
Use of Proceeds |
69 | ||||||
| 7.09 |
Consolidated Leverage Ratio |
69 | ||||||
| 7.10 |
Amendments of Organization Documents |
69 | ||||||
| 7.11 |
Fiscal Year |
69 | ||||||
ii
| ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES | 70 | |||||||
|
|
8.01 |
Events of Default |
70 | |||||
| 8.02 |
Remedies Upon Event of Default |
71 | ||||||
| 8.03 |
Application of Funds |
72 | ||||||
| ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 72 | |||||||
| 9.01 |
Appointment and Authority |
72 | ||||||
| 9.02 |
Rights as a Lender |
73 | ||||||
| 9.03 |
Exculpatory Provisions |
73 | ||||||
| 9.04 |
Reliance by Administrative Agent |
74 | ||||||
| 9.05 |
Delegation of Duties |
74 | ||||||
| 9.06 |
Resignation of Administrative Agent |
74 | ||||||
| 9.07 |
Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent, any Arranger and the Other Lenders |
75 | ||||||
| 9.08 |
No Other Duties, Etc. |
75 | ||||||
| 9.09 |
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim |
76 | ||||||
| 9.10 |
Certain ERISA Matters |
76 | ||||||
| 9.11 |
Recovery of Erroneous Payments |
77 | ||||||
| ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS | 78 | |||||||
| 10.01 |
Amendments, Etc. |
78 | ||||||
| 10.02 |
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication |
79 | ||||||
| 10.03 |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement |
81 | ||||||
| 10.04 |
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver |
81 | ||||||
| 10.05 |
Payments Set Aside |
83 | ||||||
| 10.06 |
Successors and Assigns |
84 | ||||||
| 10.07 |
Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality |
87 | ||||||
| 10.08 |
Right of Setoff |
88 | ||||||
| 10.09 |
Interest Rate Limitation |
88 | ||||||
| 10.10 |
Integration; Effectiveness |
89 | ||||||
| 10.11 |
Survival of Representations and Warranties |
89 | ||||||
| 10.12 |
Severability |
89 | ||||||
| 10.13 |
Replacement of Lenders |
89 | ||||||
| 10.14 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. |
90 | ||||||
| 10.15 |
Waiver of Jury Trial |
91 | ||||||
| 10.16 |
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility |
91 | ||||||
| 10.17 |
Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts |
92 | ||||||
| 10.18 |
USA PATRIOT Act Notice |
93 | ||||||
| 10.19 |
[Reserved.] |
93 | ||||||
| 10.20 |
Designation as Senior Debt |
93 | ||||||
| 10.21 |
[Reserved.] |
93 | ||||||
| 10.22 |
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions |
93 | ||||||
| 10.23 |
Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs |
93 | ||||||
iii
ANNEXES
|
|
I |
Commitments and Applicable Percentages | ||
| SCHEDULES | ||||
|
|
5.05 |
Supplement to Interim Financial Statements | ||
| 5.12(c) |
Closing Date ERISA Events | |||
| 5.12(d) |
Closing Date Pension Plans | |||
| 5.13 |
Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments | |||
| 5.21 |
Labor Matters | |||
| 7.01(b) |
Existing Liens | |||
| 7.03 |
Existing Indebtedness | |||
| 7.07 |
Existing Transactions with Affiliates | |||
| 10.02 |
Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices | |||
| EXHIBITS | ||||
|
|
Form of | |||
| A |
Loan Notice | |||
| B |
Note | |||
| C |
Compliance Certificate | |||
| D |
Assignment and Assumption | |||
|
E-1 –E-4 |
Tax Compliance Certificates | |||
| F |
[Reserved] | |||
| G |
Notice of Loan Prepayment | |||
iv
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of June 26, 2025, among MASTEC, INC., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), MASTEC NORTH AMERICA, INC., a Florida corporation (“MasTec NA” and, together with the Company, collectively, the “Borrowers” and each individually a “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and each individually a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders provide a term loan facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“52/53 Week Fiscal Year” means a 52- or 53-week fiscal year, as determined by the Borrowers where the fourth quarter of each fiscal year ends on or about the end of December or the beginning of January.
“52/53 Week Fiscal Year Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03(d).
“Acquisition” means, by any Person, the acquisition by such Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of (a) more than 50% of the voting Equity Interests of another Person (including the purchase of an option, warrant or convertible or similar type security to acquire such a controlling interest at the time it becomes exercisable by the holder thereof), whether by purchase of such Equity Interest or upon exercise of an option or warrant for, or conversion of securities into, such Equity Interest, or (b) assets of another Person which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person, a division of such Person or a line or lines of business conducted by such Person.
“Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.
“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates) in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Company and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied or approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
“Agreement” means this Term Loan Agreement.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act of 2010, and all other similar applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.
“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any and all laws, statutes, regulations or obligatory government orders, decrees, ordinances or rules related to terrorism financing, money laundering, any predicate crime to money laundering or any financial record keeping, including any applicable provision of the Act and The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act,” 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959).
“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the sum of the aggregate unused Commitments (if any) plus the outstanding Loans represented by the sum of such Lender’s unused Commitment (if any) plus such Lender’s outstanding Loan at such time. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Annex I or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
“Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below determined by reference to (a) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in, initially, the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(vii) and, from and after the delivery of the first Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a), the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a) and (b) the Debt Rating; provided that (i) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by S&P and Moody’s differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall be used in determining the Applicable Rate (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 4 being the lowest), (ii) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall be used in determining the Applicable Rate, (iii) if the Company has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall be used in determining the Applicable Rate and (iv) if the Company does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 4 shall be used in determining the Applicable Rate; and provided further that if at any time the Consolidated Leverage Ratio corresponds to a Pricing Level that is different than the Pricing Level corresponding to the Debt Rating then in effect, then the Pricing Level resulting in the lower Applicable Rate of such two Pricing Levels shall apply, unless there is a split of more than one Pricing Level in corresponding Pricing Levels, in which case the Pricing Level resulting in the Applicable Rate that is one Pricing Level higher than the lowest Applicable Rate of such two Pricing Levels shall apply (e.g. if the lowest Applicable Rate of such two Pricing Levels was Pricing Level 1, then Pricing Level 2 would apply).
2
| Pricing Level |
Consolidated Leverage Ratio |
Debt Rating |
Term SOFR Loans |
Base Rate Loans |
||||||||
| 1 |
Less than 0.75 to 1.00 | ≥ BBB+ / Baa1 | 1.00 | % | 0.000 | % | ||||||
| 2 |
Greater than or equal to 0.75 to 1.00 but less than 2.00 to 1.00 | BBB / Baa2 | 1.125 | % | 0.125 | % | ||||||
| 3 |
Greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 but less than 3.25 to 1.00 | BBB- / Baa3 | 1.250 | % | 0.250 | % | ||||||
| 4 |
Greater than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00 | < BB+ / Ba1 | 1.500 | % | 0.500 | % | ||||||
Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating will be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change, and any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level 4 shall be used in determining the Applicable Rate as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b).
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Arrangers” means, collectively, BAS, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Truist Securities, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in each case, in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.
“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 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a Capital Lease and (c) in respect of any Securitization Transaction of any Person, the amount of obligations outstanding on any date of determination that would be characterized as principal if such Securitization Transaction had been structured as a secured loan rather than a sale.
“Attributed Principal Amount” means, on any day, with respect to any Permitted Receivables Transaction entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the aggregate amount (with respect to any such transaction, the “Invested Amount”) paid to, or borrowed by, such Person as of such date under such Permitted Receivables Transaction, minus the aggregate amount received by the applicable Receivables Financier and applied to the reduction of the Invested Amount under such Permitted Receivables Transaction.
3
“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Bank of America Fee Letter” means the letter agreement dated May 20, 2025, among the Borrowers, Bank of America and BAS.
“BAS” means BofA Securities, Inc. and its successors.
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate” and (c) Term SOFR plus 1.00%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“Borrower” and “Borrowers” each has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
4
“Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located.
“Capital Lease” means each lease that has been or is required to be, in accordance with GAAP, classified and accounted for as a capital lease or financing lease.
“Captive Insurance Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company operating a regulated captive insurance program established in accordance with customary industry practice and permitted by Section 6.07 for the benefit of one or more of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted hereunder):
(a) Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Colombian Pesos, Mexican Pesos, Pound Sterling, Euros, the national currency of any participating member state of the European Union or, in the case of any Cash Equivalents of a Foreign Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business (including such Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Colombian Pesos, Mexican Pesos, Pound Sterling, Euros or other currency, as applicable, as are held as overnight bank deposits and demand deposits with any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System or is organized under the laws of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (e) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000); provided that the country credit rating of any country issuing such currency shall be BBB- or higher by S&P or an equivalent rating or higher by another generally recognized rating agency providing country credit ratings;
(b) (i) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof or (ii) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by Canada or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that (A) the full faith and credit of Canada or such member of the European Union, as the case may be, is pledged in support thereof, (B) all obligations of the type specified in this clause (ii) shall have a minimum rating of A-1 or AAA by S&P or P-1 or Aaa by Moody’s, in each case at the time of acquisition thereof and (C) the country credit rating of any country issuing or guaranteeing (or whose governmental agency issues or guarantees) any obligation of the type specified in this clause (ii) shall be AA or higher by S&P or an equivalent rating or higher by another generally recognized rating agency providing country credit ratings;
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(c) time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System or is organized under the laws of Canada or any country that is a member of the European Union or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of Canada or any country that is a member of the European Union and a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (e) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 360 days from the date of acquisition thereof;
(d) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (b) above entered into with any commercial bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above;
(e) commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America and rated at least “Prime-2” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-2” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof;
(f) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any commercial bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above;
(g) [Reserved]; and
(h) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which are administered by financial institutions that have one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P, and have at least 95% of their assets invested continuously in Investments of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a) through (f) of this definition.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
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“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:
(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) other than any Existing Shareholder becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 38% or more of the equity securities of the Company entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Company on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or
(b) during any period of 18 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Company cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body.
“Closing Date” means June 26, 2025.
“CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make a single Loan to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01 on the Closing Date in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Annex I under the caption “Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Communication” means this Agreement, any Loan Document and any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to any Loan Document.
“Company” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
“Conforming Changes” means, with respect to the use, administration of or any conventions associated with SOFR or any proposed Successor Rate or Term SOFR, as applicable, any conforming changes to the definition of “Base Rate”, the definition of “SOFR”, the definition of “Term SOFR”, the definition of “Interest Period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definitions of “Business Day” and “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Company), to reflect the adoption and implementation of such applicable rate(s) and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Company) determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Document).
