nVent Electric plc 8-K, filed Sep 17, 2026
nVent Electric plc (NVT)
About this 8-K
nVent Electric plc filed this 8-K on September 17, 2026.
Items reported
- Item 2.03: New debt or off-balance-sheet obligation
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
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
Date of Report (Date
of earliest event reported):
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone
number, including area code:
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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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).
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 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
As previously disclosed, on August 21, 2026, nVent Electric plc (“nVent”) entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which Hoffman Schroff Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of nVent (“Hoffman”), will acquire Maverick Power, LLC (“Maverick Power”), for a purchase price of $1.75 billion, subject to customary adjustments (the “Acquisition”).
On September 17, 2026 (the “Effective Date”), in contemplation of the Acquisition, nVent and its subsidiaries nVent Finance S.à r.l. (“nVent Finance”) and Hoffman entered into a Term Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks providing for a $600.0 million senior unsecured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”). On the Effective Date, no loans were outstanding under the Term Loan Facility. Hoffman intends to borrow the full $600.0 million aggregate principal amount available under the Term Loan Facility to finance a portion of the purchase price for the Acquisition and/or to pay related fees and expenses. Beginning December 19, 2026 and ending on the earlier of the date on which the term loans under the Term Loan Facility are funded and the Commitment Termination Date (as defined below), ticking fees will accrue in an amount ranging from 0.10% to 0.20% per annum on the actual daily undrawn term loan commitment, based on, at Hoffman’s election, nVent’s net leverage ratio (the “Net Leverage Ratio”) or Hoffman’s public debt rating (or, if no such rating is then in effect, nVent’s most recently announced corporate, issuer or similar rating) (the “Debt Rating”).
The lenders’ commitment to make the Term Loan Facility available to Hoffman expires on the earliest of (the “Commitment Termination Date”) (i) the date that is the earliest of: (x) the date on which the Purchase Agreement is terminated pursuant to its terms, and (y) five business days after the “Termination Date” (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), (ii) the closing of the Acquisition pursuant to the Purchase Agreement with or without the use of the Term Loan Facility, (iii) the public announcement of the abandonment of the Acquisition by nVent or Hoffman, and (iv) the termination of the Purchase Agreement prior to the closing of the Acquisition or the termination of nVent’s or Hoffman’s obligations under the Purchase Agreement to consummate the Acquisition in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.
The Term Loan Facility is guaranteed by nVent and nVent Finance. The Term Loan Facility will bear interest at a rate equal to a base rate or the term secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) plus, in each case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin is based on, at Hoffman’s election, the Net Leverage Ratio or the Debt Rating. Interest on borrowings is payable quarterly in arrears with respect to borrowings made at the base rate or at the end of the applicable interest period with respect to borrowings made at SOFR, unless such interest period is longer than three months, in which case payment is due on each successive date three months after the first day of such period.
With certain exceptions, the Term Loan Facility will mature on the third anniversary of the date the term loans are made to Hoffman. Hoffman is permitted to voluntarily prepay loans under the Term Loan Facility, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium, subject to certain minimum amounts and increments and the payment of customary breakage costs.
The Term Loan Facility contains financial covenants requiring nVent not to permit (i) the ratio of its consolidated debt (net of its consolidated unrestricted cash in excess of $5.0 million but not to exceed $250.0 million) to its consolidated net income (excluding, among other things, non-cash gains and losses) before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain other adjustments (“EBITDA”) on the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each, a “testing period”) to exceed 3.75 to 1.00 (or, at Hoffman’s election and subject to certain conditions, 4.25 to 1.00 for four testing periods in connection with certain material acquisitions) and (ii) the ratio of its EBITDA to its consolidated cash interest expense for the same period to be less than 3.00 to 1.00. In addition, subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the Term Loan Facility also contains covenants that, among other things, restrict nVent’s ability to create liens, merge or consolidate with another person, make acquisitions and incur subsidiary debt.
The Term Loan Facility contains customary events of default. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, then the lenders may terminate any commitments to extend credit under the Term Loan Facility and declare all amounts outstanding under the Term Loan Facility due and payable immediately. In addition, in the case of an event of default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, all amounts outstanding under the Term Loan Facility will automatically become due and payable immediately.
Additionally, on the Effective Date, the Company, nVent Finance and Hoffman entered into Amendment No. 2 (the “Amendment”) to that Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2025 (as amended prior to the Effective Date, the “Existing Credit Agreement”; the Existing Credit Agreement as further amended by the Amendment, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, nVent Finance, Hoffman and a syndicate of banks. The Amendment amends the Existing Credit Agreement to, among other things, add limited conditionality provisions to a $250.0 million sublimit of the revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement to facilitate using such amount of the revolving credit facility to finance a portion of the Acquisition and/or to pay related fees and expenses. Both before and after giving effect to the Amendment, the Credit Agreement provides for the extension of revolving credit, term credit and other forms of financing arrangements in an aggregate principal amount outstanding from time to time of up to $875.0 million.
The availability of loans under the Term Loan Facility and borrowings under the revolving credit facility of the Credit Agreement pursuant to the Amendment will be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including (i) the closing of the Acquisition substantially concurrently with the funding of such loans, (ii) the absence of a material adverse effect with respect to Maverick Power since August 21, 2026, (iii) the truth and accuracy in all material respects of certain representations and warranties, (iv) the receipt of certain certificates, and (v) the receipt of certain financial statements.
The descriptions of the Loan Agreement and the Amendment set forth above are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Loan Agreement and the Amendment filed as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.
| ITEM 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits. The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index below are filed as part of this report.
Exhibit Index
SIGNATURE
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, on September 17, 2026.
| nVent Electric plc | ||
| Registrant | ||
| By | /s/ Gary L. Corona | |
| Gary L. Corona | ||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
Exhibit 4.1
EXECUTION COPY
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
dated as of
September 17, 2026
among
NVENT ELECTRIC plc
as Parent,
HOFFMAN SCHROFF HOLDINGS, INC.
as Borrower,
NVENT FINANCE S.À R.L.
as Guarantor,
The Lenders Party Hereto,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
as Administrative Agent,
BANK OF CHINA LIMITED, LOS ANGELES BRANCH
BMO BANK N.A. and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Syndication Agents,
and
CITIBANK, N.A. and
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Documentation Agents
BofA SECURITIES, INC.,
BANK OF CHINA LIMITED, LOS ANGELES BRANCH
BMO BANK N.A.
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
CITIBANK, N.A. and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
| Article I. Definitions | 5 | |
| Section 1.01 | Defined Terms | 5 |
| Section 1.02 | Classification of Loans and Borrowings | 31 |
| Section 1.03 | Terms Generally | 31 |
| Section 1.04 | Accounting Terms; GAAP | 31 |
| Section 1.05 | Interest Rates | 32 |
| Section 1.06 | Luxembourg Terms | 32 |
| Section 1.07 | Certain Calculations | 33 |
| Section 1.08 | Divisions | 33 |
| Section 1.09 | Leverage Ratios | 33 |
| Article II. The Credits | 33 | |
| Section 2.01 | Term Loan Commitments | 33 |
| Section 2.02 | Loans and Borrowings | 33 |
| Section 2.03 | Requests for Borrowings | 34 |
| Section 2.04 | [Intentionally Omitted] | 34 |
| Section 2.05 | [Intentionally Omitted] | 34 |
| Section 2.06 | [Intentionally Omitted] | 34 |
| Section 2.07 | Funding of Borrowings | 34 |
| Section 2.08 | Interest Elections | 35 |
| Section 2.09 | Termination and Reduction of Commitments | 36 |
| Section 2.10 | Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Indebtedness | 37 |
| Section 2.11 | Prepayment of Loans | 38 |
| Section 2.12 | Fees | 38 |
| Section 2.13 | Interest | 39 |
| Section 2.14 | Inability to Determine Rates | 39 |
| Section 2.15 | Increased Costs | 41 |
| Section 2.16 | Break Funding Payments | 42 |
| Section 2.17 | Taxes | 43 |
| Section 2.18 | Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs | 48 |
| Section 2.19 | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 49 |
| Section 2.20 | [Intentionally Omitted] | 50 |
| Section 2.21 | [Intentionally Omitted] | 50 |
| Section 2.22 | [Intentionally Omitted] | 50 |
| Section 2.23 | Illegality | 50 |
| Section 2.24 | Defaulting Lenders | 51 |
| Article III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 52 | |
| Section 3.01 | Corporate Existence and Power | 52 |
| Section 3.02 | Corporate and Governmental Authorization; Contravention | 52 |
| Section 3.03 | Binding Effect | 52 |
| Section 3.04 | Financial Information | 52 |
| Section 3.05 | Litigation, etc. | 52 |
| Section 3.06 | ERISA Compliance | 53 |
| Section 3.07 | Taxes | 53 |
| Section 3.08 | Not an Investment Company | 53 |
| Section 3.09 | Environmental Matters | 53 |
| Section 3.10 | Use of Proceeds | 53 |
| Section 3.11 | Disclosure | 53 |
| Section 3.12 | Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions | 54 |
| Section 3.13 | Domiciliation; Centre of Main Interests | 54 |
| Section 3.14 | Solvency | 55 |
| Section 3.15 | Affected Financial Institutions | 55 |
| Section 3.16 | Irish Loan Party | 55 |
| Section 3.17 | Tax Residence | 55 |
| Section 3.18 | Outbound Investment Rules | 55 |
| Article IV. Conditions | 55 | |
| Section 4.01 | Effective Date | 55 |
| Section 4.02 | Term Loan Funding Date | 56 |
| Article V. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 59 | |
| Section 5.01 | Information | 59 |
| Section 5.02 | Use of Proceeds | 61 |
| Section 5.03 | Compliance with Contractual Obligations and Laws | 61 |
| Section 5.04 | Insurance | 61 |
| Section 5.05 | Ownership of Borrower | 61 |
| Section 5.06 | Payment of Taxes | 61 |
| Section 5.07 | [Intentionally Omitted] | 62 |
| Section 5.08 | Loan Party Location | 62 |
| Section 5.09 | Tax Residence | 62 |
| Article VI. NEGATIVE COVENANTS | 62 | |
| Section 6.01 | Maximum Net Leverage Ratio | 62 |
| Section 6.02 | Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio | 62 |
| Section 6.03 | Negative Pledge | 63 |
| Section 6.04 | Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets; Acquisitions | 65 |
| Section 6.05 | Subsidiary Debt | 65 |
| Section 6.06 | OFAC and Anti-Corruption Laws | 66 |
| Section 6.07 | Outbound Investment Rules | 67 |
| Article VII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 67 | |
| Article VIII. The Administrative Agent | 70 | |
| Section 8.01 | Authorization and Action | 70 |
| Section 8.02 | Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. | 72 |
| Section 8.03 | Posting of Communications | 73 |
| Section 8.04 | The Administrative Agent Individually | 75 |
| Section 8.05 | Successor Administrative Agent | 75 |
| Section 8.06 | Acknowledgement of Lenders | 76 |
| Section 8.07 | Certain ERISA Matters | 77 |
| Section 8.08 | Recovery of Erroneous Payments | 78 |
| Article IX. Miscellaneous | 78 | |
| Section 9.01 | Notices | 78 |
| Section 9.02 | Waivers; Amendments | 79 |
| Section 9.03 | Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 81 |
| Section 9.04 | Successors and Assigns | 83 |
| Section 9.05 | Survival | 88 |
| Section 9.06 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution | 88 |
| Section 9.07 | Severability | 89 |
| Section 9.08 | Right of Setoff | 90 |
| Section 9.09 | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process | 90 |
| Section 9.10 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 91 |
| Section 9.11 | Headings | 91 |
| Section 9.12 | Confidentiality | 92 |
| Section 9.13 | USA PATRIOT Act; Beneficial Ownership Regulation | 93 |
| Section 9.14 | Interest Rate Limitation | 93 |
| Section 9.15 | No Fiduciary Duty, etc. | 93 |
| Section 9.16 | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 94 |
| Section 9.17 | Waiver of Immunity | 94 |
| Section 9.18 | Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs | 94 |
| Section 9.19 | Judgment Currency | 95 |
| Section 9.20 | Payments Set Aside | 95 |
| Article X. Parent Guarantee | 95 | |
| Article XI. GUARANTOR Guarantee | 97 | |
| SCHEDULES: | ||
| Schedule 2.01 | -- | Commitments |
| Schedule 6.03 | -- | List of Existing Liens |
| Schedule 6.05 | -- | Existing Debt |
| Schedule 9.01 | -- | Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices |
| EXHIBITS: | ||
| Exhibit A | -- | Form of Assignment and Assumption |
| Exhibit B-1 | -- | Form of Opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP |
| Exhibit B-2 | -- | Form of Opinion of Arthur Cox |
| Exhibit B-3 | -- | Form of Opinion of Allen Overy Shearman Sterling |
| Exhibit C | -- | Form of Solvency Certificate |
| Exhibit D | -- | Form of Term Loan Note |
| Exhibit E | -- | List of Closing Documents |
| Exhibit F-1 | -- | Form of Borrowing Request |
| Exhibit F-2 | -- | Form of Interest Election Request |
| Exhibits G-1-4 | -- | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates |
| Exhibit H | -- | Form of Irish Qualifying Lender Confirmation |
TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of September 17, 2026 among nVent Electric plc, an Irish public limited company, HOFFMAN SCHROFF HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation, nVent Finance S.à r.l., a Luxembourg private limited liability company (Société à responsabilité limitée) having its registered office at 26, boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register under number B219846, the LENDERS from time to time party hereto and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article I.
Definitions
Section 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
“ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate. All ABR Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.
“Acquisition” means any transaction or series of related transactions (excluding any transaction solely among the Parent and/or one or more persons that are already Subsidiaries) that result, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition by the Parent or any Subsidiary of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of all or substantially all of any business or division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or equity of any Person, or otherwise causing any Person to become a Subsidiary, or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person; provided that the Parent or a Subsidiary is the ultimate surviving entity.