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“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, subject to Section 1.09, for any period, for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) interest expense for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income Taxes payable by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) charges included in Consolidated Net Income related to purchase accounting adjustments that are as required by FASB ASC Topic 805, (v) charges relating to stock based compensation which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period, (vi) other charges which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period; (vii) expenses incurred in connection with the prepayment, amendment, modification or refinancing of Indebtedness (whether or not consummated) during such period, (viii) any non-capitalized transaction costs incurred during such period in connection with an incurrence of Indebtedness, during a refinancing thereof, issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, Acquisition, Disposition or recapitalization, in each case, to the extent permitted hereunder (whether or not consummated), (ix) tender premiums, redemption premiums, fees, and other amounts and expenses incurred in connection with the tender for and/or redemption of Indebtedness incurred under Section 7.03(r), (x) earn-out expenses resulting from Permitted Acquisitions in which the Company and/or any Restricted Subsidiary is required to treat such earn-out expenses as compensation costs, (xi) expenses arising from the impact of FASB ASC 470-50-40 on certain capitalized fees and costs, (xii) any net loss incurred in such period from Swap Contracts and the application of FASB ASC Topic 815, (xiii) any net loss incurred in such period from currency translation losses, (xiv) any loss from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments and (xv) (A) other non-recurring or unusual charges and (B) cash charges paid in connection with corporate restructurings (including severance costs in connection with any reduction in the workforce of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries); provided that the charges described in this clause (xv) together with any adjustments made pursuant to Section 1.09 shall only be permitted to be added back for such period to the extent such charges collectively do not increase Consolidated EBITDA by more than 20%; and minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income Tax credits of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, (ii) any net gain incurred in such period from Swap Contracts and the application of FASB ASC Topic 815, (iii) any net gain incurred in such period from currency translation gains, (iv) any gain from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments and (v) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period.
“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds (other than surety bonds), debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, and similar instruments (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the due and payable penal sum under any surety bond called upon by the obligee thereof but excluding the penal sum of any surety bond not then due and payable), (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and Securitization Transactions, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other
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than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, subject to Section 1.09, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the difference of (i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date (but excluding, to the extent outstanding and undrawn and included in the calculation of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness, the stated amount of all standby performance letters of credit as of such date) minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash as of such date, to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended.
“Consolidated Net Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the amount which in accordance with GAAP would be set forth under the caption “Total Assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries less current liabilities, as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) (or, prior to the first delivery thereof, the financial statements described in Section 5.05(b)).
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the amount which in accordance with GAAP would be set forth under the caption “Total Assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries less Intangible Assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) (or, prior to the first delivery thereof, the financial statements described in Section 5.05(b)).
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for that period, but excluding: (a) any gain or loss arising from the sale of capital assets; (b) any gain or loss arising from any write-up or write-down of assets or liabilities during such period; (c) any portion of the net earnings of any Subsidiary which for any reason is unavailable for payment of distributions to a Borrower; (d) any gain or loss arising from the acquisition of any Equity Interests of a Borrower; and (e) any income (or loss) for such period of any Person if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period shall be included in Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (and in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Restricted Subsidiary, such Restricted Subsidiary is not precluded from further distributing such amount to a Borrower as described in the preceding clause (c)), all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the amount which in accordance with GAAP would be set forth under the caption “Total Assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) (or, prior to the first delivery thereof, the financial statements described in Section 5.05(b)).
“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
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“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Covered Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 10.23(b).
“Credit Extension” means a Borrowing.
“Daily Simple SOFR” with respect to any applicable determination date means the SOFR published on such date on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source).
“Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating (but not merely a change in outlook/watch) as determined by either S&P or Moody’s of the Company’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means, when used with respect to Obligations, an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum.
“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.15(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Company or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Company, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Company that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Company), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity, or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so
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long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.15(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Company and each Lender promptly following such determination.
“Designated Jurisdiction” means any country, region or territory to the extent that such country, region or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“Domestic Restricted Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“Earnout Obligation” means those contingent obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred in favor of a seller (or other third party entitled thereto) under or with respect to any Permitted Acquisition.
“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 entity.
“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 Copy” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.17.
“Electronic Record” and “Electronic Signature” shall have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, by 15 USC §7006, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Elevated Ratio Period” has the meaning specified in Section 7.09.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).
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“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, common law, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, written and binding agreements with Governmental Authorities or governmental restrictions relating to pollution, the protection of the environment, human health, safety or natural resources or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.
“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination (provided, however that debt securities that are or by their terms may be convertible or exchangeable into or for Equity Interests shall not constitute Equity Interests prior to conversion or exchange thereof).
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.
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“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to, or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to, the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower hereunder, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), net worth, franchise Taxes and branch profits (or similar) Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Company under Section 10.13), any United States withholding Tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender’s assignor immediately before such Foreign Lender became a party hereto (or such Foreign Lender immediately before the time of designation of the new Lending Office) was entitled to receive additional amounts from the relevant Borrower with respect to such United States withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii), Section 3.01(a)(iii) or Section 3.01(c), or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability to comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(e)(ii) (other than as a result of a Change in Law occurring after the date on which such Foreign Lender became a party to this Agreement), (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any increase in the United States withholding Taxes required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender occurring after the date on which such Foreign Lender became a party hereto (or designated a new Lending Office), other than as a result of a Change in Law occurring after the date on which such Foreign Lender became a party hereto (or designated a new Lending Office) (d) any United States Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, and (e) any United States Federal backup withholding Tax.
“Existing Lenders” means certain lenders party to the Existing Term Loan Agreement.
“Existing Shareholders” means Jorge L. Mas and the Family Related Parties.
“Existing Term Loan Agreement” means that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2022, by and among the Company and MasTec NA, as borrowers, Bank of America, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto.
“Facility” means the term loan facility established pursuant to Section 2.01(a), which shall be in an amount, at any time, equal to the aggregate unused amount of the Commitments at such time (if any) and the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding at such time.
“Family Related Parties” means, collectively, (a) any spouse of Jorge L. Mas, Jorge Mas or Jose R. Mas and any child, stepchild, sibling or descendant of Jorge L. Mas, Jorge Mas or Jose R. Mas, (b) the estate of Jorge L. Mas, Jorge Mas and Jose R. Mas and the estate of any other person under preceding clause (a), (c) any person who receives a direct or indirect beneficial interest in the Company from any estate under preceding clause (b) to the extent of such interest, (d) any executor, personal administrator or trustee who holds such direct or indirect beneficial interest in the Company for the benefit of, or as fiduciary for, any person under preceding clause (a), (b) or (c) to the extent of such interest and (e) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, or similar entity, directly or indirectly owned or controlled by Jorge L. Mas, Jorge Mas, Jose R. Mas or any other person or persons identified in preceding clause (a), (b) or (c).
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“FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the 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 thereunder or any official interpretations thereof, and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or official practices adopted pursuant to any published intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such sections of the Code.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Fee Letters” means, collectively, the Bank of America Fee Letter and each other fee letter between the Company (or the Borrowers) and an Arranger and/or an Affiliate of such Arranger entered into in connection with this Agreement.
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“Foreign Restricted Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied, subject to Section 1.03(b).
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
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“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated or subject to liability pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company then having assets with a book value of less than $10,000,000; provided, that if the aggregate book value of the assets of all Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that would otherwise constitute Immaterial Subsidiaries shall exceed $50,000,000, only those such Restricted Subsidiaries having assets with a book value of less than $5,000,000 shall be deemed to constitute Immaterial Subsidiaries.
“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:
(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;
(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;
(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;
(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and, in each case, not past due for more than 90 days after the date on which such trade account payable was created or which are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established and reported in accordance with GAAP);
(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;
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(f) all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and Securitization Transactions of such Person;
(g) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and
(h) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.
For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.
“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 Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Indemnity Agreement” means (i) that certain General Agreement of Indemnity dated as of August 19, 2010 by and among Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, the Company and certain Subsidiaries thereof, (ii) that certain General Agreement of Indemnity dated as of July 31, 2008 by and among Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, the Company and certain Subsidiaries thereof or (iii) any additional or replacement General Agreement of Indemnity or other indemnity agreement by and among the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the applicable Surety containing terms satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent, as amended or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Intangible Assets” means assets that are considered to be intangible assets under GAAP, including customer lists, goodwill, computer software, copyrights, trade names, trademarks, patents, franchises, licenses, unamortized deferred charges, unamortized debt discount and capitalized research and development costs.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Term SOFR Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Term SOFR Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.
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“Interest Period” means, as to each Term SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Company in its Loan Notice (in the case of each requested Interest Period, subject to availability); provided that:
(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Term SOFR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period pertaining to a Term SOFR Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.
“Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.
“IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.18.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.
“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Lender Parties” and “Lender Recipient Parties” mean, collectively, the Lenders.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Company and the Administrative Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires each reference to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
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“Limited Condition Transaction” means any Permitted Acquisition the consummation of which is not conditioned (under the applicable purchase agreement or other applicable agreement) on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing (as notified by the Company to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the time at which the applicable Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary enters into such purchase agreement or other applicable agreement), which is financed in whole or in part with the proceeds of a substantially concurrent incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 7.03(r).
“Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, the Fee Letters and any amendments, modifications or supplements hereto or to any other Loan Document or waivers hereof or to any other Loan Document.
“Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any reasonable and customary form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent) and as to which the Company shall have previously been informed in writing, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company.
“MasTec NA” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the Borrowers taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Borrower of any Loan Document to which it is a party.
“Maturity Date” means the date that is three years after the Closing Date; provided, however, that, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.
“Material Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions, and has or would reasonably be expected to have any liability, contingent or otherwise.
“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Company or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.
“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrowers in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender to the Borrowers, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
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“Notice of Loan Prepayment” means a notice of prepayment with respect to a Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit G or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any reasonable or customary form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), and as to which the Company shall have been previously informed in writing, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company.
“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, in each case whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.
“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes or any other excise or property Taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than Excluded Taxes.
“Outstanding Amount” means with respect to Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Loans occurring on such date.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Pension Act” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
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“Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.
“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Company and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code, or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate could reasonably be expected to have any liability, contingent or otherwise.
“Permitted Acquisition” means subject to Section 1.12, any other Acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as to which the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to any such Acquisition (including any assumption or incurrence of Indebtedness in connection therewith), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(b) the Company is in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.09 (giving effect to any Elevated Ratio Period, if applicable), calculated on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09 immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition and any assumption or incurrence of Indebtedness in connection therewith;
(c) such Acquisition is not “hostile” or contested;
(d) the material lines of business of the Person to be (or the property of which is to be) so purchased or otherwise acquired shall be similar, related or incidental to one or more of the businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(e) in the case of any Acquisition or series of related transactions for which the total cash and noncash consideration (including the fair market value of all Equity Interests issued or transferred to the sellers thereof, the aggregate amounts paid or to be paid under noncompete, consulting and other affiliated agreements with, the sellers thereof, all write-downs of property and reserves for liabilities with respect thereto and all assumptions of debt, liabilities and other obligations in connection therewith, but excluding all indemnities, earnouts and other contingent payment obligations (based on projected earnings) to the sellers thereof) paid by or on behalf of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is equal to or greater than $250,000,000, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Company signed by a Responsible Officer certifying to the Administrative Agent compliance with the conditions specified in clauses (a) through (e) above.