“Acquisition Debt” means any Debt of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that has been issued for the purpose of financing, in whole or in part, a Material Acquisition and any related transactions or series of related transactions (including for the purpose of refinancing or replacing all or a portion of any pre-existing Debt of the Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or the person(s) or assets to be acquired); provided that (a) the release of the proceeds thereof to the Parent and its Subsidiaries is contingent upon the consummation of such Material Acquisition and, pending such release, such proceeds are held in escrow (and, if the definitive agreement (or, in the case of a tender offer or similar transaction, the definitive offer document) for such acquisition is terminated prior to the consummation of such Material Acquisition or if such Material Acquisition is otherwise not consummated by the date specified in the definitive documentation relating to such Debt, such proceeds shall be promptly applied to satisfy and discharge all obligations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in respect of such Debt) or (b) such Debt contains a “special mandatory redemption” provision (or other similar provision) or otherwise permits or requires such Debt to be redeemed or prepaid if such Material Acquisition is not consummated by the date specified in the definitive documentation relating to such Debt (and if the definitive agreement (or, in the case of a tender offer or similar transaction, the definitive offer document) for such Material Acquisition is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the consummation of such Material Acquisition or such Material Acquisition is otherwise not consummated by the date specified in the definitive documentation relating to such Debt, such Debt is so redeemed or prepaid within 90 days of such termination or such specified date, as the case may be).
“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America (including its branches and affiliates) in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder, and any successor administrative agent arising under Section 9.04.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 9.01, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to be “controlled by” any other Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise (but, for the avoidance of doubt, no individual shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of a Person solely because such individual is a director (or the equivalent thereof) or senior officer of such Person).
“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.
“Alternate 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,” (c) the Term SOFR Rate plus 1.00% and (d) 1.00%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14, then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a), (b) and (d) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Parent and its affiliated companies concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.
“Applicable Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03(c).
“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, (i) at any time prior to the funding of the Term Loans on the Term Loan Funding Date, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate Term Loan Commitments of all Lenders and (ii) at any time after the funding of the Term Loans on the Term Loan Funding Date, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans of all Lenders; provided that in the case of Section 2.24 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, any such Defaulting Lender’s Term Loan Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculation.
“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, any ABR Loan or with respect to the ticking fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Term Benchmark Spread for Term Loans” or “ABR Spread for Term Loans” or “Ticking Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the Pricing Level applicable on such date.
6
| Pricing Level | Term Benchmark Spread for Term Loans | ABR Spread for Term Loans | Ticking Fee Rate | |||||||||
| Level I | 0.875 | % | 0 | % | 0.10 | % | ||||||
| Level II | 1.00 | % | 0 | % | 0.11 | % | ||||||
| Level III | 1.125 | % | 0.125 | % | 0.125 | % | ||||||
| Level IV | 1.25 | % | 0.25 | % | 0.15 | % | ||||||
| Level V | 1.50 | % | 0.50 | % | 0.20 | % | ||||||
For purposes hereof: (i) Pricing Level I, Leverage Level 1 and Ratings Level A are equivalent and correspond to each other, (ii) Pricing Level II, Leverage Level 2 and Ratings Level B are equivalent and correspond to each other, (iii) Pricing Level III, Leverage Level 3 and Ratings Level C are equivalent and correspond to each other, (iv) Pricing Level IV, Leverage Level 4 and Ratings Level D are equivalent and correspond to each other and (v) Pricing Level V, Leverage Level 5 and Ratings Level E are equivalent and correspond to each other.
At any time of determination, the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Leverage Level or the Ratings Level, as the Borrower shall from time to time elect by written notice to the Administrative Agent, and any change in Pricing Level resulting from such election by the Borrower shall be effected as promptly as practicable by the Administrative Agent after receiving such written election from the Borrower. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this definition, it is understood and agreed that Pricing Level III shall be deemed to be applicable from the Effective Date until the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the financial statements and related compliance certificate for the Parent’s first full fiscal quarter ending after the Term Loan Funding Date (it being understood and agreed that the Borrower shall not be permitted to elect pricing by reference to the Ratings Level until such receipt by the Administrative Agent of such financial statements and compliance certificate), and adjustments to the Pricing Level then in effect shall thereafter be effected in accordance with the terms of this definition.
Leverage Level Determination
| Leverage Level | Net Leverage Ratio |
Level 1
|
≤ 0.50 to 1.00 |
| Level 2 | > 0.50 to 1.00 but ≤ 1.00 to 1.00 |
| Level 3 | >
1.00 to 1.00 but ≤ 1.75 to 1.00 |
| Level 4 | >1.75
to 1.00 but ≤ 2.50 to 1.00 |
Level 5
|
> 2.50 to 1.00 |
If at any time the Parent fails to deliver the quarterly or annual financial statements or related compliance certificates required under Section 5.01 on or before the date such statements or certificates are due, Leverage Level 5 shall be deemed applicable for the period commencing three (3) Business Days after such required date of delivery and ending on the date which is three (3) Business Days after such statements or certificates are actually delivered, after which the Leverage Level shall be determined in accordance with this definition.
7
Except as otherwise provided in the paragraph below or in the immediately preceding paragraph, adjustments, if any, to the Leverage Level then in effect shall be effective three (3) Business Days after the Administrative Agent has received the applicable financial statements and certificates (it being understood and agreed that each change in Leverage Level shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change).
Ratings Level Determination
| Ratings Level | Public Debt Ratings (S&P / Moody’s / Fitch) |
Level A
|
A- / A3 / A- or higher |
| Level B | BBB+ / Baa1 / BBB+
|
| Level C | BBB / Baa2 / BBB
|
| Level D | BBB- / Baa3 / BBB-
|
Level E
|
BB+ / Ba1 / BB+ or lower |
For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if only one of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Ratings Level shall be determined by reference to the available rating; (b) if none of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in clause (g) or (h) below), the Ratings Level will be set in accordance with Level E; (c) if all three of the rating agencies shall have a Public Debt Rating in effect and the ratings established by each of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch shall fall within three different Levels in the immediately foregoing table (such Level A, Level B, Level C, Level D and Level E, collectively, the “Levels” and each a “Level”), the Ratings Level shall be based upon the intermediate Level; (d) if all three of the rating agencies shall have a Public Debt Rating in effect and two out of the three ratings of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch are at the same Level, then the Ratings Level shall be based on such Level; (e) if only two Public Debt Ratings from S&P, Moody’s and Fitch are available and such ratings fall within different Levels, then the Ratings Level shall be based on the higher rating unless such ratings differ by two or more Levels, in which case the applicable Ratings Level will be deemed to be one Level above the lower of such Levels; (f) if any rating established by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch shall be changed, such change shall be effective as of the date that is three (3) Business Days after the date on which such change is first announced publicly by the rating agency making such change; (g) if S&P, Moody’s or Fitch shall change the basis on which ratings are established, each reference to the Public Debt Rating announced by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as the case may be, shall refer to the then equivalent rating by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as the case may be (and if there is no such equivalent rating, to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change); and (h) if any such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of such amendment, the Ratings Level shall be determined by reference to the rating (and the Level applicable thereto) most recently in effect prior to such cessation.
“Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(a).
“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.
“Arrangers” means each of BofA Securities, Inc., Bank of China Limited, Los Angeles Branch, BMO Bank, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association, Citibank, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., each in their capacity as a joint bookrunner and joint lead arranger hereunder.
8
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bail-In Lender” is defined in Section 2.19(b).
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Parent or any Subsidiary by any Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) credit cards for commercial customers (including, without limitation, commercial credit cards and purchasing cards), (b) stored value cards, (c) merchant processing services and (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement services, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items services, any direct debit scheme or arrangement, overdraft services and interstate depository network services).
“Banking Services Agreement” means any agreement entered into by the Parent or any Subsidiary in connection with Banking Services.
“Bankruptcy Code” means the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11 U.S.C. §101, et seq.).
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.
“Blocking Law” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12 hereof.
“Blocking Regulation” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12 hereof.
“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
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“Borrower” means Hoffman Schroff Holdings, Inc. a Delaware corporation.
“Borrowing” means a Term Loan of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F-1 or such other form as the Administrative Agent may approve from time to time.
“Bridge Facility Commitment Letter” has the meaning specified in Section 4.02(b) hereof.
“Bridge Facility” means any bridge loan facility entered into pursuant to the Bridge Facility Commitment Letter.
“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.
“Calendar Quarter” means each of the four calendar quarters of each calendar year ending each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each calendar year.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Effective Date (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following: (a) the adoption 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, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except to the extent they are merely proposed and not in effect, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
“Charges” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.14.
“CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Combination” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Combined Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Commitment” means a Term Loan Commitment.
“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
“Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent or any Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to Section 8.03(c), including through an Approved Electronic Platform.
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“Conforming Changes” means, with respect to the use, administration of or any conventions associated with SOFR or any proposed Successor Rate or the Term SOFR Rate, as applicable, any conforming changes to the definitions of “Alternate Base Rate”, “SOFR”, “Term SOFR Rate” and “Interest Period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definitions of “Business Day” and “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in the reasonable good faith discretion of the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Borrower), 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 in its reasonable good faith discretion 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 Borrower, 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.
“Consolidated Subsidiary” means, as of any date, any Subsidiary or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the Parent in its consolidated financial statements as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means the total consolidated assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.
“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).
“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.18.
“Credit Event” means a Borrowing.
“Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of its Term Loans outstanding at such time.
“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).
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“Debt” means, with respect to any Person at any date, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities (including employee compensation and benefit obligations) arising in the ordinary course of business, (iv) the outstanding principal obligations of such Person as lessee under finance leases, (v) all Debt of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person (it being understood that if such Debt has not been assumed by such Person, the amount of such Debt shall be deemed to be the lesser of the fair market value at such date of such asset and the amount of such Debt), (vi) the aggregate outstanding investment or claim held by purchasers, assignees or transferees of (or of interests in) receivables of such Person in connection with any Securitization Transaction, (vii) all non-contingent reimbursement obligations of such Person under letters of credit and bank guarantees, and (viii) all Debt (as defined above) of others Guaranteed by such Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Debt shall exclude (a) any customary purchase price adjustments, earnouts, holdbacks and deferred payments of a similar nature in connection with a Permitted Acquisition (including deferred compensation representing consideration or other contingent obligations incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition), (b) any obligations in respect of customer advances in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, (c) defeased, discharged and/or redeemed indebtedness so long as (1) neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary has any liability (contingent or otherwise) with respect to such indebtedness and (2) the cash, securities and/or other assets used to defease, discharge and/or redeem such indebtedness are not, directly or indirectly, an asset of the Parent or any Subsidiary and (d) interest, fees, make-whole amounts, premiums, charges or expenses, if any, relating to the principal amount of Debt. In the event any of the foregoing Debt is limited to recourse against a particular asset or assets of such Person, the amount of the corresponding Debt shall be equal to the lesser of the amount of such Debt and the fair market value of such asset or assets, as determined by the Borrower in good faith, at the date for determination of the amount of such Debt. For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of Debt of any Person at any date will be calculated without duplication of any Guarantee in respect thereof.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, general assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.
“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.24(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had 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 2.24(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 Borrower and each other Lender promptly following such determination.
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“Designated Persons” means any Person that is the subject of any Sanctions, including any Person listed on a Sanctions List.
“Disqualified Institutions” means (i) those Persons identified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in writing prior to the Effective Date, (ii) those Persons that are reasonably determined by the Borrower to be competitors of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and which have been specifically identified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in writing prior to the Effective Date and (iii) in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) (and any supplements thereto as contemplated below), any of their respective Affiliates, to the extent any such Affiliate (x) is clearly identifiable as an Affiliate of the applicable Person solely by similarity of such Affiliate’s name and (y) is not a bona fide debt investment fund that is an Affiliate of such Person; provided that, the Borrower, by notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders after the Effective Date, shall be permitted to supplement from time to time in writing by name the list of Persons that are Disqualified Institutions to the extent that the Persons added by such supplements are determined by the Borrower to be competitors of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or Affiliates of such competitors that are not bona fide debt investment funds). Each such supplement shall become effective three (3) Business Days after delivery thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (including through an Approved Electronic Platform) in accordance with Section 9.01, but which shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any Persons that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in the Loans (but solely with respect to such Loans). It is understood and agreed that (i) the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility or liability to determine or monitor whether any Lender or potential Lender is a Disqualified Institution, (ii) the Borrower’s failure to deliver such list (or supplement thereto) in accordance with Section 9.01 shall render such list (or supplement) not received and not effective and (iii) “Disqualified Institution” shall exclude any Person that the Borrower has designated as no longer being a “Disqualified Institution” by written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent (which notice may be distributed to the Lenders) from time to time in accordance with Section 9.01.
“Disregarded Entity” means an entity that, pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-2(c)(2), is disregarded for U.S. federal income Tax purposes as an entity separate from its owner.
“Documentation Agent” means each of Citibank, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., each in their capacity as documentation agent for the term loan facility evidenced by this Agreement.
“Dollar Amount” of any amount of any currency means, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, (b) if such amount is expressed in a currency other than Dollars (a “Foreign Currency”), the equivalent of such amount in Dollars determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with such Foreign Currency last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent) by the applicable Bloomberg source (or such other publicly available source for displaying exchange rates) on the date that is two Business Days (New York City time) immediately preceding the date of determination or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide a rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with such Foreign Currency, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Bloomberg chosen by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, using any reasonable method of determination it deems reasonably appropriate) and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, using any reasonable method of determination it deems reasonably appropriate.
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“Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of the Parent other than a Foreign Subsidiary.
“DQ List” has the meaning specified in Section 9.04(e)(iv) hereof.
“EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of the consolidated net income of the Parent for such period excluding the effect of (a) any non-cash gains (including any non-cash gains arising from the adoption of mark-to-market accounting with respect to pension or other retirement benefit plans); (b) any non-cash losses, charges and expenses (including any non-cash loss, charge or expense arising from the adoption of mark-to-market accounting with respect to pension or other retirement benefit plans); (c) any earnings from discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, such earnings shall be excluded in the calculation of EBITDA (i) only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of and (ii) if the sales revenue generated by the applicable entity or business unit in the twelve (12) months prior to such disposition was $25,000,000 or more); (d) fees, costs, expenses, premiums, make-whole or penalty payments, other similar items and, in the case of clause (v) below, awards, settlement payments and similar amounts, in each case, incurred after the Effective Date (provided, that any such add back amounts arising in respect of the Transactions may be incurred prior to, on and/or after the Effective Date) and arising out of (i) Permitted Acquisitions, (ii) investments and dispositions not prohibited by this Agreement, (iii) any incurrence, issuance, repayment or refinancing of Debt permitted by this Agreement, (iv) any issuance or redemption of Equity Interests and (v) litigation, arbitration and/or other resolutions of legal disputes (provided that the aggregate amount permitted to be added back pursuant to this clause (d)(v) shall not exceed $25,000,000 during such period); (e) any losses, charges, costs and expenses from discontinued operations plus, to the extent deducted in determining such consolidated net income, but without duplication, Interest Expense, taxes on or measured by income, depreciation, amortization, non-cash stock-based compensation expenses; (f) any losses, charges, costs and expenses from restructurings, casualty and condemnation events, takings under power of eminent domain and similar events (not to exceed 10% of EBITDA for such period); (g) any unusual or non-recurring losses, charges, costs and expenses to the extent deducted in the calculation of consolidated net income (together with the amount added back pursuant to clause (h) below, not to exceed 10% of EBITDA); and (h) any cost-savings and cost synergies resulting from a Permitted Acquisition projected in good faith by the Parent to be realized within 18 months of such acquisition (together with the amounts in clause (g) above, not to exceed 10% of EBITDA).
“ECP” means an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1(a)(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the SEC.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
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“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
“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.
“Environmental Claims” means all claims, however asserted, by any Governmental Authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law, or for release or injury to the environment.
“Environmental Laws” means all federal, state and local laws, statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any judicial, regulating or other governmental authority, in each case relating to environmental and land use matters or health or safety matters affecting the environment or land use.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Parent or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.
“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 Parent 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).
“EU” means the European Union.
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.
“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII; provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition has been satisfied.
“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Specified Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Specified Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) (a) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation or (b) in the case of a Specified Swap Obligation subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to Section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto), because such Loan Party is a “financial entity,” as defined in Section 2(h)(7)(C)(i) of the Commodity Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto), at the time the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such related Specified Swap Obligation. If a Specified Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Specified Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.
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“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any guarantor under any Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which it has a principal office 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 Lender, any U.S. federal withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b) or Section 9.02(c)) or (ii) such Lender designates a new lending office, except in each case to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately before the designation of a new lending office (or an assignment), to receive additional amounts pursuant to Section 2.17(a), (c) Taxes attributable to such recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(e), (d) any withholding Tax that is imposed under FATCA, and (e) any deduction or withholding on account of Taxes imposed by Luxembourg under the law dated 23 December 2005, as amended, introducing a final withholding tax on interest payable to Luxembourg resident individuals.
“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025 among the Parent, the Borrower, the Guarantor, certain of the Parent’s Subsidiaries from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing 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.
“Financial Officer” means (i) with respect to the Borrower, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer or the Treasurer of the Borrower; and (ii) with respect to the Parent, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer or the Treasurer of the Parent.
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc.
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“Foreign Currency” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Dollar Amount”.
“Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is neither a U.S. Person nor a Disregarded Entity that is treated for U.S. federal income Tax purposes as having as its sole owner a Person that is a U.S. Person.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, each Subsidiary of such Person that is incorporated or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located outside of the United States or any state thereof.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as from time to time in effect in the United States of America.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, municipal, national or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency, ministry or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any entity, officer, minister or other Person exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) and any group or body charged with setting financial accounting or regulatory capital rules or standards (including the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).
“Guarantee” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person, contingent or otherwise, directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person or in any manner providing for the payment of any Debt of any other Person or otherwise protecting the holder of such Debt against loss (whether by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or otherwise); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a correlative meaning. It is understood that the amount of any Guarantee of or by any Person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) the amount of Debt in respect of which such Guarantee exists and (b) the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable pursuant to the instrument embodying such Guarantee. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event any Guarantee is limited to recourse against a particular asset or assets of such Person, the amount of such Guarantee shall be equal to the lesser of the amount of such Guarantee and the fair market value of such asset or assets, as determined by such Person in good faith, at the date for determination of the amount of such Guarantee.
“Guarantor” means nVent Finance S.à r.l., a Luxembourg private limited liability company (Société à responsabilité limitée), having its registered office at 26, boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register (R.C.S. Luxembourg) under number B219846.
“Hazardous Materials” means (a) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.
“Hedging Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Parent or the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedging Agreement.
“Illegality Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23.
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“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes other than Excluded Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment made by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) Other Taxes.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).
“Ineligible Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
“Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.12.
“Insolvency Regulation” means the Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings (recast).
“Interest Coverage Ratio” means, for any period, the ratio of (i) EBITDA for such period to (ii) Interest Expense (excluding any Interest Expense in respect of intercompany Debt), to the extent paid in cash, for such period.
“Interest Expense” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication, of consolidated interest expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period (including, in each case to the extent included in interest expense on the Parent’s consolidated income statement, the interest component of finance leases, the interest component of Synthetic Lease Obligations, facility, commitment and usage fees, and fees for standby letters of credit), plus consolidated yield or discount accrued, during such period on the aggregate outstanding investment or claim held by purchasers, assignees or other transferees of (or of interests in) receivables of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in connection with any Securitization Transaction (regardless of the accounting treatment of such Securitization Transaction), plus net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Agreements, minus the sum (without duplication) of (a) annual administrative agent fees, (b) costs associated with obtaining swap agreements and any interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under swap agreements or other derivative instruments and any one-time costs associated with breakage in respect of swap agreements for interest rates, (c) costs associated with the issuance or incurrence of debt, including amortization and write-off of deferred and other financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and original issue discount, (d) PIK interest, (e) any non-cash expense in respect of any interest component relating to accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities and (f) net receipts (if any) pursuant to Hedging Agreements.
“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08 in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F-2 or such other form as the Administrative Agent may approve from time to time.
“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date and (b) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period, and the Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter (or such other period of time as is acceptable to each of the Lenders), as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
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“Ireland” means Ireland, exclusive of Northern Ireland.
“Irish Companies Act” means the Companies Act 2014 of Ireland.
“Irish Guarantor” means the Parent.
“Irish Loan Party” means the Irish Guarantor.
“Irish Qualifying Lender” means a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to it in respect of an advance under this Agreement, and is:
(a) a bank within the meaning of Section 246 of the Irish TCA which is carrying on a bona fide banking business in Ireland for the purposes of Section 246(3)(a) of the Irish TCA; or
| (b) |
(i) a company (within the meaning of Section 246 of the Irish TCA) which by virtue of the laws of a Relevant Territory is resident in that Relevant Territory for the purposes of tax and that Relevant Territory imposes a tax that generally applies to interest receivable in that Relevant Territory by companies from sources outside that Relevant Territory; or
(ii) a company (within the meaning of Section 246 of the Irish TCA) in receipt of interest under this Agreement which:
| (A) | is exempted from the charge to Irish income tax under an Irish Treaty between Ireland and the country in which the Lender is resident for tax purposes having the force of law under the procedures set out in section 826(1) of the Irish TCA; or |
| (B) | would be exempted from the charge to Irish income tax under an Irish Treaty between Ireland and the country in which the Lender is resident for tax purposes entered into on or before the payment date of that interest if that Irish Treaty had the force of law under the procedures set out in section 826(1) of the Irish TCA at that date; or |
(iii) a U.S. company that is incorporated in the U.S. and taxed in the U.S. on its worldwide income; or
(iv) a U.S. limited liability company (“LLC”), provided the ultimate recipients of the interest would be Irish Qualifying Lenders within paragraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of this definition and the business conducted through the LLC is so structured for non-tax commercial reasons and not for tax avoidance purposes;
provided that, in the case of (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv), the company does not provide its (or in the case of (iv), the ultimate recipients of the interest do not provide their)commitment in connection with a trade or business which is carried on in Ireland through a branch or agency; or
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(c) a body corporate which:
(i) advances money in the ordinary course of a trade which includes the lending of money; and
(ii) in whose hands any interest payable in respect of money so advanced is taken into account in computing the trading income of that company; and
(iii) which has complied with the notification requirements set out in Section 246(5)(a) of the Irish TCA.
(d) a qualifying company within the meaning of Section 110 of the Irish TCA; or
(e) an investment undertaking within the meaning of Section 739B of the Irish TCA; or
(f) an Irish Treaty Lender; or
(g) an exempted approved scheme within the meaning of Section 774 of the Irish TCA.
“Irish TCA” means the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 of Ireland.
“Irish Treaty Lender” means a Lender (other than a Lender falling within clause (b) of the definition of Irish Qualifying Lender) which is on the date the relevant payment is made entitled under a double taxation agreement (an “Irish Treaty”) in force on that date between Ireland and another jurisdiction to that payment without any withholding for or on account of Irish Tax (subject to the completion of any procedural formalities or self certification procedure) and which does not carry on a business in Ireland through a permanent establishment with which that Lender’s participation in the Loan is effectively connected.
“Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer, without giving effect to imputed or constructive knowledge or giving rise to any duty to investigate.
“Lender Parent” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.
“Lender Party” and “Lender Recipient Party” means collectively, the Lenders.
“Lender-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(d).
“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” includes each Term Lender and the term “Lenders” includes all Term 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 Borrower 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.
“Liabilities” means any losses, claims, damages or liabilities.
“Lien” means any interest in property securing any obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute, regulation, decree or contract, including (a) any lien or security interest arising from any mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or consignment or bailment for security purposes and (b) the interest of a person under a finance lease (but excluding the interest of a lessor under an operating lease).
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“Liquidity” means, at any time, the amount of unrestricted and unencumbered cash and cash equivalent investments of the Parent and its Subsidiaries at such time that is not subject to any Lien other than Liens permitted under Section 6.03 that is in excess of $5,000,000 but in no event to exceed $250,000,000.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.10(e), each Borrowing Request and any and all other instruments and documents executed and delivered in connection with any of the foregoing.
“Loan Party” means the Parent, the Borrower and the Guarantor.
“Loans” means the term loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, it being understood that conversions and continuations of Loans are not Loans hereunder.
“Luxembourg” means the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
“Luxembourg Debtor Relief Laws” means (i) bankruptcy (faillite) within the meaning of Articles 437 et seq. of the Luxembourg Commercial Code, (ii) judicial reorganisation proceedings in the form of a mutual agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord amiable), a collective agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord collectif) or a judicial reorganisation by transfer by court order (réorganisation judiciaire par transfert par décision de justice) within the meaning of Luxembourg law of 7 August 2023 on business preservation and modernization of the bankruptcy law, (iii) suspension of payments (sursis de paiement) within the meaning of Articles 593 et seq. of the Luxembourg Commercial Code, and (iv) voluntary or compulsory liquidation pursuant to the Luxembourg law of August 10, 1915 on commercial companies.
“Luxembourg Person” means an entity that (i) is organized under the laws of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, (ii) has its center of main interests, within the meaning of the Insolvency Regulation, in Luxembourg or (iii) has an establishment, within the meaning of the Insolvency Regulation, in Luxembourg.
“Luxembourg Relief” means bankruptcy (faillite), suspension of payments (sursis de paiement), administrative dissolution without liquidation (dissolution administrative sans liquidation), judicial reorganisation proceedings in the form of a mutual agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord amiable), a collective agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord collectif) or a judicial reorganisation by transfer by court order (réorganisation judiciaire par transfert par décision de justice), a general settlement with creditors and voluntary or compulsory liquidation, as such terms are understood within the Luxembourg Debtor Relief Laws, and also means any other proceedings affecting the rights of creditors generally or the appointment of an interim administrator (administrateur provisoire).
“Material Acquisition” means any acquisition if the aggregate consideration paid or to be paid (including liabilities to be assumed as part of the purchase consideration) by the Parent or a Subsidiary in respect of such acquisition is equal to or greater than $250,000,000.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder; provided, however, that specific events, circumstances, changes, effects or conditions (and not general economic or industry conditions) specifically applicable to the Parent and its Subsidiaries disclosed in any Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed by the Parent with the SEC prior to the Effective Date shall not constitute a “Material Adverse Effect” to the extent so disclosed.
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“Material Financial Obligations” means Debt or Synthetic Lease Obligations of the Parent or any Subsidiary (excluding amounts owed to the Parent or any Subsidiary that is wholly-owned (except for directors’ qualifying shares)) in an aggregate amount (for all applicable Debt and Synthetic Lease Obligations, but without duplication) equal to or greater than a Dollar Amount of $75,000,000.
“Material Subsidiary” means (a) the Borrower, (b) the Guarantor, (c) any Subsidiary that is an “Affiliate Borrower” under (and as defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement and (d) each other Subsidiary of the Parent that at the time of determination constitutes a “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Regulation S-X of the SEC as in effect on the date of this Agreement).
“Maturity Date” means the date that occurs on the third anniversary of the Term Loan Funding Date; provided, however, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.
“Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.14.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
“Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, the ratio of (a) (i) the sum (without duplication) of the outstanding principal amount of all Debt (excluding, without duplication, Synthetic Lease Obligations) of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of such date, minus (ii) Liquidity as of such date, to (b) EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended; provided that for purposes of calculating EBITDA pursuant to this clause (b), the consolidated net income of any Person or business unit acquired (or divested or liquidated, if the sales revenue generated by such Person or business unit in the 12 months prior to such divestiture or liquidation was $25,000,000 or more) by the Parent or any Subsidiary during such period (plus, to the extent deducted in determining such consolidated net income, Interest Expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization and non-cash compensation expenses of such Person or business unit) shall be included (or, in the case of a divestiture or liquidation, excluded) on a pro forma basis for such period (assuming the consummation of each such acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of any Debt in connection therewith (or the consummation of such divestiture or liquidation) occurred on the first day of such period) in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X of the SEC; provided, further, that, at any time after the definitive agreement for any Material Acquisition shall have been executed (or, in the case of a Material Acquisition in the form of a tender offer or similar transaction, after the offer shall have been launched) and prior to the consummation of such Material Acquisition (or termination of the definitive documentation in respect thereof (or such later date as such indebtedness ceases to constitute Acquisition Debt as set forth in the definition of “Acquisition Debt”)), any Acquisition Debt (and the proceeds of such Debt) shall be excluded from the determination of the Net Leverage Ratio.
“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c).
“Note” means a note substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto evidencing the Term Loans made by any applicable Lender to the Borrower.
“Obligations” means all indebtedness (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of any of the Parent and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders, any indemnified party and the Administrative Agent, individually or collectively, under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made, reimbursement obligations incurred or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof.
“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of Treasury.