“Permitted Receivables Transaction” means any one or more receivables financings in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) conveys or sells any accounts (as defined in the UCC), payment intangibles (as defined in the UCC), notes receivable, rights to future lease payments or residuals, including all “claims” as defined in Section 101(5) of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, and any and all rights to receive principal, interest and other amounts in respect of such claims (collectively, together with certain property relating thereto and the right to collections thereon and any proceeds thereof, being the “Transferred Assets”) to any Person that is not a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company (with respect to any such transaction, the “Receivables Financier”), (b) borrows from such Receivables Financier and secures such borrowings by a pledge of such Transferred Assets and/or (c) otherwise finances its acquisition
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of such Transferred Assets and, in connection therewith, conveys an interest in such Transferred Assets to the Receivables Financier; provided that (i) the aggregate Attributed Principal Amount for all such financings (excluding, however, any supply chain financings initiated by a customer of the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries and consisting of a conveyance or sale of Transferred Assets by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Receivables Financier in exchange for substantially contemporaneous payment to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary for such Transferred Assets pursuant to a limited recourse supply chain financing arrangement on standard market terms) shall not exceed, at the time of creation, incurrence or assumption thereof (and after giving effect thereto), the greater of (A) $500,000,000 and (B) an amount equal to 8.5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such creation, incurrence or assumption and (ii) such financings shall not involve any recourse to the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason other than (w) repurchases of non-eligible assets, (x) indemnifications for losses or dilution other than credit losses related to the Transferred Assets, (y) any obligations not constituting Indebtedness under servicing arrangements for the receivables or (z) representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary which the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a receivables financing, including absorbing dilution amounts.
“Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (ii) such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness shall not be subject to any financial covenant which is more restrictive than the financial covenants in the Loan Documents and (iii) at the time of and after giving effect to such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, no Default shall exist.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained for employees of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees, other than a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan, and for which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has or would reasonably be expected to have any liability, contingent or otherwise.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Priority Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, on a consolidated basis, the sum of (without duplication) (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01(aa) as of such date plus (b) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company (other than any Borrower) permitted under Section 7.03(r) as of such date.
“Pro Forma Basis” means, for purposes of giving effect to any Specified Transaction (actual or proposed) for any period, that such Specified Transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of such period and:
(a) all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person disposed of in a Specified Disposition shall be excluded and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition shall be included; provided that such income statement items to be included are reflected in financial statements or other financial data reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and based upon reasonable assumptions and calculations which are expected to have a continuous impact;
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(b) interest accrued during such period on, and the principal of, any Indebtedness repaid in connection with such Specified Transaction shall be excluded; and
(c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with such Specified Transaction shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of such period, and interest thereon shall be deemed to have accrued from such day on such Indebtedness at the applicable rates provided therefor (and in the case of interest that does or would accrue at a formula or floating rate, at the rate in effect at the time of determination) and shall be included in the results for such period.
“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Qualified Securitization Assets” means accounts (as defined in the UCC), payment intangibles (as defined in the UCC), notes receivable, rights to future lease payments or residuals, including all “claims” as defined in Section 101(5) of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, and any and all rights to receive principal, interest and other amounts in respect of such claims, certain property relating thereto, the right to collections thereon, and any proceeds thereof, including all lockboxes, lockbox accounts, collection accounts or other deposit accounts into which such collections or proceeds are deposited.
“Receivables Financier” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Permitted Receivables Transaction”.
“Reconciliation” means, with respect to any financial statement referred to in Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b) (the “Base Financials”), the comparable financial statement prepared by the chief financial officer of the Company presenting on a consolidated basis the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as derived from the Base Financials.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders. The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time.
“Rescindable Amount” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.12(b)(ii).
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
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“Responsible Officer” means the chairman of the board of directors, the president, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the chief operating officer, the corporate controller, the treasurer or the cash manager of, or in-house legal counsel to, a Borrower, any other officer of a Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a written notice to the Administrative Agent, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of a Borrower designated in or pursuant to an agreement between such Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Borrower. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Borrower. To the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, each Responsible Officer will provide an incumbency certificate and to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, appropriate authorization documentation, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is not listed on Schedule 5.13 as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or has not been designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 2.16 hereof. MasTec NA shall always be a Restricted Subsidiary.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.
“Sanction(s)” means any international economic or financial sanction or trade embargo imposed, administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, His Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.
“Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securitization Transaction” means any financing transaction or series of related financing transactions pursuant to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, convey or otherwise transfer, or grant a security interest in, accounts, payments, receivables, rights to future lease payments or residuals or similar rights to payment to a special purpose Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company that is not a Borrower.
“Senior Notes” means those certain 4.50% unsecured notes of the Company due 2028 and issued pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture in the initial aggregate principal amount of $600,000,000.
“Senior Notes Documents” means, collectively, the Senior Notes Indenture, all supplemental indentures thereto, the Senior Notes and all other material agreements executed in connection therewith.
“Senior Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, dated as of August 4, 2020.
“Significant Subsidiary” means, at any time, a Subsidiary of the Company that as of such time meets the definition of a “significant subsidiary” contained as of the Closing Date in Regulation S-X of the SEC (based upon and as of the date of delivery of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company furnished pursuant to Section 4.01 or 6.01).
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“Single Employer Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (excluding a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Company and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.
“SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator).
“Solvent” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
“Specified Disposition” means any Disposition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of (a) all or substantially all of its assets or any of its divisions, business units, or lines of business or (b) the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary.
“Specified Transaction” means (a) any Specified Disposition, (b) any Permitted Acquisition, (c) any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (d) the incurrence of any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.03(r).
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.
“Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).
“Surety” means (i) Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America and its successors and permitted assigns or (ii) any Person who replaces or supplements the Person identified in clause (i) under the applicable Surety Credit Documents as executor or procurer of bonds pursuant to such Surety Credit Documents, and their co-sureties and reinsurers, and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
“Surety Credit Documents” means, with respect to any Indemnity Agreement, such Indemnity Agreement and each document entered into in connection therewith.
“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward
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foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Term SOFR” means:
(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto, in each case; and
(b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate with a term of one month commencing that day;
provided that if the Term SOFR determined in accordance with either of the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) of this definition would otherwise be less than zero, the Term SOFR shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Term SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Term SOFR.
“Term SOFR Screen Rate” means the forward-looking SOFR term rate administered by CME (or any successor administrator satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).
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“Threshold Amount” means $300,000,000.
“Transferred Assets” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Permitted Receivables Transaction”.
“Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments (if any) of, and the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans held by, such Lender at such time.
“Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Term SOFR Loan.
“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person subject to IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
“Unrestricted Cash” means, at any time, the sum of (a) 100% of the cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and its Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries plus (b) the lesser of (i) 100% of the cash and Cash Equivalents of Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) $50,000,000.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) each Subsidiary of the Company listed as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” on Part (b) of Schedule 5.13, (b) each Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Company after the Closing Date (whether by reason of being newly created, by acquisition or otherwise) if, at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, the Company notifies the Administrative Agent that such Person shall be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.16 (in which case all arrangements between such Person and the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in existence at the time it becomes an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be subject to Section 7.07), (c) each Subsidiary that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 2.16 and (d) each Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that, for the sake of clarity, (x) each Subsidiary that is a Borrower is ipso facto a Restricted Subsidiary and (y) each Subsidiary shall be deemed a Restricted Subsidiary unless it shall have been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, in no event shall (i) any Subsidiary be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it, or if any of its Subsidiaries, owns or holds (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) any material intellectual property or any other assets material to any Borrower’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s business or (ii) (A) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, or any of its Subsidiaries, own or hold (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) or (B) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary transfer (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) to any Unrestricted Subsidiary, or any of its Subsidiaries, any material intellectual property or any other assets material to any Borrower’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s business.
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
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“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Schedules and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits, Schedules and Annexes to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law, rule or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(d) Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, a limited partnership or any other entity, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company, a limited partnership or any other entity (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company, a limited partnership or any other entity shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company, a limited partnership or any other entity that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).
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1.03 Accounting Terms. (a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.
(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP (including any change required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the FASB or its successors) would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that until so amended, (A) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (B) the Company shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
(c) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, or to the determination of any amount for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as the case may be, or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Company is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, as defined herein.
(d) 52/53 Week Fiscal Year. In case of a change of the fiscal year of the Borrowers to a 52/53 Week Fiscal Year in accordance with the provision in Section 7.11, each reference to the fiscal year or fiscal quarter of such Borrowers set forth in any Loan Document, commencing from the date the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year is given effect by the Borrowers (the “52/53 Week Fiscal Year Effective Date”), will be deemed to refer to, and be computed in accordance with, the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, references to the fiscal year or fiscal quarter of such Borrowers set forth in any Loan Document which specifically identify fiscal year(s) or fiscal quarter(s) preceding the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year Effective Date will remain unchanged and will not be deemed to refer to the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year.
1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 [Reserved.]
1.06 [Reserved.]
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1.07 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
1.08 [Reserved.]
1.09 Making Calculations on a Pro Forma Basis. When calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period in order to determine compliance with the financial maintenance covenants set forth in Section 7.09 or in order to determine the Applicable Rate, such calculations shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to each Permitted Acquisition or Specified Disposition that occurred during such period. When calculating any financial ratio incurrence test or other incurrence test hereunder at any time in connection with any proposed Specified Transaction, such calculation shall be made (i) based on the financial results for the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) (or, prior to the first delivery thereof, the financial statements described in Section 5.05(b)) but assuming all Indebtedness outstanding at such time was outstanding as of the last day of such period and (ii) on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to the proposed Specified Transaction and each other Specified Transaction that has occurred since the first day of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters through the day on which the proposed Specified Transaction is to be consummated.
1.10 Interest Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility for, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to any reference rate referred to herein or with respect to any rate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the selection of such rate and any related spread or other adjustment) that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any such rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions or other activities that affect any reference rate referred to herein, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or any related spread or other adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any reference rate referred to herein or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing), in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to any Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or other action or omission related to or affecting the selection, determination, or calculation of any rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
1.11 [Reserved].