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“Organizational Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation or unlimited liability company, 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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender, 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 any and all present or future stamp, registration or documentary Taxes or any other excise or property Taxes, charges or similar Taxes or levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, but excluding (i) Excluded Taxes and (ii) any such stamp, court or documentary, intangible, mortgage, recording, filing or similar Tax that becomes payable upon a registration made by any party (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Luxembourg registration duties (droits d'enregistrement)), including the Administrative Agent or any Lender, if such registration is not required to enforce the rights of such party or obligations of any party under a Loan Document.
“Outbound Investment Rules” means the regulations administered and enforced, together with any related public guidance issued, by the United States Treasury Department under U.S. Executive Order 14105 of August 9, 2023, or any similar law or regulation; as of the date of this Agreement, and as codified at 31 C.F.R. § 850.101 et seq.
“Parent” means nVent Electric plc, an Irish public limited company.
“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(c).
“Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(c).
“Patriot Act” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.13.
“Payment Office” of the Administrative Agent shall mean, for each currency, the office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the Administrative Agent for such currency as specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower and each Lender.
“Payment Recipient” has the meaning specified in Section 8.08(a) hereof.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any successor thereto.
“Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR Rate”.
“Permitted Acquisition” means (i) the Velocity Acquisition and (ii) any other Acquisition by the Parent or a Subsidiary which satisfies each of the following requirements: (x) no Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of, or will result upon giving effect to, such Acquisition; and (y) in the case of the Acquisition of any Person, the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Person being acquired (or all of the equity holders thereof) shall have approved such Acquisition.
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“Permitted Surviving Debt” means (i) purchase money Debt, working capital facilities, overdraft facilities, letter of credit and bank guarantee facilities or similar facilities, capital and finance leases, equipment financings and bilateral lines of credit for working capital purposes of the Parent’s Subsidiaries, in each case, that will remain outstanding following the Term Loan Funding Date, (ii) intercompany Debt among any of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, (iii) Debt under the Existing Credit Agreement (as amended prior to August 21, 2026), (iv) indebtedness permitted to be incurred by Velocity and/or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Velocity Acquisition Agreement (including after giving effect to any consent by the Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates to any such incurrence that the Parent and the Borrower determine that the Parent or the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates are required to give pursuant to the terms of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement) and (v) other Debt that is permitted to be outstanding by the terms of this Agreement or otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or Governmental Authority.
“Plan” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code and is either (i) maintained by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate for employees of the Parent or such ERISA Affiliate or (ii) maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or any other arrangement under which more than one employer makes contributions and to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or has within the preceding five plan years made contributions.
“Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.
“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 Debt Rating” means the rating that has been most recently announced by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as the case may be, for any class of non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Borrower (or if no such rating is then in effect with respect to such debt, then the corporate, issuer or similar rating with respect to the Parent that has been most recently announced by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as the case may be) or, if any such rating agency shall have issued more than one such rating, the lowest such rating issued by such rating agency.
“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).
“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.18.
“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(b).
“Related Indemnified Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(b).
“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.
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“Relevant Territory” means:
(a) a member state of the European Communities (other than Ireland); or
(b) to the extent not a member state of the European Communities, a jurisdiction with which Ireland has entered into a double taxation treaty that either has the force of law by virtue of Section 826(1) of the Irish TCA or which will have the force of law on completion of the procedures set out in Section 826(1) of the Irish TCA.
“Replacement Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Required Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.24, Lenders having Credit Exposures and Unfunded Term Loan Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Credit Exposures and Unfunded Term Loan Commitments at such time; provided that for the purpose of determining the Required Lenders needed for any waiver, amendment, modification or consent of or under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any Lender that is the Parent or an Affiliate of the Parent shall be disregarded.
“Rescindable Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(d).
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Responsible Officer” means (i) with respect to the Borrower, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer or the Treasurer of the Borrower; (ii) with respect to the Parent, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer or the Treasurer of the Parent; and (iii) with respect to any other Loan Party, a manager, a director, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the president, any vice president (if appointed by the board of directors or similar governing body of such Loan Party), the chief financial officer, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer of such Loan Party, or any other officer having substantially the same authority and responsibility.
“Retired Commitments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Reuters” means, as applicable, Thomson Reuters Corp., Refinitiv or any successor thereto.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc.
“Sanctioned Country” means a country, region or territory which is at any relevant time subject to any comprehensive Sanctions (as of the Effective Date, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).
“Sanctions” means:
(a) economic or financial sanctions, trade embargoes or similar restrictions imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the US government and administered by OFAC; and
(b) economic or financial sanctions, trade embargoes or similar restrictions imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the US State Department, the US Department of Commerce, the US Department of the Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.
“Sanctions List” means any of the lists of specifically designated nationals or designated persons or entities (or equivalent) maintained by the US government, including by OFAC, the US State Department, the US Department of Commerce or the US Department of the Treasury or by the United Nations Security Council or any similar list maintained by any other U.S. government entity or other relevant sanctions authority, in each case as the same may be amended, supplemented or substituted from time to time.
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“Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(b)(ii).
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securitization Transaction” means any sale, assignment or other transfer by the Parent or any Subsidiary of accounts receivable, lease receivables, financial assets or other payment obligations owing to the Parent or such Subsidiary or any interest in any of the foregoing (other than sales of defaulted receivables, foreign receivables or similar items in the ordinary course of business), together in each case with any collections and other proceeds thereof, any collection or deposit accounts related thereto, and any collateral, guaranties or other property or claims in favor of the Parent or such Subsidiary supporting or securing payment by the obligor thereon of, or otherwise related to, any such receivables, financial assets or other payment obligations.
“Senior Financial Officer” means the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer or the Treasurer of the Parent.
“Senior Notes” means all Senior Notes issued by the Guarantor or the Borrower as of the Effective Date, including $500,000,000 of 4.550% Senior Notes due 2028, $300,000,000 of 2.750% Senior Notes due 2031, and $500,000,000 of 5.650% Senior Notes due 2033, each issued by the Guarantor and guaranteed by the Parent.
“Service of Process Agent” means the Borrower.
“SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator).
“Specified Ancillary Obligations” means all obligations and liabilities (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) of any of the Subsidiaries, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, to the Lenders or any of their Affiliates under any Hedging Agreement or any Banking Services Agreement; provided that the definition of “Specified Ancillary Obligations” shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.
“Specified Borrower Ancillary Obligations” means all obligations and liabilities (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) of any of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, to the Lenders or any of their Affiliates under any Hedging Agreement or any Banking Services Agreement; provided that the definition of “Specified Borrower Ancillary Obligations” shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.
“Specified Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.08, 3.10 and 3.14.
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“Specified Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a company, 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 Parent.
“Successor Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(b)(ii).
“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.18.
“Surviving Commitment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Surviving Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Syndication Agent” means each of Bank of China Limited, Los Angeles Branch, BMO Bank, N.A. and U.S. Bank National Association, each in their capacity as syndication agent for the term loan facility evidenced by this Agreement.
“Synthetic Lease Obligations” means obligations under operating leases of properties which are reported for United States income tax purposes as owned by the Parent or a Consolidated Subsidiary. The amount of Synthetic Lease Obligations under any such lease shall be determined in accordance with GAAP as if such operating lease were a finance lease.
“Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, fees, value added taxes, or any other goods and services, use or sales taxes, assessments, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Term Benchmark”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Term SOFR Rate (except pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate”).
“Term Lender” means, as of any date of determination, each Lender having a Term Loan Commitment or that holds Term Loans.
“Term Loan Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date and ending on the Term Loan Commitment Expiration Date.
“Term Loan Commitment” means (a) with respect to any Term Lender, the amount set forth on Schedule 2.01 opposite such Lender’s name under the heading “Term Loan Commitment”, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Term Loan Commitment, as applicable, and giving effect to (i) any reduction in such amount from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (ii) any reduction or increase in such amount from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04 and (b) as to all Term Lenders, the aggregate commitments of all Term Lenders to make Term Loans. After the Term Loans are funded, each reference to a Term Lender’s Term Loan Commitment shall refer to that Term Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Term Loans. The aggregate amount of the Term Loan Commitments of all Term Lenders on the Effective Date is $600,000,000.
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“Term Loan Commitment Expiration Date” means the earliest of (i) 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date that is the earliest of: (x) the date on which the Velocity Acquisition Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10.1 thereof and (y) five (5) “Business Days” after the “Termination Date” (each as defined in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement as in effect on August 21, 2026), (ii) the closing of the Velocity Acquisition with or without the use of any of the Term Loans under this Agreement, (iii) the public announcement of the abandonment of the Velocity Acquisition by the Parent or the Borrower (or any of their Affiliates) and (iv) the termination of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement prior to closing of the Velocity Acquisition or the termination of the Parent’s or the Borrower’s (or any of their respective Affiliates’) obligations under the Velocity Acquisition Agreement to consummate the Velocity Acquisition in accordance with the terms of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement.
“Term Loan Funding Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.02 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02) and the Term Loans are funded.
“Term Loans” means the term loans made by the Term Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Term SOFR Loan” means a Term Benchmark Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Term SOFR Rate.
“Term SOFR Rate” 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 the Term SOFR Rate means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto, and
(b) for any interest calculation with respect to a ABR Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such date with a term of one month commencing that day; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then the Term SOFR Rate means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto;
provided that if the Term SOFR Rate determined in accordance with either of the foregoing provisions (a) or (b) of this definition would otherwise be less than zero, the Term SOFR Rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Term SOFR Replacement Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(b)(ii).
“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).
“Trade Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.04(e)(i) hereof.
“Transactions” means (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) the borrowing of Loans, (iii) the use of the proceeds thereof and (iv) the Velocity Transactions.
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“Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Term SOFR Rate, the Alternate Base Rate or the Daily Simple SOFR.
“Unfunded Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Term Lender, prior to the funding of the Term Loans on the Term Loan Funding Date, the Term Loan Commitment of such Lender (it being understood and agreed that after the funding of the Term Loans on the Term Loan Funding Date, the Unfunded Term Loan Commitment of each Term Lender shall be zero).
“Unfunded Vested Liabilities” means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount (if any) by which (i) the current liability as defined in Section 412(l)(7) of the Code under such Plan exceeds (ii) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all as determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent that such excess represents a potential liability of the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC or such Plan under Title IV of ERISA.
“United Kingdom” and “UK” each mean the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
“United States” and “U.S.” each mean the United States of America.
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
“U.S. Lender” means a Lender that is not a Foreign Lender.
“U.S. Person” means (i) for purposes of Sections 3.18 and 6.07 hereof, any United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States, including any foreign branch of any such entity, or any person in the United States and (ii) for all other purposes, a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.18.
“UK Bankruptcy Event” means:
(a) a UK Relevant Entity is unable or admits inability to pay its debts (as defined in section 123(1)(a) of the UK Insolvency Act) as they fall due or is deemed to or declared to be unable to pay its debts under applicable law, or suspends or threatens to suspend making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties; or
(b) any corporate action, legal proceedings or other formal procedure or formal step for (i) the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganization (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any UK Relevant Entity; (ii) a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any UK Relevant Entity; or (iii) the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of any UK Relevant Entity, or any of the assets of any UK Relevant Entity; save that this paragraph (b) shall not apply to any action, proceeding, procedure or formal step which is frivolous or vexatious and is discharged, stayed or dismissed within 14 days of commencement.
“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 falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
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“UK Insolvency Act” means the Insolvency Act 1986 of the United Kingdom.
“UKPTIL” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12 hereof.
“UK Relevant Entity” means any Material Subsidiary that is incorporated in England and Wales, or any other Material Subsidiary capable of becoming subject of an order for winding-up or administration under the Insolvency Act 1986.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“VAT” means (a) any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112); (b) any value added tax imposed by the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and (c) any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in clause (a) or (b) above, or imposed elsewhere.
“Velocity” means Maverick Power, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.
“Velocity Acquisition” means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of all of the outstanding equity interests of Velocity by the Borrower pursuant to the Velocity Acquisition Agreement.
“Velocity Acquisition Agreement” means the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2026 (together with all exhibits, schedules and disclosure letters thereto), by and among Maverick Power Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, Velocity, the Borrower and the Parent, as in effect on August 21, 2026.
“Velocity Acquisition Agreement Representations” means such of the representations made by or on behalf of or with respect to Velocity and its subsidiaries in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that (x) the accuracy of any such representation is a condition to the Parent or the Borrower (or any of their Subsidiaries’) obligations to close the Velocity Acquisition under the Velocity Acquisition Agreement or (y) the Parent or the Borrower (or any of their Subsidiaries) have the right to terminate the Parent’s or the Borrower’s (or any of their Subsidiaries’) obligations under the Velocity Acquisition Agreement or decline to consummate the Velocity Acquisition, in each case as a result of a breach of such representations in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement.
“Velocity Refinancing” means the repayment of all indebtedness to be repaid on the Term Loan Funding Date pursuant to the terms of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement and the discharge (or the making of arrangements for discharge) of all Liens securing any assets or property of Velocity or its subsidiaries (other than Liens permitted under this Agreement).
“Velocity Transaction Costs” means any fees, costs or expenses incurred or paid by the Parent, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary in connection with the Velocity Transactions.
“Velocity Transactions” means (i) the consummation of the Velocity Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, (ii) the Velocity Refinancing and (iii) the payment of the Velocity Transaction Costs.
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“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
Section 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Loan” or an “ABR Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Borrowing” or an “ABR Borrowing”).
Section 1.03 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
Section 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied without giving effect to such change until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (i) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein (including computations in respect of compliance with Sections 6.01 and 6.02) shall be made (a) without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Debt or other liabilities of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (b) without giving effect to any treatment of Debt under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 or 2015-03 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Debt in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Debt shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof and (ii) except to the extent contemplated by clause (b) of the second sentence of the definition of “Synthetic Lease Obligations”, without giving effect to any change to, or modification of, GAAP (including any future phase-in of changes to GAAP that have been approved as of December 1, 2018) which would require the capitalization of leases characterized as “operating leases” as of December 1, 2018 (it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) shall be prepared without giving effect to this sentence).
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Section 1.05 Interest Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to 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 (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the Administrative Agent’s obligation to apply the definition of any such rate in accordance with its terms and to comply with its obligations set forth in Article II and Section 2.14). 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 Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services commonly used in the banking industry for such purposes in its reasonable good faith discretion to ascertain any reference rate referred to herein or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing), in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or other action or omission related to or affecting the selection, determination, or calculation of any rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
Section 1.06 Luxembourg Terms. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in this Agreement where it relates to any Loan Party which is organized under the laws of Luxembourg, a reference to: (a) a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, compulsory manager or other similar officer includes a juge délégué, juge-commissaire, mandataire de justice, administrateur provisoire, conciliateur d’entreprise, liquidateur or curateur; (b) liquidation, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or any similar proceeding shall include (i) insolvency/bankruptcy (faillite) within the meaning of Articles 437 ff. of the Luxembourg Commercial Code, (ii) suspension of payments (sursis de paiement) within the meaning of Articles 593 ff. of the Luxembourg Commercial Code , (iii) administrative dissolution without liquidation (dissolution administrative sans liquidation) within the meaning of the Luxembourg law of October 28, 2022 creating the procedure for administrative dissolution without liquidation, (iv) voluntary or compulsory winding-up pursuant to the law of 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended or (v) judicial reorganisation proceedings in the form of a mutual agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord amiable), a collective agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord collectif) or a judicial reorganisation by transfer by court order (réorganisation judiciaire par transfert par décision de justice) within the meaning of the law of 7 August 2023 on the preservation of companies and modernisation of the bankruptcy law, (c) a lien or security interest includes any hypothèque, nantissement, gage, privilège, sûreté réelle, droit de rétention, and any type of security in rem (sûreté réelle) or agreement or arrangement having a similar effect and any transfer of title by way of security; (d) a person being unable to pay its debts includes that person being in a state of cessation of payments (cessation de paiements) or having lost or meeting the criteria to lose its commercial creditworthiness (ébranlement de crédit); (e) attachments or similar creditors process means an executory attachment (saisie exécutoire) or conservatory attachment (saisie arrêt); and (f) a “set-off” includes, for purposes of Luxembourg law, legal set-off.
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Section 1.07 Certain Calculations. No Default or Event of Default shall arise as a result of any limitation or threshold set forth in Dollars in Articles VI and VII under this Agreement being exceeded solely as a result of changes in currency exchange rates from those rates applicable on the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Parent immediately preceding the fiscal quarter of the Parent in which the applicable transaction or occurrence requiring a determination occurs.
Section 1.08 Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.
Section 1.09 Leverage Ratios. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of calculating any pro forma leverage ratio herein in connection with the incurrence of any Debt, (a) there shall be no netting of the cash proceeds proposed to be received in connection with the incurrence of such Debt and (b) to the extent the Debt to be incurred is revolving Debt, such incurred revolving Debt (or if applicable, the portion (and only such portion) of the increased commitments thereunder) shall be treated as fully drawn.
Article II.
The Credits
Section 2.01 Term Loan Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make Term Loans to the Borrower in Dollars in a single drawing during the Term Loan Availability Period, in a principal amount equal to such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment, on the Term Loan Funding Date by making immediately available funds available to the Administrative Agent’s designated account, not later than the time specified by the Administrative Agent. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.
Section 2.02 Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Term Loans of the same Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their Term Loan Commitment. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Term Benchmark Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. 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.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000; provided that an ABR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the aggregate Term Loan Commitments. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of ten (10) Term Benchmark Borrowings outstanding.
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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.
Section 2.03 Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request (a) by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, one (1) Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing;
(iv) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and
(v) the location and number of the Borrower’s account(s) to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.
If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month’s duration. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Term Benchmark Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
Section 2.04 [Intentionally Omitted].
Section 2.05 [Intentionally Omitted].
Section 2.06 [Intentionally Omitted].
Section 2.07 Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date specified in accordance with the terms hereof (which date shall be the Term Loan Funding Date) solely by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, Chicago time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the funds so received in the aforesaid account of the Administrative Agent to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City or Chicago and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request.
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(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable under this Agreement to such Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.
Section 2.08 Interest Elections. (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request (or, if not so specified, as provided in Section 2.03) and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request (or, if not so specified, as provided in Section 2.03). Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election (by irrevocable written notice (via an Interest Election Request signed by the Borrower)) by (a) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 3:00 p.m., Chicago time, three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the proposed effective date of such election or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, one (1) Business Day before the proposed effective date of such election. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to elect an Interest Period for Term Benchmark Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d).
(c) Each Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the principal amount of the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day, and if such Borrowing is a continuation of an existing Term Benchmark Borrowing, the effective date of such Borrowing shall be the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period therefor;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which Interest Period shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.
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If any such Interest Election Request requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Term Benchmark Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing; provided that if the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent its customary standard documentation pre-authorizing automatic continuations, such Borrowing shall automatically be continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month unless such Term Benchmark Borrowing is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.11. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
Section 2.09 Termination and Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Unless previously terminated, the Term Loan Commitments shall terminate on the Term Loan Commitment Expiration Date.
(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Term Loan Commitments; provided that each reduction of the Term Loan Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the Term Loan Funding Date, upon the acquisition of one Lender by another Lender, or the merger, consolidation or other combination of any two or more Lenders (any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or other combination being referred to hereinafter as a “Combination” and each Lender which is a party to such Combination being hereinafter referred to as a “Combined Lender”), the Borrower may notify the Administrative Agent that it desires to reduce the Term Loan Commitment of the Lender surviving such Combination (the “Surviving Lender”) to an amount equal to the Term Loan Commitment of that Combined Lender which had the largest Term Loan Commitment of each of the Combined Lenders party to such Combination (such largest Term Loan Commitment being the “Surviving Commitment” and the Term Loan Commitments of the other Combined Lenders being hereinafter referred to, collectively, as the “Retired Commitments”). If the Required Lenders (determined as set forth below) and the Administrative Agent agree to such reduction in the Surviving Lender’s Term Loan Commitment, then (i) the aggregate amount of the Term Loan Commitments shall be reduced by the Retired Commitments effective upon the effective date of the Combination (or such later date as the Borrower may specify in its request), provided, that, on or before such date the Borrower has paid in full the outstanding principal amount of the Loans of each of the Combined Lenders other than the Combined Lender whose Term Loan Commitment is the Surviving Commitment, (ii) from and after the effective date of such reduction, the Surviving Lender shall have no obligation with respect to the Retired Commitments, and (iii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent whether it wants such reduction to be a permanent reduction or a temporary reduction. If such reduction is to be a temporary reduction, then the Borrower shall be responsible for finding one or more financial institutions (which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender) (each, a “Replacement Lender”), acceptable to the Administrative Agent (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), willing to assume the obligations of a Lender hereunder with a Term Loan Commitment up to the amount of the Retired Commitments. The Administrative Agent may require the Replacement Lenders to execute such documents, instruments or agreements as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary or desirable to evidence such Replacement Lenders’ agreement to become parties hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.09(c), Required Lenders shall be determined as if the reduction in the aggregate amount of the Term Loan Commitments requested by the Borrower had occurred (i.e., the Combined Lenders shall be deemed to have a single Term Loan Commitment equal to the Surviving Commitment and the aggregate amount of the Term Loan Commitments shall be deemed to have been reduced by the Retired Commitments).
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(d) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Term Loan Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Term Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination or reduction of the Term Loan Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other matters specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Term Loan Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Term Loan Commitments shall be made ratably among the Term Lenders in accordance with their respective Term Loan Commitments.
(e) The Term Loan Commitments shall be reduced pursuant to Section 4.02(b), to the extent required thereunder.
Section 2.10 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Indebtedness.
(a) To the extent not previously repaid, all unpaid Term Loans shall be paid in full in Dollars by the Borrower on the Maturity Date.
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it to the Borrower be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form attached hereto as Exhibit D. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.
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Section 2.11 Prepayment of Loans.
SECTION 2.11.1. Voluntary Prepayments.
(a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that (i) each prepayment of a Term Benchmark Borrowing (other than in connection with a prepayment of all outstanding Term Benchmark Borrowings) shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) each prepayment of an ABR Borrowing (other than in connection with a prepayment of all outstanding ABR Borrowings) shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000.
(b) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by written notice of any prepayment hereunder in the case of prepayment of (i) a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 3:00 p.m., Chicago time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination or reduction of the Term Loan Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination or reduction is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09 and a notice of prepayment by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other matters specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each voluntary prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Term Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing in such order of application to the installments thereof as directed by the Borrower. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments required by Section 2.16.
Section 2.12 Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Term Lender a ticking fee, which shall accrue at the Ticking Fee Rate (as specified in the definition of “Applicable Rate”) per annum on the amount of such Term Lender’s actual daily undrawn Term Loan Commitment (as such amount shall be adjusted to give effect to any voluntary reductions of the Term Loan Commitments in accordance with the terms of Section 2.09(b) and any mandatory reductions of the Term Loan Commitments in accordance with the terms of Section 2.09(e)), which ticking fee shall accrue during the period commencing on December 19, 2026 and ending on and including the earlier of (i) the Term Loan Funding Date and (ii) the date of the termination the Term Loan Commitments. Ticking fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable in arrears on the tenth (10th) Business Day following such last day and on the earlier of (i) the Term Loan Funding Date and (ii) the date of the termination the Term Loan Commitments. All ticking fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the date on which the Term Loan Commitments terminate).
(b) [Intentionally Omitted].
(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds in Dollars, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, in the case of ticking fees, to the applicable Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
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Section 2.13 Interest.
(a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate. The Loans comprising each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall bear interest at the Term SOFR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any interest or fee, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.
(c) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Loan prior to the Maturity Date), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(d) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year). In each case interest shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day; provided that any Loan that is prepaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.18(a), bear interest for one day). All interest hereunder on any Loan shall be computed on a daily basis based upon the outstanding principal amount of such Loan as of the applicable date of determination. The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.
(e) Interest shall be paid in Dollars.
Section 2.14 Inability to Determine Rates.
(a) If in connection with any request for a Term SOFR Loan or a conversion of ABR 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 2.14(b), and the circumstances under clause (i) of Section 2.14(b) or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred, or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not otherwise exist for determining the Term SOFR Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed ABR Loan, or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason that the Term SOFR Rate 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 Borrower and each Lender.
Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Term SOFR Loans, or to convert ABR 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 Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate, the utilization of the Term SOFR Rate component in determining the Alternate 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 2.14(a), until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice, which notice the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to promptly revoke after its determination of such circumstances ceasing to exist.
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Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower 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 ABR Loans in the amount specified therein and (ii) any outstanding Term SOFR Loans shall be deemed to have been converted to ABR Loans immediately at the end of their respective applicable Interest Period.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Borrower) that the Borrower or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:
(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining one month, three month and six month interest periods of the Term SOFR Rate, 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 the Term SOFR Rate, 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 the Term SOFR Rate 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 the Term SOFR Rate after such specific date (the latest date on which one month, three month and six month interest periods of the Term SOFR Rate or the Term SOFR Screen Rate are no longer representative or 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, the Term SOFR Rate 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 2.14(b)(i) or (ii) have occurred with respect to the Successor Rate then in effect, then in each case, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing the Term SOFR Rate or any then current Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 2.14 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 Borrower 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 shall promptly remit a copy of any such notice to the Borrower.
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The Administrative Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Borrower and each Lender of the implementation of any Successor Rate.
Any Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative 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 0%, the Successor Rate will be deemed to be 0% 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 Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
(c) For purposes of this Section 2.14, those Lenders that either have not made, or do not have an obligation under this Agreement to make, the relevant Loans in Dollars shall be excluded from any determination of Required Lenders.
Section 2.15 Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender;
(ii) impose on any Lender or the London or other applicable offshore interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender; or
(iii) subject the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of “Excluded Taxes” and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, commitments, or other obligations of the type that such Lender has hereunder, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Administrative Agent or such Lender hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise, then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered as reasonably determined by such Lender (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.15 after consideration of such factors as such Lender then reasonably determines to be relevant).
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(b) If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement 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 Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered as reasonably determined by such Lender (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.15 after consideration of such factors as such Lender then reasonably determines to be relevant).
(c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the computation of the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower contemporaneously with any demand for payment hereunder and shall be conclusive absent clearly demonstrable error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions if such Lender fails to notify the Borrower within 90 days after it obtains actual knowledge (or, in the exercise of ordinary due diligence, should have obtained actual knowledge) and such Lender shall only be entitled to receive such compensation for any losses incurred by it or amounts to which it would otherwise be entitled from and after the date 90 days prior to the date such Lender provided notice thereof to the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s claim for compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 90-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
Section 2.16 Break Funding Payments. With respect to Term Benchmark Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (ii) the conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Term Benchmark Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (iv) the assignment of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 or 9.02(e), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss (excluding loss of margin), cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth the computation in reasonable detail of any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower contemporaneously with the demand for payment and shall be conclusive absent clearly demonstrable error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate free of clearly demonstrable error within 30 days after receipt thereof.
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Section 2.17 Taxes.
(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the reasonable good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then (i) the sum payable by the relevant Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings for Indemnified Taxes (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender, or any other recipient of such payments (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings in respect of Indemnified Taxes been made, (ii) such Loan Party shall make such deductions or withholdings and (iii) such Loan Party shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes related to the Borrower.
(c) The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 30 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any interest and reasonable 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. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability together with a supporting document shall be delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender contemporaneously with any demand for payment, and shall be conclusive absent clearly demonstrable error.
(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a copy of a receipt issued, if available, by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) (i) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(e)(ii)(A) and (ii)(B) 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.
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(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person:
(A) any U.S. Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
(2) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(5) for purposes of furnishing the U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate as described in the foregoing clauses (3) and (4), if a Foreign Lender (or a foreign Participant) is a Disregarded Entity, the Foreign Lender will submit such certificate based on the status of the Person that is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as being the sole owner of such Lender or Participant; and
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(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(f) If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of the indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such Lender or the Administrative Agent and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). The Borrower, upon the request of such Lender or the Administrative Agent, shall repay to such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (f) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (f), in no event will a Lender or the Administrative Agent be required to pay any amount to the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph (f) the payment of which would place such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, in a less favorable net after-Tax position than it would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This Section 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 which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
(g) Each Lender shall severally indemnify (i) the Administrative Agent, within 30 days after demand therefor, for (A) any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so) and (B) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (ii) the Administrative Agent, within 30 days after demand therefor, for any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 2.17(g).
(h) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 2.17(h), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
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(i) For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Effective Date, the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) this Agreement and the Loans as not qualifying as “grandfathered obligations” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i) or 1.1471-2T(b)(2)(i).