1.12 Limited Condition Transactions. In the event that the Company notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that any proposed Acquisition is a Limited Condition Transaction and that the Company wishes to test the conditions to such Acquisition, and the Indebtedness under Section 7.03(r) that is to be used to finance such Acquisition or other Investment in accordance with this Section 1.12, then, so long as agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the lenders providing such Indebtedness, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) any condition to such Limited Condition Transaction or such Indebtedness that requires that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such Limited Condition Transaction or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, shall be satisfied if no
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Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of the execution of the definitive agreement governing such Limited Condition Transaction (the “LCT Test Date”) both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith (including any such additional Indebtedness);
(b) any financial ratio test or condition to be tested in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction and the availability of such Indebtedness will be tested as of the LCT Test Date, in each case, after giving effect to the relevant Limited Condition Transaction and any related incurrence of Indebtedness, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09, where applicable, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) such ratios and baskets shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction and (ii) if any of such ratios are exceeded or conditions are not met following the LCT Test Date, but prior to the closing of such Limited Condition Transaction, as a result of fluctuations in such ratio or amount, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded and such conditions will not be deemed unmet as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the relevant transaction or action is permitted to be consummated or taken; and
(c) except as provided in the next sentence, in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated and the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated both (i) on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09 assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated and (ii) assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have not been consummated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any calculation of a ratio in connection with determining the Applicable Rate and determining whether or not the Company is in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.09 shall, in each case, be calculated assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including the incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have not been consummated.
The foregoing provisions shall apply with similar effect during the pendency of multiple Limited Condition Transactions such that each of the possible scenarios is separately tested.
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ARTICLE II.
COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make a single term loan (each such loan, a “Loan”) to the Borrowers in Dollars on the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01 and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as further provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone or in the form of a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (i) two Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans or of any conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Company is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Company fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Company fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term SOFR Loans. If the Company requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Company, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans as described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.01, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrowers in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the applicable Borrower or Borrowers on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Company.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Term SOFR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Term SOFR Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Term SOFR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term SOFR Loans upon determination of such interest rate.
(e) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Loans.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all of the portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Company, the Administrative Agent, and such Lender.
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(g) With respect to SOFR or Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrowers and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
2.03 [Reserved].
2.04 [Reserved].
2.05 Prepayments. The Borrowers may, upon notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent pursuant to delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Loan Prepayment, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty subject to Section 3.05; provided that (i) any such notice must be delivered to the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. (A) two Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term SOFR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Term SOFR Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s ratable portion of such prepayment (based on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage). If such notice is given by the Company, the Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Term SOFR Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.15, each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
2.06 Termination of Commitments. The aggregate Commitments shall be automatically and permanently terminated upon the funding of the Loans on the Closing Date.
2.07 Repayment of Loans. The Borrowers shall repay to the Lenders the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding on the Maturity Date.
2.08 Interest. (a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Term SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
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(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by any Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such overdue amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) or (g), and upon the request of the Required Lenders while any Event of Default under Section 8.01(b) exists as a result of a failure to comply with Section 7.09, the Borrowers shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
2.09 Fees.
(a) The Borrowers shall pay to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the applicable Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
(b) The Borrowers shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate. (a) computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to Term SOFR) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Company or for any other reason, the Company or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Company as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, each Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), an
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amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, under 2.08(b) or under Article VIII. The Borrowers’ obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
2.11 Evidence of Debt. The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register in accordance with Section 10.06(c). The accounts or records maintained by each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register in respect of such matters, the Register shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender to a Borrower made through the Administrative Agent, such Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans to such Borrower in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to a Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback. (a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by any Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable 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 applicable Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If
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such Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to such Borrower the amount of such interest paid by such Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by such Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim such Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by Borrowers; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Borrower prior to the time at which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.
With respect to any payment that the Administrative Agent makes for the account of the Lenders hereunder as to which the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (1) the applicable Borrower has not in fact made such payment; (2) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by such Borrower (whether or not then owed); or (3) the Administrative agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment; then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender to any Borrower as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to such Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall promptly (if possible, on the same day) return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
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2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of (a) Obligations in respect of any of the Facilities due and payable to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations due and payable to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on account of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all the Lenders at such time or (b) Obligations in respect of any of the Facilities owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on account of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all of the Lenders at such time, then, in each case under clauses (a) and (b) above, the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (A) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (B) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of Obligations in respect of the Facilities then due and payable to the Lenders or owing (but not due and payable) to the Lenders, as the case may be, 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 Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by a Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).
Each 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 such Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.
2.14 Company as Borrowing Agent; Joint and Several Liability.
(a) Because the operations and business activities of the Borrowers are highly integrated and interdependent, at any particular time it is in the mutual best interest of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrowers for the Company, through one or more of its Responsible Officers, to deliver all Requests for Credit Extension and all other such notices, and to take all other action of a Responsible Officer in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, whether on behalf of the Company or any other Borrower, and to determine which of the Borrowers will directly receive the proceeds of a Loan. Each of the Borrowers hereby directs the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each Loan as directed by the Company through a Responsible Officer, and such distribution will, in all circumstances, be deemed to be made to the Borrower to which such proceeds are directed. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably designates, appoints, authorizes and directs the Company (including each Responsible Officer of the Company) to act on behalf of such Borrower for the purposes set forth in this Section 2.14, and to act on behalf of such Borrower for purposes of giving notice to the Administrative Agent of requests for Borrowings, conversions, continuations and for otherwise giving and receiving notices and certifications under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and otherwise for taking all other action contemplated to be taken by the Company (including each Responsible Officer of the Company) hereunder or under any
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other Loan Document. Each Borrower further appoints the Company as its agent for any service of process. The Administrative Agent is entitled to rely and act on the instructions of the Company, by and through any Responsible Officer, on behalf of each Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of Section 10.04, each Borrower covenants and agrees to assume liability for and to protect, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, from any and all liabilities, obligations, damages, penalties, claims, causes of action, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), which may be incurred by, imposed or asserted against the Administrative Agent or any Lender, howsoever arising or incurred because of, out of or in connection with the disbursements of Loans and Credit Extensions in accordance with this Section 2.14; provided, however, the liability of the Borrowers pursuant to this indemnity shall not extend to any liability, obligation, damage, penalty, claim, cause of action, cost, charge or expense of any Person (i) determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (ii) result from a claim brought by any Borrower against any Lender for breach in bad faith of such Person’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (iii) attributable to any Taxes, other than Taxes that represent a liability, obligation, damage, penalty, claim, cause of action, cost, charge or expense arising from a non-Tax claim; provided further that the reimbursement of fees, charges and disbursements of counsel shall be limited to one counsel and one local counsel and one applicable regulatory counsel and local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Persons indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.14(a). The Company shall maintain detailed accounting and records of all disbursements and payments made to each Borrower with respect to proceeds of Loans. Not in any way in limitation of any other provisions set forth herein, such books and records may be reviewed and copied by the Administrative Agent at the Company’s expense at reasonable intervals and upon reasonable notice given by the Administrative Agent to the Company.
(b) Each Borrower shall be jointly and severally liable for all Obligations.For the avoidance of doubt, each of the Borrowers agrees and understands that it shall be jointly and severally liable for the Obligations as described in the preceding sentence, without regard to the identity of the Borrower in whose name any Loan is made or other Obligation is incurred.
(c) It is the intention of the parties that with respect to each Borrower, its obligations under Section 2.14(b) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable irrespective of, and each Borrower hereby expressly waives, to the extent permitted by law, any defense to its Obligations under this Agreement and all the other Loan Documents to which it is a party by reason of:
(i) any lack of legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, of any of the Notes, of any other Loan Document or of any other agreement or instrument creating, providing security for, or otherwise relating to any of the Obligations (the Loan Documents and all such other agreements and instruments being collectively referred to as the “Related Agreements”);
(ii) any action taken under any of the Related Agreements, any exercise of any right or power therein conferred, any failure or omission to enforce any right conferred thereby, or any waiver of any covenant or condition therein provided;
(iii) any acceleration of the maturity of any of the Obligations or of any other obligations or liabilities of any Person under any of the Related Agreements;
(iv) any release, exchange, non-perfection, lapse in perfection, disposal, deterioration in value, or impairment of any security for any of the Obligations or for any other obligations or liabilities of any Person under any of the Related Agreements;
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(v) any dissolution of any Borrower or any other party to a Related Agreement, or the combination or consolidation of any Borrower or any other party to a Related Agreement into or with another entity or any transfer or disposition of any assets of any Borrower or any other party to a Related Agreement;
(vi) any extension (including extensions of time for payment), renewal, amendment, restructuring or restatement of, any acceptance of late or partial payments under, or any change in the amount of any borrowings or any credit facilities available under, this Agreement, any of the Notes or any other Loan Document or any other Related Agreement, in whole or in part;
(vii) the existence, addition, modification, termination, reduction or impairment of value, or release of any other guaranty (or security therefor) of any of the Obligations;
(viii) any waiver of, forbearance or indulgence under, or other consent to any change in or departure from any term or provision contained in this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other Related Agreement, including without limitation any term pertaining to the payment or performance of any of the Obligations or any of the obligations or liabilities of any party to any other Related Agreement; or
(ix) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of any Borrower) which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risks of such Borrower, or might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable defense available to, or discharge of, a surety or a guarantor, including any right to require or claim that resort be had to any Borrower or to any collateral in respect of the Obligations.
(d) Each Borrower hereby waives to the extent permitted by law notice of the following events or occurrences: (i) the Administrative Agent or any Lender heretofore, now or from time to time hereafter making Loans and otherwise loaning monies or giving or extending credit to or for the benefit of any other Borrower, or otherwise entering into arrangements with any other Borrower giving rise to Obligations, whether pursuant to this Agreement or the Notes or any other Loan Document or Related Agreement or any amendments, modifications, or supplements thereto, or replacements or extensions thereof; (ii) presentment, demand, default, non-payment, partial payment and protest; and (iii) any other event, condition, or occurrence described in Section 2.14(c). Each Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent and each Lender may heretofore, now or at any time hereafter do any or all of the foregoing in such manner, upon such terms and at such times as the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems advisable, without in any way or respect impairing, affecting, reducing or releasing such Borrower from its Obligations, and each Borrower hereby consents to each and all of the foregoing events or occurrences.
(e) The Obligations of each Borrower under this Section 2.14 are independent, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against any Borrower whether action is brought against any other Borrower or whether any other Borrower is joined in any such action or actions; and each Borrower waives the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder.
(f) Each Borrower represents and warrants that the request for joint handling of the Loans and other Obligations made hereunder was made because (i) such Borrower expects to derive benefit, directly or indirectly, from such availability because the successful operation of the Borrowers is dependent on the continued successful performance of the functions of the group and (ii) the credit extended under this Agreement will enhance the overall financial strength and stability of the Borrowers’ consolidated group of companies.
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(g) Each Borrower represents and warrants that (i) it has established adequate means of obtaining from the other Borrower on a continuing basis financial and other information pertaining to the business, operations and condition (financial and otherwise) of the other Borrower and its property, and (ii) it now is and hereafter will be completely familiar with the business, operations and condition (financial and otherwise) of the other Borrower and its property. Each Borrower hereby waives and relinquishes any duty on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to disclose to such Borrower any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the other Borrower, or the property of the other Borrower, whether now or hereafter known by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, during the life of this Agreement.
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere contained herein or in any other Loan Document to which any Borrower is a party, each Borrower waives any right to assert against the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a defense, counterclaim, set-off, recoupment or cross claim in respect of its Obligations, any defense (legal or equitable) or other claim which such Borrower may now or at any time hereafter have against any other Borrower or any or all of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders without waiving any additional defenses, set-offs, counterclaims or other claims otherwise available to such Borrower.
(i) Each Borrower hereby unconditionally subordinates all present and future debts, liabilities or obligations now or hereafter owing to such Borrower of any other Borrower, to the payment in full of the Obligations. All amounts due under such subordinated debts, liabilities, or obligations shall, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, be collected and, upon request by the Administrative Agent, paid over forthwith to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on account of the Obligations or such other obligations, as applicable, and, after such request and pending such payment, shall be held by such Borrower as agent and bailee of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders separate and apart from all other funds, property and accounts of such Borrower.
2.15 Defaulting Lenders.
(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, without in any way limiting the Borrowers’ rights against such Lender, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:
(i) Waivers and Amendments. That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 10.01.
(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08, shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Company may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy that Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the
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Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Company as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Company against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.01 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Section 2.15(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Company and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Company while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
2.16 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The Company may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary (as used herein, a “Proposed Re-Designated Subsidiary”) that is not a Borrower or a Material Subsidiary and has not previously been an Unrestricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; in each case, so long as (i) immediately before and after such designation, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) no such Proposed Re-Designated Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if any of its Subsidiaries is a Restricted Subsidiary (in either case unless such Subsidiaries are also Proposed Re-Designated Subsidiaries being designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries simultaneously therewith), (iii) immediately after giving effect to such designation the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09, with the covenants set forth in Section 7.09, (iv) such Proposed Re-Designated Subsidiary would not constitute a Material Subsidiary as of the end of the period of twelve consecutive months most recently ended, and (v) prior to the effectiveness of any such designation, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations demonstrating compliance with the preceding clauses (iii) through (vi).Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, in no event shall (i) any Subsidiary be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it, or if any of its Subsidiaries, owns or holds (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) any material intellectual property or any other assets material to any Borrower’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s business, (ii) (A) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, or any of its Subsidiaries, own or hold (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) or (B) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary transfer (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) to any Unrestricted Subsidiary, or any of its Subsidiaries, any material intellectual
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property or any other assets material to any Borrower’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s business or (iii) the aggregate book value of all assets transferred (including by way of an exclusive license or otherwise) (after giving effect to such transfer) by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from and after the Closing Date to all Unrestricted Subsidiaries and their respective Subsidiaries equal or exceed an amount equal to 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets at the time of such transfer.
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes.
(i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the respective Borrowers hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes. If, however, applicable Laws require any Borrower or the Administrative Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax, such Tax shall be withheld or deducted in accordance with such Laws as determined by the Company or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.
(ii) If any Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding Taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent (acting on its own behalf and on behalf of such Borrower) shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company to be required based upon the information and documentation they have received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Administrative Agent (acting on its own behalf and on behalf of such Borrower) shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by such Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the Administrative Agent or Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction in respect of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes been made.
(iii) If any Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding Taxes, from any payment, then (A) such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company to be required based upon the information and documentation they have received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by such Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the Administrative Agent or Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction in respect of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes been made.
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(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, each Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws.
(c) Tax Indemnifications. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above:
(i) (A) Each Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 30 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) withheld or deducted by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent or paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable out of pocket expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.
(B) Each Borrower shall also, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 30 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required by clause (ii) of this subsection; provided, that no Borrower shall be required to indemnify the Administrative Agent for any amount attributable to the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Upon receipt of such indemnity payment and upon the request of the Borrower that made the indemnity payment, the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to assign to such Borrower any rights for compensation against such defaulting Lender (other than the right of set off pursuant to the penultimate sentence of Section 3.01(c)(ii) below) with respect to the amount it has been indemnified by the Borrower.
(C) A certificate prepared in good faith as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to the Company on behalf of the relevant 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.
(ii) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Lender shall, and does hereby, indemnify each Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 30 days after demand therefor, against any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Borrower or the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against any Borrower or the Administrative Agent by any Governmental Authority (A) as a result of the failure by such Lender, as the case may be, to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy, inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by such Lender, as the case may be, to such Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (e), or (B) attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii). The agreements in this clause (ii) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
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(d) Evidence of Payments. Upon request by the Company on behalf of any Borrower or upon the request by the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by such Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Company on behalf of such Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Company on behalf of such Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.
(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.
(i) Each Lender shall deliver to the Company and to the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws or when reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information as will permit the Company or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not payments made by the respective Borrowers hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender by the respective Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding Tax purposes in the applicable jurisdictions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), 3.01(e)(ii)(B) and 3.01(e)(iv) 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,
(A) Any Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient), on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement, executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, or such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable Laws or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will enable such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements; and
(B) Each Foreign Lender that is entitled under the Code or any applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Company 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 request of the Company on behalf of any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(I) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
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(II) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto,
(III) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, and all required supporting documentation,
(IV) 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 E-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of such Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, or
(V) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner with respect to an interest in any Loan, executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2 or Exhibit E-3, Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-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 Company 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 Company on behalf of any Borrower or the Administrative Agent) executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Laws to permit such Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(iii) Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Company and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that any Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for Taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.
(iv) If any payment made pursuant to this Agreement to any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation under this Agreement would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such recipient were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in
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Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), each such Lender or other recipient shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Laws (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Company and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such recipient has complied with such recipient’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. For purposes of this Section 3.01, “Law” shall include FATCA, and, solely for purposes of this clause (iv), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender and any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation under this Agreement agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update and deliver to the Company and Administrative Agent such form or certification or promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Borrower or with respect to which any Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to such Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that each Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, in no event will the Administrative Agent or any Lender be required to pay any amount to any Borrower pursuant to this subsection the payment of which would place Administrative Agent or any Lender in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Person would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This subsection (f) shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Borrower or any other Person.
(g) Survival of Section 3.01. The agreements in this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation and/or the replacement of the Administrative Agent, and any assignment of its rights by, or the replacement of a Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
3.02 Illegality. If any Lender reasonably determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to SOFR or Term SOFR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR or Term SOFR, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Company (through the Administrative Agent), (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans shall be, in each case,
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suspended, and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Term SOFR Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loan to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loan and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon SOFR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.
(a) Generally. If in connection with any request for a Term SOFR Loan or a conversion of Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans or a continuation of any of such Loans, as applicable, (i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (A) no Successor Rate has been determined in accordance with Section 3.03(b), and the circumstances under clause (i) of Section 3.03(b) or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred, or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not otherwise exist for determining Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that, for any reason, Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Term SOFR Loans, or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Term SOFR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (ii) of this Section 3.03(a), until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, or conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (ii) any outstanding Term SOFR Loans shall be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans immediately at the end of their respective applicable Interest Period.
(b) Replacement of SOFR or SOFR Successor Rate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Company or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Company) that the Company or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:
(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR, including, without limitation, because the Term SOFR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or
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(ii) CME or any successor administrator of the Term SOFR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator with respect to its publication of Term SOFR, in each case acting in such capacity, has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate shall or will no longer be representative or made available, or permitted to be used for determining the interest rate of U.S. dollar denominated syndicated loans, or shall or will otherwise cease, provided that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that will continue to provide such representative interest periods of Term SOFR after such specific date (the latest date on which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate are no longer available permanently or indefinitely, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”);
then, on a date and time determined by the Administrative Agent (any such date, the “Term SOFR Replacement Date”), which date shall be at the end of an Interest Period or on the relevant interest payment date, as applicable, for interest calculated and, solely with respect to clause (ii) above, no later than the Scheduled Unavailability Date, Term SOFR will be replaced hereunder and under any Loan Document with Daily Simple SOFR for any payment period for interest calculated that can be determined by the Administrative Agent, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (the “Successor Rate”).
If the Successor Rate is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a monthly basis.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) if the Administrative Agent determines that Daily Simple SOFR is not available on or prior to the Term SOFR Replacement Date, or (ii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(b)(i) or (ii) have occurred with respect to the Successor Rate then in effect, then in each case, the Administrative Agent and the Company may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing Term SOFR or any then current Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 3.03 at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, as applicable, with an alternative benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such alternative benchmark, and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such benchmark. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments, shall constitute a “Successor Rate”. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrowers unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.
The Administrative Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Company and each Lender of the implementation of any Successor Rate.
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Any Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.
Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than zero, the Successor Rate will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
In connection with the implementation of a Successor Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrowers and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
3.04 Increased Costs.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender;
(ii) subject any Lender to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or any Term SOFR Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (e) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes); or
(iii) impose on any Lender or any applicable interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than any Tax) affecting this Agreement or Term SOFR Loans made by such Lender;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
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(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Company shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 Business Days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that no Borrower shall be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Certain Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no Lender shall demand compensation for any increased cost or reduction pursuant to this Section 3.04 if it shall not at the time be the general policy or practice of such Lender to demand such compensation from similarly situated customers under comparable provisions of similar agreements; provided that nothing in this Section shall require any Lender to disclose any confidential information related to similarly situated customers, comparable provisions of similar agreements or otherwise.
3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Company shall promptly compensate (or cause the applicable Borrower to compensate) such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by any Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Company or the applicable Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Term SOFR Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 10.13;
including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Company shall also pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to any Borrower through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Company such
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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 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Company hereby agrees to pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Company may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.
3.07 Survival. All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and resignation of the Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
4.01 Conditions to Closing Date. The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Documentation. The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles or electronic copies (including “PDF” and “TIFF” files) (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Borrower, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement;
(ii) a Note executed by each Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Borrower as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party;
(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that each Borrower is validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization;
(v) favorable opinions of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP and such local counsel as the Administrative Agent shall request, in each case addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to such matters concerning the Borrowers and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;
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(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Borrower either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Borrower and the validity against such Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;
(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying (A) that the representations and warranties of each Borrower contained in Article V and contained in each other Loan Document or in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date, except that if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty is true and correct in all respects, (B) that no Default exists as of the Closing Date or would result from the effectiveness of this Agreement, (C) that there does not exist any pending or threatened action, suit, investigation or proceeding in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that (1) purports to affect any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of any Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (2) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (D) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (E) as to the current Debt Rating and Consolidated Leverage Ratio; and
(viii) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Lenders reasonably may require.
(b) Fees. Any fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
(c) Expenses. Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Company shall have paid all reasonable and out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced in reasonable detail at least 2 Business Days prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Company and the Administrative Agent and provided further that the Company shall not be required under this clause (c) to pay the fees and expenses of (i) more than one principal outside counsel for the Administrative Agent, (ii) more than one outside counsel acting as regulatory counsel for the Administrative Agent or (iii) more than a single local counsel for the Administrative Agent in any relevant jurisdiction as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (and which may include a single local counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)).