(j) Each Lender, on or prior to the date it becomes a party hereto, shall inform the Parent whether it is an Irish Qualifying Lender by completing and providing to the Parent a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto (such certificate, an “Irish Qualifying Lender Confirmation”). Each Lender shall, upon reasonable written request from the Borrower or the Administrative Agent provide an updated Irish Qualifying Lender Confirmation. No Irish Loan Party is required to make an increased payment in respect of any withholding tax for or on account of Irish Taxes pursuant to Section 2.17(a), if on the date on which the payment falls due: (i) the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a deduction for Irish Taxes if that Lender was an Irish Qualifying Lender, but on that date the Lender is not or has ceased to be an Irish Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any Change in Law after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement; or (ii) the relevant Lender is an Irish Treaty Lender and the Irish Loan Party is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without withholding had that Lender co-operated in completing any procedural formalities necessary for the Irish Loan Party to make the payment without withholding.
(k) The indemnity contained in Section 2.17(c) shall not apply to any loss, liability or cost in respect of Irish Taxes to the extent that it:
(i) is compensated for by an increased payment under Section 2.17(a); or
(ii) would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Section 2.17(a) but was not so compensated solely because the exclusion in Section 2.17(j) applied.
(l) Any Lender to which interest may be paid by an Irish Loan Party free of withholding tax because such Lender falls within Section 246(3)(h) of the Irish TCA shall, following a reasonable request in writing from such Irish Loan Party, confirm its name, address and country of tax residence to such Irish Loan Party for the purposes of complying with a reporting obligation under Section 891A of the Irish TCA. Furthermore, any Lender shall, following a reasonable request in writing from an Irish Loan Party, provide such Irish Loan Party with any information that is required for such Irish Loan Party to comply with its obligations under Section 891E, 891F and 891G of the Irish TCA and any regulations made pursuant to those Sections. Nothing in this Section 2.17(l) shall oblige a Lender to disclose any confidential information or computations in respect of Taxes or do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation, any fiduciary duty or any duty of confidentiality.
(m) [Intentionally Omitted].
(n) VAT.
(i) All amounts set out or expressed in a Loan Document to be payable by any Party to any Recipient which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for any supply or supplies for VAT purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to Section 2.17(n)(ii) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Recipient to any Party under a Loan Document and such Recipient is required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, that Party shall pay to such Recipient, as applicable, (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT (and such Recipient, as applicable, shall promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to such Party).
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(ii) If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Recipient (the “Supplier”) to any other Recipient (the “VAT Recipient”) under a Loan Document, and any Party other than the VAT Recipient (the “Subject Party”) is required by the terms of any Loan Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for such supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse the VAT Recipient in respect of that consideration):
(A) where the Supplier is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, the Subject Party shall also pay to the Supplier (in addition to and at the same time as paying such amount) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT. The VAT Recipient will, where this Section 2.17(n)(ii)(A) applies, promptly pay to the Subject Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment obtained by the VAT Recipient from the relevant tax authority which the VAT Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and
(B) where the VAT Recipient is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, the Subject Party shall promptly, following demand from the VAT Recipient, pay to the VAT Recipient an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply but only to the extent that the VAT Recipient reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of that VAT.
(iii) Where a Loan Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Recipient for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Recipient for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that the Recipient reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.
(iv) Any reference in this Section 2.17(n) to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is treated as a member of a group or unity (or fiscal unity) for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the person who is treated at that time as making the supply, or (as appropriate) receiving the supply, under the grouping rules (provided for in Article 11 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC (or as implemented by the relevant member state of the European Union) or any other similar provision in any jurisdiction which is not a member state of the European Union) so that a reference to a Party shall be construed as a reference to that Party or the relevant group or unity (or fiscal unity) of which that Party is a member for VAT purposes at the relevant time or the relevant representative member (or head) of that group or unity (or fiscal unity) at the relevant time (as the case may be).
(o) In relation to any supply made by a Recipient to any Party under a Loan Document, if reasonably requested by such Recipient, that Party must promptly provide details of its VAT registration and such other information as is reasonably requested in connection with such Recipient’s VAT reporting requirements in relation to such supply.
(p) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Term Loan Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
(q) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.
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Section 2.18 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.
(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. The Borrower shall make each payment or prepayment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) in Dollars prior to 1:00 p.m., Chicago time on the date when due or the date fixed for any prepayment hereunder, in immediately available funds. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made (i) in the same currency in which the applicable Credit Event was made and (ii) to the Administrative Agent at its offices as described in an administrative questionnaire provided to the Administrative Agent to the Borrower from time to time, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments denominated in the same currency received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.
(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.
(c) If, except as expressly provided herein, any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other similarly situated Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by all such Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Parent or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment or prepayment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the applicable Lenders the amount due.
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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 Borrower has not in fact made such payment; (2) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by the 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 the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this clause (d) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive control as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section; in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion; it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent permitted by law, apply any cash collateral to such obligations when due.
Section 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 (other than amounts in respect of Other Taxes or VAT), then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) If (i) any Lender (or any of its Participants) requests compensation under Section 2.15, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender (or any of its Participants) or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender (or any of its Participants) pursuant to Section 2.17, (iii) any Lender (A) or its Lender Parent has become the subject of a Bail-In Action (or any case or other proceeding in which a Bail-In Action may occur), (B) or its Lender Parent (x) is rated lower than BBB- by S&P (or an applicable Affiliate thereof) and lower than Baa3 by Moody’s (or an applicable Affiliate thereof) or (y) has no credit (or similar) rating in effect by at least one such organization or (C) is or becomes a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Institution, (iv) any Lender shall determine that any law, regulation or treaty or directive, or any change therein or in the interpretation or application thereof, shall make it unlawful for such Lender to make or maintain any Term Benchmark Loans as contemplated by this Agreement or (v) any Lender shall enter into, or purport to enter into, any assignment or participation with a Disqualified Institution in violation of this Agreement, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under the Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) such Lender is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts). Each party hereto agrees that (1) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (2) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if a Lender has become the subject of a Bail-In Action (or any case or other proceeding in which a Bail-In Action may occur) (each, a “Bail-In Lender”), then the Borrower may terminate such Bail-In Lender’s Term Loan Commitment hereunder, provided that (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such Term Loan Commitment termination, (B) in the case of a Bail-In Lender, the Borrower shall concurrently terminate the Term Loan Commitment of each other Lender that is a Bail-In Lender at such time, (C) the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented to each such Term Loan Commitment termination (such consents not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, but may include consideration of the adequacy of the liquidity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) and (D) such Bail-In Lender shall have been paid all amounts then due to it under this Agreement and each other Loan Document (which, for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower may pay in connection with any such termination without making ratable payments to any other Lender (other than another Lender that has a Term Loan Commitment that concurrently is being terminated under this Section 2.19(b))).
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Section 2.20 [Intentionally Omitted].
Section 2.21 [Intentionally Omitted].
Section 2.22 [Intentionally Omitted].
Section 2.23 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Change in 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 the Term SOFR Rate, or to determine or charge interest based upon SOFR or the Term SOFR Rate, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower (through the Administrative Agent) (an “Illegality Notice”), (a) any obligation of the Lenders to make Term Benchmark Loans, and any right of the Borrower to continue Term Benchmark Loans or to convert ABR Loans to Term Benchmark Loans, shall be suspended, and (b) the interest rate on which ABR Loans shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate”, in each case until each affected Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of an Illegality Notice, (i) the Borrower shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, upon demand from any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Term Benchmark Loans to ABR Loans (the interest rate on which ABR Loans shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate”), on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if all affected Lenders may lawfully continue to maintain such Term Benchmark Loans to such day, or immediately, if any Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term Benchmark Loans to such day and (ii) if such Illegality 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 Alternate Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Term SOFR Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR (and such Lender hereby agrees to promptly provide such notice to the Administrative Agent after its determination of such circumstances ceasing to exist). Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.16.
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Section 2.24 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the Term Loan Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);
(b) any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (but as promptly as commercially practicable) as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; fifth, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and sixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all applicable non-Defaulting Term 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 applicable Term Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Term Loan Commitments. 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 shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Term Lender irrevocably consents hereto; and
(c) the Term Loan Commitment and Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, this clause (c) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby.
(d) If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing 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 pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
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Article III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each Loan Party, as applicable, represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, on the Effective Date and to the extent contemplated by Section 4.02, that:
Section 3.01 Corporate Existence and Power. Subject to transactions permitted under Section 6.04, such Loan Party is validly existing and, to the extent such concept is relevant in the applicable jurisdiction, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and, except to the extent that the failure to have the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, such Loan Party has all organizational powers and all material Governmental Authority licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.
Section 3.02 Corporate and Governmental Authorization; Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement are within their respective corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority (other than informational filings with the SEC or any similar Governmental Authority) and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of the Organizational Documents of any Loan Party or of any material agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other material instrument binding upon any Loan Party or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than under the Loan Documents) on any asset of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including the Borrower).
Section 3.03 Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each Loan Party enforceable against the applicable Loan Parties in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter affecting creditors’ rights generally, any mandatory applicable provisions of Luxembourg law of general application and general principles of equity.
Section 3.04 Financial Information.
(a) The audited combined balance sheet of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at December 31, 2025 and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP fairly present in all material respects, in conformity with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year.
(b) No change, occurrence or development has occurred since December 31, 2025 in respect of the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that has had a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.05 Litigation, etc. There is no action, suit or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened in writing against the Parent or any Subsidiary before any Governmental Authority or arbitrator (a) in which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse decision that could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the business, consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (b) that in any manner questions the validity of this Agreement or the financing contemplated hereby.
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Section 3.06 ERISA Compliance. Each of the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each applicable Plan and is in compliance with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, and has not incurred any liability to the PBGC or a Plan under Title IV of ERISA (other than premiums which have been timely paid or for which an extension of the time for payment has been granted), other than failures to fund or comply or the incurrence of liabilities to the PBGC or any Plan that would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.07 Taxes.(a) The Parent and each of its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal income tax returns, and all other material federal, foreign, state and local income, excise and other material tax returns, which are required to be filed by them and have paid or made provision for the payment of all United States federal and material foreign, state and other taxes which have become due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment in respect thereof received by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except (a) for the payment of taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided or (b) where the failure to so file or pay could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Under the laws of Luxembourg it is not necessary that the Loan Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority or that any stamp, registration or similar Taxes be paid on or in relation to the Loan Documents, except (i) where the Loan Documents are physically attached (annexé(s)) to a public deed or to any other document subject to mandatory registration, in which case either a nominal registration duty or an ad valorem duty (of, for instance, 0.24 per cent. of the amount of the payment obligation mentioned in the document so registered) will be payable depending on the nature of the document to be registered, and (ii) in the case of voluntary registration of the Loan Documents.
Section 3.08 Not an Investment Company. Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary thereof is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Section 3.09 Environmental Matters. The Parent conducts in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and existing Environmental Claims on the business, operations and properties of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, and as a result thereof the Parent has reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and Environmental Claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 3.10 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Credit Events solely for the purposes described in Section 5.02 and will not use the proceeds of the Credit Events in contravention of Section 5.02 or Section 6.06(a).
Section 3.11 Disclosure. No written report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party 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 information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading when taken as a whole; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, such Loan Party represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood and agreed that projected financial information is simply an estimate, and there is no guarantee that projected results will in fact be achieved and it being further understood and agreed that any representation made pursuant to this Section 3.11 in respect of information provided with respect to any entity or assets acquired or to be acquired by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, for all periods prior to the date of the consummation of such acquisition is being made to the knowledge of the Parent). As of the Effective Date, to the best knowledge of the Parent, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all material respects.
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Section 3.12 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions.
(a) Each of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and, to its Knowledge, its controlled affiliated companies and their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents are conducting their business in compliance in all material respects with Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws in all material respects.
(b) None of the Parent or its Subsidiaries or, to its Knowledge, their respective directors, officers, employees or agents acting in any capacity in connection with, or directly benefiting from, the Credit Events:
(i) is a Designated Person;
(ii) is a Person that is 50% or greater owned or controlled by a Designated Person or by a Sanctioned Country;
(iii) is incorporated, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, in violation of Sanctions; or
(iv) is (or, except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date, has, to the Parent’s Knowledge, within the year preceding the Effective Date) directly or, to the Parent’s Knowledge, indirectly engaged in, any dealings or transactions, in each case in violation of any Sanctions, (1) with any Designated Person or (2) in any Sanctioned Country to the extent that after giving effect to such dealings or transactions the Parent and its Subsidiaries have more than 5% of their consolidated assets in Sanctioned Countries or derive more than 5% of their consolidated revenues from investments in, or transactions with, Sanctioned Countries.
The foregoing representations in this Section 3.12 will not apply to any party hereto to which (i) Council Regulation (EC) 2271/96 (the “Blocking Regulation”) applies, (or any law or regulation, including without limitation Section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Regulation (Außenwirtschaftsverordnung), implementing such Blocking Regulation in any member state of the European Union) (the “Blocking Law”), or (ii) the UK Protection of Trading Interests Legislation (“UKPTIL”) applies, if and to the extent that such representations are or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that party pursuant to, or would otherwise result in a breach and/or violation of any provision of, the Blocking Law or the UKPTIL, as applicable.
Section 3.13 Domiciliation; Centre of Main Interests. In the case of a Loan Party organized under the laws of Luxembourg, the head office (administration centrale) and the place of effective management (siège de direction effective) are located at the place of its registered office (siège statutaire) in Luxembourg and, for the purposes of the Insolvency Regulation, the centre of main interests (centre des intérêts principaux) is located at the place of its registered office (siège statutaire) in Luxembourg. The Irish Guarantor represents and warrants to the Lenders that (i) as at the Effective Date its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) is in England and Wales and it has no establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction, and (ii) its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) will be in either England and Wales or Ireland and it will have no establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction.
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Section 3.14 Solvency. As of the Term Loan Funding Date, and immediately after the consummation of the Velocity Transactions on the Term Loan Funding Date and immediately following the incurrence of the indebtedness under and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of this Agreement on the Term Loan Funding Date, that, with respect to the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, (a) the sum of the liabilities of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will not exceed the present fair saleable value of the assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; (b) the capital of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will not be unreasonably small in relation to the business of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, conducted on the Term Loan Funding Date and (c) the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will not have incurred, and do not believe that they will incur, debts beyond the ability of the Parent and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) to pay such debts as they mature. For the purposes of this Section 3.14, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
Section 3.15 Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.