(d) PATRIOT Act / KYC Information. Each Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date in order to comply with requirements of the Act, applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and each Borrower that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have delivered, to each Lender that so requests at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Borrower.
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(e) Financial Information. The receipt and satisfactory review by each of the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers of such financial information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers may reasonably request.
(f) No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or would result from the funding of the Loans on the date hereof.
(g) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of each Borrower contained in Article V and in each other Loan Document or in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date, except that if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation or warranty shall be required to be true and correct in all respects.
(h) Payment of Amounts under Existing Term Loan Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that, substantially simultaneously with the initial funding of Loans on the Closing Date, (i) all outstanding principal, interest and other obligations under the Existing Term Loan Agreement shall be paid in full, (ii) appropriate arrangements shall have been made among all Lenders and Existing Lenders (including those Existing Lenders not electing to become Lenders hereunder, if any) with respect to all other obligations under the Existing Term Loan Agreement so as to reflect the Commitments and Applicable Percentages of the Lenders contemplated hereby and cause all applicable outstanding amounts hereunder to be consistent with such Commitments and Applicable Percentages and (iii) the obligations relating to the term loans under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021, by and among the Borrowers, Administrative Agent and the lenders party thereto (the “2021 Credit Agreement”) shall be terminated and all indebtedness and obligations thereunder shall repaid and satisfied in full.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to extend the credit contemplated hereby, each Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. Each Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of each Loan Document to which such Borrower is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action. The execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of each Loan Document to which such Borrower is party do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law; except in each case referred to in clause (b) or (c), to the extent that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for the authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect.
5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Borrower that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Borrower, enforceable against each Borrower that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws.
5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for material Taxes, commitments and Indebtedness.
(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries dated March 31, 2025, and the related consolidated statement of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments. Schedule 5.05 sets forth all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of such financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, including liabilities for material Taxes, commitments and Indebtedness.
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(c) Any Reconciliations delivered with respect to the financial statements described in clauses (a) and (b) above (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of the financial statements described in clause (b), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.
(d) Since December 31, 2024, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their respective properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.07 No Default. Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to (a) any Contractual Obligation the breach of which could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) any Senior Notes Document. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. The Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.
5.09 Environmental Compliance. The Company has reasonably concluded that existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are insured with (a) financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company and/or (b) a Captive Insurance Subsidiary, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary operates and as otherwise required by the applicable provisions of this Agreement.
5.11 Taxes. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all U.S. Federal and all other material Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all U.S. Federal and all other material Taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed Tax assessment in writing against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.
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5.12 ERISA Compliance.
(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state laws. Each Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or is entitled to rely upon an opinion letter or advisory opinion issued by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to a prototype plan document, to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from Federal income Tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service. To the best knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.
(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) (i) Other than those listed on Schedule 5.12(c) hereto, no ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Company and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Single Employer Pension Plan (and to the actual knowledge of the Company and its ERISA Affiliates, in respect of each Multiemployer Plan and Multiple Employer Plan) and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained with respect to any Single Employer Pension Plan (and to the actual knowledge of the Company and its ERISA Affiliate, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and Multiple Employer Plan); (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Single Employer Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.
(d) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (A) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 5.12(d) hereto and (B) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.
(e) With respect to each scheme or arrangement mandated by a government other than the United States (a “Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement”) and with respect to each employee benefit plan maintained or contributed to by any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Borrower that is not subject to United States law (a “Foreign Plan”):
(i) any employer and employee contributions required by law or by the terms of any Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement or any Foreign Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued, in accordance with normal accounting practices, except to the extent that the failure to comply with such law or such terms could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
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(ii) the fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Foreign Plan funded through insurance or the book reserve established for any Foreign Plan, together with any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations, as of the Closing Date, with respect to all current and former participants in such Foreign Plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to account for such obligations in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles, except to the extent that such insufficiency could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(iii) each Foreign Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, except to the extent that such failure to register or maintain good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Each Borrower represents and warrants as of the Closing Date that such Borrower is not and will not be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Commitments.
5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests . As of the Closing Date, the Company has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Persons in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens except Liens permitted by Section 7.01(c).All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Company have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Set forth on Part (b) of Schedule 5.13 is a complete and accurate list of all Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. The copy of the charter of each Borrower and each amendment thereto provided pursuant to Section 4.01(a) is a true and correct copy of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force and effect.
5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) No Borrower is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.
(b) None of the Company, any Person Controlling the Company, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
5.15 Disclosure. The Company has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and 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. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other written information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole and in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no actual or purported oral statement shall be deemed to modify or qualify any written statement; and provided further that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that
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projected financial information is as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts, projected financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Borrowers, that no assurance can be given that any particular projected financial information will be realized and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any of such projected financial information may differ significantly from the projected results and such differences may be material).
5.16 Compliance with Laws. Each Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.17 Taxpayer Identification Number; Other Identifying Information. The true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number of the Company is set forth on Schedule 10.02.
5.18 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. To the best knowledge of the Company and except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person and (ii) no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.19 Solvency. The Company is, together with its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, Solvent, and the Borrowers are, on a consolidated basis, Solvent.
5.20 Casualty, Etc. Neither the businesses nor the properties of any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.21 Labor Matters. Except as specifically disclosed on Schedule 5.21, there are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years.
5.22 [Reserved].
5.23 OFAC; Anti-Corruption Laws.
(a) Neither any Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent, or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is, (i) currently the subject or target of any applicable Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, His Majesty’s Treasury’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.
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(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with all Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions and, to the extent applicable, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Anti-Corruption Laws, such Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions.
5.24 [Reserved.]
5.25 Affected Financial Institution. No Borrower is an Affected Financial Institution.
5.26 Beneficial Ownership Certification. As of the Closing Date, the information included in any Beneficial Ownership Certification, if applicable, is true and correct in all material respects.
5.27 Covered Entities. No Borrower is a Covered Entity.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation (other than any contingent obligation in respect of which no claim has been made) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Company shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:
6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (or, if earlier, 15 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC so long as the Company provides the Administrative Agent, prior to the date of any such extension, with a reasonably detailed written explanation of its reason for seeking such extension)) (commencing with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (or, following the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year Effective Date, the equivalent date pursuant to the 52/53 Week Fiscal Year), (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of BDO USA, LLP or another independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception (other than with respect to, or resulting from, a current debt maturity) or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit, (ii) to the extent there are any Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year, a Reconciliation with respect to each of the financial statements described in the foregoing clause (i), all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Company as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and (iii) a report summarizing contracts in progress as at the end of such fiscal year; and
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(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 50 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company (or, if earlier, 5 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC so long as the Company provides the Administrative Agent, prior to the date of any such extension, with a reasonably detailed written explanation of its reason for seeking such extension)), (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statement of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Company’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Company’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in each case in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Company as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, (ii) to the extent there are any Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter, a Reconciliation with respect to each of the financial statements described in the foregoing clause (i), all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Company as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and (iii) a report summarizing contracts in progress as at the end of such fiscal quarter.
As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(b), the Company shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Company to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.
6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Company (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);
(b) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Company, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Company may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;
(c) promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including, without limitation, the Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation; and
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(d) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(b) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Company’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Company’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that the Company shall deliver paper copies or soft copies (i.e. by electronic mail) of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Company to deliver such paper copies or soft copies. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Company with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or an Arranger may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to any of the Borrowers or their respective Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. Each Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”, such Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to such Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information”; and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information”.
6.03 Notices. Reasonably promptly (and in any event within 5 Business Days) after any Borrower obtains knowledge thereof notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (it being agreed that notice to the Lenders may be accomplished by the Administrative Agent posting such information on the Platform to the extent requested by the Company):
(a) of the occurrence of any Default;
(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including a Material Adverse Effect that has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, from (i) a breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Company or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;
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(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;
(d) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any determination by the Company referred to in Section 2.10(b);
(e) of any default under any Senior Notes Document;
(f) of the addition of any Restricted Subsidiary as an indemnitor under the Indemnity Agreement and of the occurrence of (i) any Default under and as defined in the Indemnity Agreement or (ii) of any fact, condition or event that only with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would become a Default under and as defined in the Indemnity Agreement; and
(g) of any announcement by Moody’s or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating.
Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than pursuant to Section 6.03(g)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Company setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(f) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of any Surety Credit Documents that have been breached.
6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable (a) all U.S. Federal and all other material Tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary; and (b) all lawful material claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property.
6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05, except to the extent a failure to maintain good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Maintenance of Properties. Except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof.
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6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with (a) financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company and/or (b) a Captive Insurance Subsidiary, (i) insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons and (ii) business interruption insurance in an amount not less than $3,000,000 per occurrence.
6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall comply with all Laws, orders, writs, injunctions and decrees described in Section 5.23 in all respects.
6.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.
6.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Company and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; provided, however, that (a) representatives and independent contractors of each Lender may accompany the representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent on each such visit and inspection and participate therein, but at such Lender’s own expense, (b) unless an Event of Default exists, only one such visit, inspection, examination or discussion may be conducted per fiscal year and (c) when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing as often as may be reasonably desired at the expense of the Company at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.
6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance all loans and other obligations under the Existing Term Loan Agreement as well as the existing term loans under the 2021 Credit Agreement and (b) for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.
6.12 Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, comply, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance with the requirements of all applicable Environmental Laws; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.
6.13 Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Sanctions. Conduct its businesses in compliance in all material respects with all Anti-Corruption Laws and, to the extent applicable, all Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Laws and Sanctions.
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ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation (other than any contingent obligation in respect of which no claim has been made) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:
(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;
(b) Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.01(b) and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.03(d), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.03(d);
(c) Liens for Taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;
(d) statutory and common law liens of landlords and carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;
(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;
(f) deposits to secure the performance of tenders, bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory or regulatory obligations, bankers’ acceptances, appeal bonds, government contracts, and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, municipal and zoning ordinances and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;
(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);
(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(g); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value (as determined by the Company in good faith), whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;
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(j) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks and other depositary institutions and Liens of a collecting bank arising under the UCC on checks and other items of payment in the course of collection;
(k) Liens in favor of a Receivables Financier created or deemed to exist in connection with a Permitted Receivables Transaction (including any related filings of any financing statements and any Liens on deposit and securities accounts maintained in connection with any Permitted Receivables Transaction), but only to the extent that any such Lien relates to the applicable Transferred Assets actually sold, contributed, financed or otherwise conveyed or pledged pursuant to such transaction;
(l) Liens arising as a matter of law which secure the obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (including any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or an Investment permitted by this Agreement) under any surety bond provided in the ordinary course of business;
(m) Liens on property, assets or revenues of a Person that becomes a Subsidiary existing at the time that such Person becomes a Subsidiary in connection with an Acquisition permitted pursuant to Section 7.02 or of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries existing at the time such property, assets or revenues are purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such an Acquisition; provided that (i) such Liens are not incurred in connection with, or in anticipation of, such Acquisition, (ii) such Liens do not encumber any property, assets or revenues other than property, assets or revenues encumbered at the time of such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such property, assets or revenues were acquired and the proceeds and products thereof and are not all asset Liens, (iii) such Liens do not attach to any other property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (iv) such Liens will secure only those obligations which it secures at the time such Acquisition occurs;
(n) Liens on Qualified Securitization Assets securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(h);
(o) Liens on cash set aside with respect to any Indebtedness in connection with a prepayment permitted hereunder, or government securities purchased with such cash, in either case, to the extent but only to the extent that such cash or government securities pre-fund the payment of principal and/or interest on such Indebtedness and are held in a collateral or escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose; provided that such Indebtedness is permitted to be defeased under the terms thereof at the time such cash is set aside or securities are purchased;
(p) leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(q) Liens of lessors in any property subject to any operating lease, including Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statements or similar filings made in respect of such leases;
(r) [Reserved];
(s) Liens in favor of any Borrower;
(t) [Reserved];
(u) 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;
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(v) [Reserved];
(w) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the past practices of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date;
(x) Liens solely on cash earnest money deposits made in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in connection with an Investment permitted hereunder;
(y) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to capital stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement; provided that any entity formed as part of such joint venture remains subject to the provisions of this Agreement to the extent provided herein;
(z) Liens on cash reserves securing Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of surety bonds permitted by Section 7.03(o)(i); provided that the aggregate amount of all such deposits and cash reserves provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of surety bonds permitted by Section 7.03(o)(i) shall not, at any time, exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of all such surety bonds; and
(aa) other Liens; provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of all Priority Indebtedness shall not exceed, at the time of creation, incurrence or assumption of such Lien (and after giving effect thereto), the greater of (i) $600,000,000 and (ii) an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such creation, incurrence or assumption.
7.02 Acquisitions. Make any Acquisition, except Permitted Acquisitions.
7.03 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;
(b) [Reserved];
(c) [Reserved];
(d) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(e) (i) Guarantees of any Borrower in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Borrower and (ii) Guarantees of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than MasTec NA) in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any other Restricted Subsidiary (other than MasTec NA);
(f) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation;
(g) (i) Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(i); provided,
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however, that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness, together with the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to subclause (ii) of this clause (g), outstanding at the time of such incurrence (after giving effect to such Indebtedness) shall not exceed the greater of (A) $900,000,000 and (B) an amount equal to 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such incurrence; and (ii) Permitted Refinancings of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the foregoing subclause (i) of this clause (g);
(h) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Securitization Transactions; provided that the aggregate amount of all such Attributable Indebtedness shall not exceed, at the time of creation, incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness (and after giving effect thereto), the greater of (i) $500,000,000 and (ii) an amount equal to 8.5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such creation, incurrence or assumption;
(i) Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person became a Subsidiary in connection with an Acquisition permitted pursuant to Section 7.02 or that is otherwise assumed in connection with such Acquisition; provided that (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary or the acquisition of such assets and (ii) neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary thereof (other than such Person or any other Person that such Person merges with or that acquires the assets of such Person) shall have any liability or other obligation with respect to such Indebtedness;
(j) unsecured Indebtedness of any Borrower; provided, however, that (i) immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the Company will be in compliance, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis pursuant to Section 1.09, with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.09 and (ii) such Indebtedness shall not be subject to any financial covenant which is more restrictive than the financial covenants in the Loan Documents at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness;
(k) Indebtedness (which is unsecured if owed by a Borrower) owed (i) to a Borrower or (ii) to any other Restricted Subsidiary;
(l) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;
(m) indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnout or similar obligations (including any Earnout Obligations), in each case, on customary terms incurred or assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or permitted Disposition of any business or assets of any Restricted Subsidiary or Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary;
(n) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business;
(o) (i) obligations of any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under surety bonds provided in the ordinary course of business (and indemnity and reimbursement obligations related thereto), (ii) obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries under any Surety Credit Documents, and (iii) obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (including any Person with which such Restricted Subsidiary is merged or consolidated pursuant to the applicable Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted by this Agreement) that in either case is acquired subsequent to the Closing Date pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted by this Agreement with respect to any surety bonds in existence at the time of the applicable Permitted Acquisition or other Investment; provided that such surety bonds (x) were provided in the ordinary course of business or (y) are released or replaced with surety bonds issued pursuant to Surety Credit Documents in accordance with this Agreement, or replaced with surety bonds provided in the ordinary course of business, within two hundred twenty-five (225) days of the date of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment;
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(p) [Reserved];
(q) obligations in connection with any Permitted Receivables Transaction, to the extent such obligations constitute Indebtedness; and
(r) other Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of all Priority Indebtedness shall not exceed, at the time of creation, incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness (and after giving effect thereto), the greater of (i) $600,000,000 and (ii) an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such creation, incurrence or assumption.
7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:
(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with (i) the Company; provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that when MasTec NA is merging into or consolidating with another Restricted Subsidiary, MasTec NA shall be the continuing or surviving Person;
(b) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is MasTec NA, then the transferee must be the Company;
(c) in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided that (i) the Person surviving such merger or consolidation shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) in the case of any such merger or consolidation to which MasTec NA is a party, MasTec NA or the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person; and
(d) each of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided that such merger or consolidation is permitted under Section 7.02 (and, if not an Acquisition, such merger or consolidation is part of a transaction or series of transactions that would satisfy the requirements set forth in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition”, if such merger or consolidation were an Acquisition, and does not conflict with any other provision of this Agreement) and provided further, however, that in each case, immediately after giving effect thereto (i) in the case of any such merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party, the Company is the surviving Person and (ii) in the case of any merger or consolidation to which the Company is not a party, (A) the Person surviving such merger or consolidation shall be a Restricted Subsidiary and (B) in the case of any such merger or consolidation to which MasTec NA is a party, MasTec NA or the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person.
7.05 Dispositions. Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:
(a) Dispositions of obsolete, worn out, excess, surplus or idle property or property no longer used in the business of such Person, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;
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(b) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(c) Dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;
(d) Dispositions of property by any Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary to any Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary;
(e) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04;
(f) [Reserved];
(g) Dispositions by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05; provided that at the time of such Disposition, (i) no Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition, (ii) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (g) (after giving effect to such Disposition) after the Closing Date shall not exceed an amount equal to 35% of Consolidated Total Assets at the time of such Disposition and (iii) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (g) (after giving effect to such Disposition) after the Closing Date in a single Disposition transaction shall not exceed an amount equal to 20% of Consolidated Total Assets at the time of such Disposition;
(h) non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of IP Rights in the ordinary course of business and substantially consistent with past practice, and leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(i) Dispositions of non-core assets acquired in a Permitted Acquisition by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries within 18 months of such Permitted Acquisition; provided that such non-core assets, in the aggregate, do not exceed 40% of the consolidated net assets (measured using the definition of “Consolidated Net Assets” mutatis mutandis and measured as of the date of such Permitted Acquisition) acquired pursuant to such Permitted Acquisition;
(j) any settlement of or payment in respect of, or series of settlements or payments in respect of, any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(k) Dispositions of property constituting the making of Permitted Acquisitions permitted under Section 7.02; and
(l) (i) the sale of past due accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business consistent with the practices of similarly situated companies and (ii) Dispositions made as part of a Permitted Receivables Transaction or a Securitization Transaction.
provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to clauses (a) through (k) shall be for fair market value.
7.06 Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by it on the Closing Date and any business or activities which are similar, related or incidental thereto.
7.07 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any material transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business; provided that the foregoing
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restriction shall not apply to (a) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; (b) payment of reasonable compensation to officers and employees for services actually rendered to Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries; (c) payment of customary directors’ fees and indemnities; (d) transactions with Affiliates that were consummated prior to the Closing Date and are set forth on Schedule 7.07; (e) transactions with Affiliates upon fair and reasonable terms and are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary; and (f) transactions between or among the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries subject to compliance by such Subsidiaries with the other requirements of Article VII.
7.08 Use of Proceeds.
(a) Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.
(b) Directly, or to any Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions to the extent in violation of applicable Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent or otherwise) of applicable Sanctions.
(c) Directly, or to any Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach any Anti-Corruption Law or any Anti-Money Laundering Law.
7.09 Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2025) to be greater than 3.50 to 1.00.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Permitted Acquisition or series of Permitted Acquisitions with aggregate consideration of more than $200,000,000 occurs during a fiscal quarter ending on or after the Closing Date, the Company shall have the right to permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed 3.50 to 1.00 during such fiscal quarter and the subsequent four fiscal quarters (such five fiscal quarters, an “Elevated Ratio Period”) so long as the Consolidated Leverage Ratio does not exceed 4.00 to 1.00 at any time during the Elevated Ratio Period.
7.10 Amendments of Organization Documents. Amend any of its Organization Documents, except for amendments that do not affect (a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary’s right and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party or (b) the authority and obligation of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to perform and pay the Obligations.
7.11 Fiscal Year. Make any change in its fiscal year, other than changing to a 52/53 Week Fiscal Year.
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ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an event of default, (each, an “Event of Default”):
(a) Non-Payment. Any Borrower fails to (i) pay when and as required to be paid herein, and in the currency required hereunder, any amount of principal of any Loan due on the final maturity date thereof, (ii) pay within three Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) pay within five Business Days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. (i) Any Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02(a), 6.03(a), 6.03(b), 6.05 (in respect of any Borrower), 6.10 or 6.11 or Article VII; or
(c) Other Defaults. Any Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days following the earlier to occur of (i) the date a Responsible Officer obtains knowledge of such failure and (ii) the date that a Responsible Officer receives notice from the Administrative Agent of such failure; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Borrower herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or
(e) Cross-Default. (i) The Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and penal sums under any surety bond and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Company or any Significant Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
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(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Company or any Significant Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or
(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer meets the requirements set forth in Section 6.07, has been notified of the potential claim and does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or
(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount during any period of twelve consecutive months in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or
(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Borrower or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document;
(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or
(l) Default under Indemnity Agreement. There shall occur a Default under, and as defined in, the Indemnity Agreement and the Company (as defined in the Indemnity Agreement) shall have exercised any remedies in respect thereof.
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers; and
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(c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate and the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.15, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders arising under the Loan Documents and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and other Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Company or as otherwise required by Law.
ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and no Borrower shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.