Section 3.16 Irish Loan Party. The entry into by any Irish Loan Party of this Agreement and the performance by any Irish Loan Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and the obligations incurred hereunder does not constitute the provision of financial assistance within the meaning of Section 82 of the Irish Companies Act. The prohibition contained in Section 239 of the Irish Companies Act does not apply to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby by reason of the fact that each Irish Loan Party and each other company whose liabilities are hereby guaranteed are members of a group of companies consisting of a holding company and its subsidiaries for the purposes of Section 243 of the Irish Companies Act.
Section 3.17 Tax Residence. Each Loan Party (other than the Parent) represents that it is resident for Tax purposes only in its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Parent represents that it is resident for Tax purposes only in Ireland or the United Kingdom.
Section 3.18 Outbound Investment Rules. Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “covered foreign person” as that term is used in the Outbound Investment Rules. Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries currently engages, or has any present intention to engage in the future, directly or indirectly, in (i) a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules or (ii) any activity or transaction that would constitute a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, if the Parent were a U.S. Person.
Article IV.
Conditions
Section 4.01 Effective Date. This Agreement shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party (which, subject to Section 9.06, may include any Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf, or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page).
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Foley & Lardner LLP, special counsel for the Loan Parties, (ii) Arthur Cox, special Irish counsel for the Loan Parties, and (iii) Allen Overy Shearman Sterling, Société en Commandite Simple, inscrite au barreau de Luxembourg, special Luxembourg counsel for the Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibits B-1, B-2 and B-3, respectively, and covering such other matters relating to the Parent, the Borrower, the Guarantor, this Agreement or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests each such counsels to deliver such opinions.
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(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Loan Parties (which shall include, in the case of the Irish Loan Party, evidence that such Loan Party has complied with Section 82 of the Irish Companies Act), the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Parent, the Borrower, the Guarantor, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in Exhibit E (excluding those items set forth in Part E of such Exhibit E).
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer or the Treasurer of the Borrower, certifying that (i) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (provided that any representation or warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect is true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date hereof (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date), (ii) as of the Effective Date, no Default has occurred and is occurring and (iii) since December 31, 2025, no change, occurrence or development has occurred in respect of the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that has had a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) (i) The Lenders shall have received, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information reasonably requested by such Lender in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Effective Date required to allow it to comply with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations with respect to each Loan Party and (ii) to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, any Lender that has reasonably requested a Beneficial Ownership Certification at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Effective Date in relation to the Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the conditions set forth in this clause (e) shall be deemed to be satisfied).
(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced (in reasonable detail) at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
Section 4.02 Term Loan Funding Date. The obligations of the Term Lenders to make Term Loans on the Term Loan Funding Date shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) The Effective Date shall have occurred.
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(b) The Velocity Acquisition shall, substantially concurrently with the funding of the Term Loans hereunder, have been consummated in all material respects pursuant to the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, and no provision thereof shall have been amended or waived, and no consent shall have been granted under the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), if such amendment, waiver or consent is materially adverse to the Lenders in their capacities as such (it being understood and agreed that (i) amendments, waivers and other changes to the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect” in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, and consents given pursuant to any such definition shall in each case be deemed to be materially adverse to the Lenders, and (ii) any modification, amendment or express waiver or consent by the Parent, the Borrower (or any of their Subsidiaries) that results in (x) an increase to the purchase price shall be deemed to not be materially adverse to the Lenders so long as such increase is not funded with the proceeds of indebtedness or is not in excess of 10% of the purchase price and (y) a decrease to the purchase price shall be deemed to not be materially adverse to the Lenders so long as (1) such reduction is less than 10% of the purchase price or (2) such reduction is allocated as follows: (A) if at the time of such reduction any commitments provided to the Borrower in connection with the Velocity Acquisition pursuant to the 364-day senior unsecured bridge facility commitment letter, dated as of August 21, 2026, by and among the Parent, the Borrower, BofA Securities, Inc. and Bank of America, N.A. (the “Bridge Facility Commitment Letter”) (and any Bridge Facility) (such commitments described in this clause (A), the “Specified Commitments”) are outstanding, such reduction shall be applied simultaneously (I) 50% to reduce the Term Loan Commitments on a dollar-for-dollar basis and (II) 50% to reduce the Specified Commitments on a dollar-for-dollar basis (it being understood and agreed that to the extent either the Term Loan Commitments or the Specified Commitments are reduced to zero pursuant to the foregoing clause (I) or (II), as applicable, prior to utilizing the full 50% of such reduction, the remaining unused amount of the 50% of such reduction shall then be applied to reduce the Term Loan Commitments or the Specified Commitments, whichever has not yet been reduced to zero, as applicable); and (B) if at the time of such reduction, no Specified Commitments are outstanding, such reduction shall be applied 100% to reduce the Term Loan Commitments on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
(c) The Velocity Refinancing shall have been consummated prior to or substantially concurrently with the funding of the Term Loans.
(d) Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Velocity and its Subsidiaries) shall have any Debt for borrowed money other than (i) Debt under the Bridge Facility, (ii) Debt in respect of the Senior Notes and (iii) Permitted Surviving Debt.
(e) (i) each of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if qualified by material adverse effect or other materiality qualifier) on and as of the Term Loan Funding Date, (ii) each of the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if qualified by material adverse effect or other materiality qualifier) on and as of the Term Loan Funding Date and (iii) (A) no Event of Default under clause (f) or (g) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing and (B) no Default in respect of the nonpayment of fees due and payable under this Agreement and no default under the Bridge Facility Commitment Letter in respect of the nonpayment of fees due and payable thereunder has occurred and is continuing, in each case of the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) on and as of the Term Loan Funding Date.
(f) Since August 21, 2026, there shall not have occurred and be continuing any “Company Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement).
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(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Term Loan Funding Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Parent, certifying that:
(i) the Velocity Acquisition has been, substantially concurrently with the funding of the Term Loans under this Agreement, consummated in all material respects pursuant to the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, and no provision of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement has been amended or waived, and no consent has been granted under the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, in violation of Section 4.02(b) of this Agreement;
(ii) the Velocity Refinancing has been consummated or will be consummated prior to or substantially concurrently with the funding of the Term Loans;
(iii) upon giving effect to the Transactions, neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Debt for borrowed money outstanding other than (x) Debt under the Bridge Facility, (y) Debt in respect of the Senior Notes and (z) Permitted Surviving Debt;
(iv) (x) each of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement Representations are true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if qualified by material adverse effect or other materiality qualifier) on and as of the Term Loan Funding Date, (y) each of the Specified Representations are true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if qualified by material adverse effect or other materiality qualifier) on and as of the Term Loan Funding Date and (z) (1) no Event of Default under clause (f) or (g) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing and (2) no Default in respect of the nonpayment of fees due and payable under this Agreement and no default under the Bridge Facility Commitment Letter in respect of the nonpayment of fees due and payable thereunder has occurred and is continuing, in each case of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) on and as of the Term Loan Funding Date;
(v) since August 21, 2026, there has not occurred any “Company Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement) that is continuing; and
(vi) The Term Loan Commitment Expiration Date has not occurred.
(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of operations, changes in equity and cash flows of the Parent, for the three most recently completed fiscal years ended at least 90 days before the Term Loan Funding Date, (ii) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of operations, changes in equity and cash flows of each of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, for each subsequent fiscal quarter ended at least 60 days before the Term Loan Funding Date, (iii) audited consolidated balance sheet and audited consolidated statements of income or operations, cash flows and retained earnings or members’ equity of Velocity, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025 and (iv) unaudited consolidated balance sheet and unaudited consolidated statements of income or operations, cash flows and retained earnings of Velocity as of June 30, 2026 (with the Administrative Agent acknowledging that the conditions set forth in clauses (iii) and (iv) of this clause (g) have been satisfied as of the Effective Date); provided that, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), filing of the required financial statements on form 10-K and/or form 10-Q, as applicable, by the Parent will satisfy the foregoing applicable requirements.
(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received a pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Parent as of and for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the most recently completed four-fiscal quarter period ended at least 45 days prior to the Term Loan Funding Date, prepared upon giving effect to the Transactions (including the Velocity Acquisition) as if the Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income).
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(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate, dated as of the Term Loan Funding Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Parent, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
(k) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Term Loan Funding Date (or shall have been authorized to be deducted from the proceeds of the fundings of the Term Loans), including, to the extent invoiced (in reasonable detail) at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Term Loan Funding Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower), reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.
(l) The Term Loan Commitment Expiration Date shall not have occurred.
The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of the Parent certifying, in the manner described in such certificate, as to the accuracy of the matters set forth in clauses (b) through (f) and clause (l) of this Section 4.02 in making a determination of the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in such clauses. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Term Loan Funding Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02).
Article V.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS The Loan Parties agree that so long as any Lender has any Term Loan Commitment hereunder or any amount payable by the Borrower hereunder remains unpaid (other than contingent indemnification and similar obligations not yet due):
Section 5.01 Information. The Parent will deliver to the Administrative Agent (and, upon receipt, the Administrative Agent will promptly deliver to each of the Lenders):
(a) Annual Financial Statements.(b) Within five Business Days after the date on which the Parent files such documents with the SEC, but in no event later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing.
(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. Within five Business Days after the date on which the Parent files such documents with the SEC, but in no event later than 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting in all material respects in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) the financial position and results of operations of the Parent and the Consolidated Subsidiaries.
(c) Compliance Certificates. Simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer (i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Parent was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 6.01 and 6.02 on the date of such financial statements and (ii) stating whether there exists on the date of such certificate any Event of Default or Default and, if any such event then exists, setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Parent is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
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(d) Notice of Default. Forthwith upon the occurrence of any Responsible Officer obtaining knowledge of any Event of Default or Default, a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Parent is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
(e) Shareholder Information. Promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the Parent generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so mailed.
(f) SEC Filings. Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements on Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q which the Parent shall have filed with the SEC.
(g) ERISA Notices. If and when the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is required to give notice to the PBGC of any “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds for a distress or PBGC-initiated termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the PBGC.
(h) Notice of Other Material Events. Promptly upon obtaining knowledge thereof, notice of the commencement of any litigation or Governmental Authority proceeding affecting the Parent or any Subsidiary (including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law) in which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse decision which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) Ratings. Promptly upon the public announcement thereof, notice of any downgrade in any credit rating (including the Public Debt Rating) with respect to the Borrower or the Parent by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch.
(j) Beneficial Ownership Certification Changes. Promptly after the occurrence thereof, notice to the applicable Lender of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification.
(k) KYC Information. Promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
(l) Other Information. Promptly following any request therefor, such additional information regarding the financial position or business of the Loan Parties as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any Lender, may reasonably request (it being understood and agreed that no Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to disclose or discuss, or permit the inspection, examination or making of extracts of, any records, books, information or account or other matter (i) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or their representatives is then prohibited by applicable law or any agreement binding on any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) that is protected from disclosure by the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product privilege or (iii) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information).
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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 3.04 or 5.01 (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 such documents are posted on the Parent’s behalf on SyndTrak/IntraLinks/IntraAgency, on EDGAR (the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system of the SEC) or any successor thereto, or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that, except in the case of any filing on EDGAR or any successor thereto, the Parent shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the posting of any such documents. 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 Parent 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.
If any financial materials and related certificates required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 5.01(a), (b) and/or (c) shall be required to be delivered pursuant to the terms of such Section(s) on a day that is not a Business Day, the required date for such delivery shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day.
Section 5.02 Use of Proceeds. The Parent shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, use the proceeds of the Loans solely to finance the Velocity Transactions and to pay the Velocity Transaction Costs. Without limiting the foregoing, the Parent shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, use the proceeds of any Credit Events, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any “margin stock” in violation of Regulation U of the Board. In no event shall the proceeds of the Loans be utilized for any purpose that would constitute unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of sections 678 or 679 of the UK Companies Act 2006 or section 82 of the Irish Companies Act.
Section 5.03 Compliance with Contractual Obligations and Laws. The Parent shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all applicable laws and regulations of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or its business the non-compliance with which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.
Section 5.04 Insurance. The Parent shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers (as determined at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed in the good faith judgment of the Parent or relevant Subsidiary) and/or pursuant to a self-insurance program, 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 businesses and covering similar properties in the same or similar localities, of such types, with such deductibles, covering such risks and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.05 Ownership of Borrower. The Parent shall at all times own and control, directly or indirectly, all of the equity interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and other than as may be required by law) of the Borrower.
Section 5.06 Payment of Taxes. The Parent shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, pay or make provision for the payment of all United States federal and material foreign, state and other taxes which have become due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment in respect thereof received by the Parent or any Subsidiary, except (a) taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided and/or (b) where the failure to so pay could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.07 [Intentionally Omitted].
Section 5.08 Loan Party Location. The Parent will cause (i) each Material Subsidiary incorporated or organized in an EU jurisdiction to cause its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) to be situated solely in its jurisdiction of incorporation and not to have an establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) situated outside its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as applicable and (ii) each Material Subsidiary incorporated in England and Wales to cause its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) to be situated solely in England and Wales and not to have an establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) situated outside its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Parent will cause its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) to be situated either in England and Wales or Ireland and not to have an establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) situated in any other jurisdiction. The Parent shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent by notice in writing upon it becoming aware that its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) is situated in Ireland or it has an establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) in Ireland.
Section 5.09 Tax Residence. No Loan Party may change its residence for Tax purposes without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed; provided that the Parent may change its residence from time to time for Tax purposes from the United Kingdom to Ireland or from Ireland to the United Kingdom.
Article VI.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
The Loan Parties agree that so long as any Lender has any Term Loan Commitment hereunder or any amount payable by the Borrower hereunder remains unpaid (other than contingent indemnification and similar obligations not yet due):
Section 6.01 Maximum Net Leverage Ratio. The Parent shall not permit the Net Leverage Ratio on the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent to exceed 3.75 to 1.00; provided, that (i) the Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders and not more than two times during any five consecutive year term of this Agreement, elect to increase the maximum Net Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.01 to 4.25 to 1.00 as of the end of each of the first four (4) periods of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or after the date of a Permitted Acquisition, if the aggregate consideration paid or to be paid in respect of such Permitted Acquisition is equal to or greater than $250,000,000 (any such four consecutive periods of four consecutive fiscal quarters following such a Permitted Acquisition, an “Adjusted Covenant Period”) and (ii) in connection with any such election, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least five business days prior to consummating such Acquisition, notice of such Acquisition and pro forma calculations (in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) demonstrating compliance with the maximum Net Leverage Ratio required by the foregoing clause (i) (it being understood and agreed that (A) the Borrower may not elect an Adjusted Covenant Period for at least two (2) fiscal quarters following the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period before a new Adjusted Covenant Period is available again pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) and (B) at the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period, the maximum Net Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.01 shall revert to 3.75 to 1.00 as of the end of each subsequent fiscal quarter unless and until another Adjusted Covenant Period is elected pursuant to the terms and conditions described above).