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9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial, advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or to provide notice or consent of the Lenders with respect thereto.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Administrative Agent, nor any Arranger, as applicable, shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent or any Arranger, as applicable, and its Related Parties:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law;
(c) shall not have any duty or responsibility to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender, any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Borrowers or any of their respective Affiliates, that is communicated to, obtained or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Related Parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein;
(d) shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Company or a Lender; and
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(e) shall not be responsible for or have any duty or obligation to any Lender or participant or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Company. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank (a) with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States, and (b) prior to an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 8.01(a) or (f) approved by the Company. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this
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Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring Administrative Agent as of the effective date of such resignation), and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Company and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and (ii) after such resignation for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including (A) acting as collateral agent or otherwise holding any collateral security on behalf of any of the Lenders and (B) in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.
9.07 Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent, any Arranger and the Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that none of the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or such Arranger to any Lender as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent or such Arranger has disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrowers hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrowers. Each Lender represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the syndication agent(s), documentation agent(s), lead arranger(s) or bookrunner(s) listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent or a Lender hereunder.
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9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09, 2.10(b) and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09, 2.10(b) and 10.04.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
9.10 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 any Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement,
(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement,
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(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b) In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding subsection (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Borrower, that the Administrative Agent is not 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 Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
9.11 Recovery of Erroneous Payments. Without limitation of any other provision in this Agreement, if at any time the Administrative Agent makes a payment hereunder in error to any Lender Recipient Party, whether or not in respect of an Obligation due and owing by any Borrower at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each Lender Recipient Party receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Lender Recipient Party in immediately available funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount is received by it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. Each Lender Recipient Party irrevocably waives any and all defenses, including any “discharge for value” (under which a creditor might otherwise claim a right to retain funds mistakenly paid by a third party in respect of a debt owed by another) or similar defense to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount. The Administrative Agent shall inform each Lender Recipient Party promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Lender Recipient Party comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount.
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ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc. Subject to Section 3.03(c) and the last two paragraphs of this Section 10.01, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Borrowers, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01 (other than Section 4.01(c)) without the written consent of each Lender;
(b) extend or increase any Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or any scheduled or mandatory reduction of any Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document (except as expressly provided in Section 2.18) without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause (ii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any interest, fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to such amount; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of any Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;
(e) change (i) Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would have the effect of altering the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender, or (ii) subordinate, or have the effect of subordinating, the Obligations hereunder to any other Indebtedness or other obligation, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby except in the case of (A) any Indebtedness that is expressly permitted by this Agreement to be senior to the Obligations and/or be secured, (B) any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to an asset based facility, factoring, securitization or other similar facility, the incurrence of which is otherwise approved by the Required Lenders, (C) any “debtor-in-possession” facility (or similar financing under applicable law) that does not provide for the “roll up” of any existing obligations or the use of cash collateral in any insolvency proceeding or (D) any other Indebtedness so long as the opportunity to participate in such Indebtedness is offered ratably to all adversely affected Lenders;
(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;
(g) impose any greater restriction on the ability of any Lender to assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the Required Lenders;
and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letters may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or
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disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) no Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may be increased or extended nor may the maturity of its Loans be extended, the rate of interest on any of its Loans be reduced or the principal amount of any of its Loans be forgiven, in each case, without the consent of such Defaulting Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment, consent or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement and each other Loan Document may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated, such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the schedules and exhibits thereto), then the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or electronic mail as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to a Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
(ii) if to any Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Company).
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile or electronic mail shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
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(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Company may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, e-mail or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, e-mail or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Company and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to any Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.
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(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders.The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic notices, Loan Notices and Notices of Loan Prepayment) purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Borrowers or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrowers shall, jointly and severally, pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (limited in respect of legal fees to reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent, and of a single regulatory counsel and single local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction which may include a special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions
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hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (limited in respect of legal fees to the fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel and one local counsel and one applicable regulatory counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and one counsel and one local counsel and one applicable regulatory counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Lenders (and, in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel to all such affected Lenders similarly situated, taken as a whole)), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrowers. The Borrowers shall, jointly and severally, indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by any Borrower arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without limitation, the Indemnitee’s reliance on any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature, or in the form of an Electronic Record), the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any such presence, alleged presence, release or Environmental Liability resulting solely from acts or omissions by Persons other than any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the Administrative Agent sells the applicable property pursuant to a foreclosure or has accepted a deed in lieu of foreclosure), or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Borrower, 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 losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) relate to the matters referred to in Sections 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05 (which Sections set forth the sole remedies in respect of the matters set forth therein) or relate to any other Taxes (other than Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses arising from a non-Tax claim), (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (y) result from a claim brought by any Borrower against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) arise out of, or in connection with, any proceeding that does not involve an act or omission by a Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is brought by an Indemnitee against any other Indemnitee (other than any proceeding against any Indemnitee in its capacity or fulfilling its role as the Administrative Agent, an Arranger or any similar role); provided further that the reimbursement of fees, charges and disbursements of counsel shall be limited to one counsel and one local counsel and one applicable regulatory counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and one counsel and one local counsel and one applicable regulatory counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the other Indemnitees (and, in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel to all such affected Indemnitees similarly situated, taken as a whole).
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(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrowers for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party thereof, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent). The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no Borrower shall assert, and each Borrower hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, and no Indemnitee shall assert, and each Indemnitee hereby waives, any claim against any Borrower, in each case on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
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10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitment(s) and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that (in each case with respect to any Facility) any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment under any Facility and/or the Loans at the time owing to it (in each case with respect to any Facility) or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the applicable Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. 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 and the other Loan Documents with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned.
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 8.01(a) or 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Company 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; and
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(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of (i) any unfunded Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender or (ii) any Loan to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) to a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural Persons).
(vi) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
(vii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, each Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.
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(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by each of the Borrowers and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural Persons, a Defaulting Lender or the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in, or enter into a swap or derivative transaction in respect of all or a portion of, such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment(s) and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 3.01(e)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 10.13 as if it were an assignee under subsection (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation 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 Company’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrowers to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 and Section 10.13 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, 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
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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.
(e) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note(s), if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates, its auditors and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to a Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Company or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder, (ii) the provider of any Platform or other electronic delivery service used by the Administrative Agent to deliver Borrower Materials or notices to the Lenders or (iii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the application, issuance, publishing and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Company or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section, (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company or (z) is independently discovered or developed by a party hereto without utilizing any Information received from the Company or violating the terms of this Section 10.07. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.
For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Company or any Subsidiary relating to the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received
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from the Company or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein prohibits any individual from communicating or disclosing information regarding suspected violations of laws, rules, or regulations to a governmental, regulatory, or self-regulatory authority without any notification to any person.
10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower against any and all of the obligations of such Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, or such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or such Affiliate different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15 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 and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Company 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.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Company. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
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10.10 Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent 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 that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.
10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If the Company is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender (as defined below), then the Company 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, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to 100% of the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
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(d) in the case of any such assignment by a Non-Consenting Lender, the assignee must have approved in writing the substance of the amendment, waiver or consent which caused the assignor to be a Non-Consenting Lender; and
(e) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
For the purposes of this Section 10.13, a “Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.
Each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 10.13 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided, further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.13 to the contrary, the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.06.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE
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JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR 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 APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between such Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) such Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) such Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for such Borrower or any of its Affiliates or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to such Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of such
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Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to such Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrowers hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
10.17 Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts. This Agreement, any Loan Document and any other Communication, including Communications required to be in writing, may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures. Each of the Borrowers and each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender Party agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered. Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and electronic counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Administrative Agent and each of the Lender Parties may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (“Electronic Copy”), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document. All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is not under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lender Parties shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower and/or any Lender Party without further verification and (b) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means). The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any Communication (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution or signed using an Electronic Signature) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
Each of the Borrowers and each Lender Party hereby waives (i) any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement or such other Loan Document, and (ii) any claim against the Administrative Agent, each Lender Party and each Related Party of any of the foregoing for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender Party’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrowers to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.
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10.18 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers, which information includes the name and address of each Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Borrower in accordance with the Act. Each Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including the Act.
10.19 [Reserved.]
10.20 Designation as Senior Debt. All Obligations shall be “Designated Senior Indebtedness” (or any similar term) for purposes of and as defined in any documentation evidencing any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in which such concept is applicable.
10.21 [Reserved.]
10.22 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Solely to the extent any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution is a party to this Agreement and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent 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.
10.23 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of
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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):
(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
(b) As used in this Section 10.23, the following terms have the following meanings:
“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).
[Signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| BORROWERS: | ||
| MASTEC, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Paul DiMarco | |
| Name: | Paul DiMarco | |
| Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | |
| MASTEC NORTH AMERICA, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Paul DiMarco | |
| Name: | Paul DiMarco | |
| Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT: | ||
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent | ||
| By: | /s/ Felicia Brinson | |
| Name: | Felicia Brinson | |
| Title: | Assistant Vice President | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| LENDERS: | ||
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Julia H. Greenwell | |
| Name: | Julia H. Greenwell | |
| Title: | Senior Vice President | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Gabriel Villar del Saz | |
| Name: | Gabriel Villar del Saz | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| TRUIST BANK, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ William P. Rutkowski | |
| Name: |
William P. Rutkowski | |
| Title: |
Director | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Bryan Girouard | |
| Name: | Bryan Girouard | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Abhishek Joshi | |
| Name: |
Abhishek Joshi | |
| Title: |
Vice President | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| BANK OF MONTREAL, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ John Armstrong | |
| Name: |
John Armstrong | |
| Title: |
Managing Director | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| CITIZENS BANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Robert Maddox | |
| Name: |
Robert Maddox | |
| Title: |
Senior Vice President | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael King | |
| Name: |
Michael King | |
| Title: |
Authorized Signatory | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Eric Fertig | |
| Name: |
Eric Fertig | |
| Title: |
Vice President | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Austin Will | |
| Name: |
Austin Will | |
| Title: |
Duly Authorized Signatory | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
| KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Brian Fox | |
| Name: |
Brian Fox | |
| Title: |
Senior Vice President | |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Signature Page
ANNEX 1
COMMITMENTS
AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES
SCHEDULE 5.05
SUPPLEMENT TO INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SCHEDULE 5.12(c)
CLOSING DATE ERISA EVENTS
SCHEDULE 5.12(d)
CLOSING DATE PENSION PLANS
SCHEDULE 5.13
Part (a)
SUBSIDIARIES; OTHER EQUITY INVESTMENTS
SCHEDULE 5.13
Part (b)
UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE 5.21
LABOR MATTERS
SCHEDULE 7.01(b)
EXISTING LIENS
SCHEDULE 7.03
EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
SCHEDULE 7.07
EXISTING TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
SCHEDULE 10.02
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OFFICE;
CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF LOAN NOTICE
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF NOTE
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
EXHIBIT D
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
EXHIBIT E-1
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT E-2
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT E-3
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT E-4
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF NOTICE OF LOAN PREPAYMENT