Section 6.02 Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio. The Parent shall not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter of the Parent to be less than 3.00 to 1.00.
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Section 6.03 Negative Pledge. Neither the Parent nor any Material Subsidiary will create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by any of them, except:
(a) any Lien existing on the date of this Agreement and set forth in Schedule 6.03;
(b) Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or charges of any Governmental Authority for claims which are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days, or to the extent that such Lien is being contested in good faith by appropriate actions and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained therefor, provided that no notice of Lien has been filed or recorded under the Code;
(c) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law or created in the ordinary course of business, provided that (i) the obligation secured by the applicable Lien has not been delinquent for more than 90 days or remains payable without penalty and, in each case, the property subject to such Lien is not subject to forfeiture as a result of such Lien or (ii) the applicable Lien is being contested in good faith by appropriate actions, which proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject thereto;
(d) Liens (other than any Lien imposed under ERISA) consisting of pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business (i) required in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and (ii) securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers to secure obligations with respect to casualty or liability insurance maintained by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) Liens on property of the Parent or any Subsidiary securing (i) the non-delinquent performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases or statutory obligations, (ii) surety bonds (excluding appeal bonds and other bonds posted in connection with court proceedings or judgments) and (iii) other non-delinquent obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Liens consisting of judgment or judicial attachment liens and Liens securing contingent obligations on appeal bonds and other bonds posted in connection with court proceedings or judgments, to the extent that such Liens do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (j) of Article VII;
(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances on real property which in the aggregate do not materially detract from the value of such property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the businesses of the Parent and its Subsidiaries;
(h) Liens securing obligations in respect of finance leases on assets subject to such leases, provided that such leases are otherwise permitted hereunder;
(i) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to bankers’ liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies (or, with respect to accounts located in Luxembourg, contractual provisions) as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution and/or Liens arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to deposit accounts relating to intercompany cash pooling, interest set-off and/or sweeping arrangements; provided that (i) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Parent or the applicable Subsidiary in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Board and (ii) such deposit account is not intended by the Parent or any Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;
(j) Liens arising in connection with Securitization Transactions;
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(k) Liens on property of any Foreign Subsidiary securing Debt of such Foreign Subsidiary and/or any other Foreign Subsidiary that is permitted under Section 6.05;
(l) any Lien existing on property (and the proceeds thereof) existing at the time of its acquisition (by merger or otherwise) or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, in each case after the date hereof (other than any Lien on the equity interests of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary); provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary; and (ii) the Debt or other obligation secured thereby is not prohibited by Section 6.05;
(m) Liens arising out of the conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(n) Liens solely on cash earnest money deposits made by the Parent or any Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
(o) Liens securing reimbursement obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business for trade letters of credit or banker’s acceptances, which Liens encumber only goods, or documents of title covering goods, that are purchased in transactions for which such letters of credit or banker’s acceptances are issued;
(p) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in favor of customs or revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;
(q) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including, in the case of licenses and sublicenses, of intellectual property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Parent or any Subsidiary and do not secure any Debt;
(r) Liens of a collecting bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the ordinary course of collection;
(s) options, put and call arrangements, rights of first refusal and similar rights relating to investments in joint ventures, partnerships and other similar investments not prohibited by this Agreement;
(t) rights of first refusal, put, call and similar rights arising in connection with repurchase agreements that are not prohibited by this Agreement;
(u) any Lien arising under any Loan Document;
(v) any Lien on an asset arising out of an agreement to dispose of such asset, to the extent such disposition is not prohibited by this Agreement and such Lien does not secure any other obligation;
(w) any extension, renewal or substitution of or for any Lien described in clause (a) or (l) above, in each case (A) to the extent that the amount of the Debt or other obligation secured by the applicable Lien shall not exceed the amount of the Debt or other obligation existing immediately prior to such extension, renewal or substitution and (B) so long as the scope of the property subject to such Lien is not increased;
(x) Liens relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Parent or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
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(y) receipt of progress payments and advances from customers in the ordinary course of business to the extent the same create Liens on the related inventory and proceeds thereof;
(z) Liens on assets pledged in respect of defeased or discharged indebtedness;
(aa) any Lien on any asset securing Debt incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing an amount not to exceed all or any part of the cost of acquiring, constructing, repairing, replacing or improving such asset, provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 270 days after (A) the acquisition of such asset or (B) the later of (x) the completion of such construction, repair, replacement or improvement of such asset and (y) the date of commencement of the commercial operation of the asset constructed, repaired, replaced or improved, as applicable; and
(bb) in addition to Liens permitted by clauses (a) through (aa) above, any other Lien, to the extent that the outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby, expressed as a Dollar Amount, at the time of creation thereof, in the aggregate with the outstanding principal amount of all other Debt and other obligations then secured pursuant to this clause (bb), does not exceed the greater of (i) $375,000,000 and (ii) 7.5% of the Parent’s Consolidated Total Assets as shown on the then most recent consolidated financial statements of the Parent delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01 (or, prior to such initial delivery pursuant to Section 5.01, Section 3.04).
Any lien permitted above under this Section 6.03 on any property may extend to identifiable proceeds of such property.
Section 6.04 Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets; Acquisitions.(a) No Loan Party will merge or consolidate with any other non-affiliated Person or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the creation of any Lien permitted under Section 6.03) of all or substantially all of its assets as an entirety to any other non-affiliated Person unless:
(i) in the case of a merger or consolidation, the Person surviving such transaction is the applicable Loan Party; and
(ii) immediately after giving effect to any such action, no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(b) The Parent will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, make any Acquisition other than Permitted Acquisitions.
Section 6.05 Subsidiary Debt. The Parent will not permit any Material Subsidiary (other than the Borrower or the Guarantor) to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt except:
(a) Debt arising under Securitization Transactions in an aggregate amount outstanding not exceeding $250,000,000 at any time;
(b) Debt existing on the Effective Date and identified on Schedule 6.05 and any refinancing, extension or renewal thereof or of any Debt under this clause (b), in each case, to the extent the principal amount thereof is not increased (including extensions, renewals or replacements of guarantees in respect of such Debt as so refinanced, extended or renewed);
(c) (i) Debt of a Subsidiary owed to the Parent or another Subsidiary; and (ii) Guarantees by a Subsidiary of Debt of the Parent or another Subsidiary to the extent this Agreement does not prohibit the Parent’s or such other Subsidiary’s incurrence of such Debt;
(d) Debt incurred as an account party in respect of any trade letter of credit;
(e) deferred compensation owed to employees incurred in the ordinary course of business;
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(f) to the extent constituting Debt, obligations with respect to deferred compensation, retiree healthcare medical benefits or other similar employment arrangements incurred in connection with acquisitions or dispositions permitted under this Agreement;
(g) to the extent constituting Debt, obligations incurred in respect of cash management services, netting services, overdraft protection and similar arrangements and hedging transactions with a term not exceeding two years, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(h) Debt constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other reimbursement-type obligations relating to regarding workers’ compensation claims incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(i) obligations in respect of performance and surety, stay, customs, appeal and performance bonds, performance and completion guarantees and similar instruments or obligations in respect of letters of credit in respect thereof, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(j) Debt that has maturities and other terms, and is subordinated to the Obligations in a manner, satisfactory to the Required Lenders;
(k) Debt arising under finance leases in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 outstanding at any time;
(l) Debt of the “Affiliate Borrowers” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) arising under the Existing Credit Agreement;
(m) Debt of any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease or improvement of any fixed or capital assets and any Debt assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and amendments, modifications, extensions, refinancings, renewals and replacements of any such Debt; provided that (i) such Debt is initially incurred prior to or within 270 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction, repair, replacement, lease or improvement and (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Debt permitted by this clause (m) shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding; and
(n) other Debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $325,000,000 and (ii) 7% of the Parent’s Consolidated Total Assets as shown on the then most recent consolidated financial statements of the Parent delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01 (or, prior to such initial delivery pursuant to Section 5.01, Section 3.04), outstanding at any time.
Section 6.06 OFAC and Anti-Corruption Laws.
(a) The Parent shall not, and shall ensure that none of the Borrower or its other controlled affiliated companies will, directly or, to the Parent’s Knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of Credit Events hereunder:
(i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws;
(ii) to fund or finance any activities, business or transaction of or with any Designated Person or in any Sanctioned Country, in either case, except to the extent permitted for a Person required to comply with Sanctions or in any other manner such activities, business or transaction would violate Sanctions; or
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(iii) in any other manner that will result in liability to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any applicable Sanctions or a breach by the Administrative Agent or any Lenders of any applicable Sanctions.
(b) The Parent shall not, and shall ensure that neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor its other controlled affiliated companies will, use funds or assets obtained directly or, to the Parent’s Knowledge, indirectly from transactions with or from (i) Designated Persons or (ii) any Sanctioned Country, in either case, in violation of Sanctions (assuming, for purposes of this covenant only, that each of the Borrower and the Guarantor were a Domestic Subsidiary for purposes of determining its compliance with Sanctions), to pay or repay any amount owing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document.
(c) The Parent shall, and shall ensure that the Borrower, the Guarantor and each of its other controlled affiliated companies will:
(i) conduct its business in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws in all material respects;
(ii) maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance in all material respects with Anti-Corruption Laws; and
(iii) have reasonable controls and safeguards in place designed to prevent any proceeds of any Credit Event hereunder from being used contrary to the representations and undertakings set forth herein.
The foregoing Sections 6.06(a)(ii) and 6.06(a)(iii) will not apply to any party hereto to which (i) the Blocking Law applies, if and to the extent that such provisions are or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that party pursuant to, or would otherwise result in a breach and/or violation of, any provision of the Blocking Law or (ii) the UKPTIL applies, if and to the extent that such provisions are or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that party pursuant to, or would otherwise result in a breach and/or violation of any provision of, the Blocking Law or the UKPTIL, as applicable.
Section 6.07 Outbound Investment Rules. The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) be or become a “covered foreign person”, as that term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, or (b) engage, directly or indirectly, in (i) a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules or (ii) any activity or transaction that would constitute a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, if Parent were a U.S. Person.
Article VII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
If one or more of the following events (each, an “Event of Default”) shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay within two (2) Business Days of the date due any principal of any Loan; or the Borrower shall fail to pay within five days of the date due any interest on any Loan, any fee or any other amount payable hereunder;
(b) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any applicable covenant contained in Section 5.02, Section 5.05 or any of Sections 6.01 to 6.07, inclusive;
(c) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement for 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date on which written notice thereof has been given to the Parent by the Administrative Agent at the request of any Lender or (ii) if the Parent fails to promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of such failure as required by Section 5.01(d), the date on which a Senior Financial Officer had actual knowledge of such failure;
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(d) any representation, warranty, certification or statement made by any of the Loan Parties in this Agreement or in any certificate, financial statement or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made;
(e) the Parent or any Subsidiary (i) fails to make any payment of Material Financial Obligations when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise, but after giving effect to any applicable grace or cure period); or (ii) fails to perform or observe any other condition or covenant, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, under one or more agreements or instruments relating to Material Financial Obligations, if the effect of such failure, event or condition is to cause (or require), or to permit the holder or holders of such Material Financial Obligations (or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Material Financial Obligations (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries)) to cause (or require), such Material Financial Obligations to become due and payable (or to be purchased, repurchased, defeased or cash collateralized) prior to the stated maturity thereof; provided that any such failure relating to a Material Financial Obligation that was the Debt of a Person acquired by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and which was assumed by the Parent or such Subsidiary as part of such acquisition shall not constitute an Event of Default or Default pursuant to this clause (e) so long as such Material Financial Obligation is repaid in full or such failure is cured within 30 days of such acquisition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the following events shall constitute an Event of Default under this clause (e) of Article VII unless such event results in the acceleration of Material Financial Obligations: (i) any secured Debt becoming due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Debt or a casualty, condemnation or similar event, (ii) any change of control offer made within 60 days after an acquisition with respect to, and effectuated pursuant to, Debt of an acquired business, (iii) any default under Debt of an acquired business if such default is cured, or such Debt is repaid, within 60 days after the acquisition of such business so long as no other creditor accelerates or commences any kind of enforcement action in respect of such Debt, (iv) mandatory prepayment requirements arising from the receipt of net cash proceeds from debt, dispositions (including casualty losses, governmental takings and other involuntary dispositions), equity issues or excess cash flow, (v) prepayments required by the terms of Debt as a result of customary provisions in respect of illegality, replacement of lenders and gross-up provisions for Taxes, increased costs, capital adequacy and other similar customary requirements and (vi) any voluntary prepayment, redemption or other satisfaction of Debt that becomes mandatory in accordance with the terms of such Debt solely as the result of the Parent or any Subsidiary delivering a prepayment, redemption or similar notice with respect to such prepayment, redemption or other satisfaction;
(f) the Parent or any Material Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, examinership, reorganization or other relief (including, in the case of any Luxembourg Person, any Luxembourg Relief) with respect to itself, its assets or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, administrator, custodian, examiner or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or shall commence or consent to a proceeding for approval of a plan of arrangement with respect to its debts or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing; or any of the shareholders of a Material Subsidiary shall take any action to initiate any of the foregoing with respect to such Material Subsidiary;
(g) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Parent or any Material Subsidiary seeking liquidation, examinership, reorganization or other relief (including, in the case of any Luxembourg Person, any Luxembourg Relief) with respect to it, its assets or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, administrator, custodian, examiner or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, or any of the Parent’s shareholders shall take any action to initiate a proceeding of the type described in clause (f) above with respect to the Parent, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or an order for relief shall be entered against the Parent or any Material Subsidiary under the federal bankruptcy laws or similar bankruptcy or insolvency laws of any other applicable jurisdiction as now or hereafter in effect; or a UK Bankruptcy Event occurs with respect to any UK Relevant Entity;
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(h) [intentionally omitted];
(i) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate shall fail to pay when due an amount which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA; or the Parent or an ERISA Affiliate shall file a distress termination notice with the PBGC and the amount of the Unfunded Vested Liabilities under that filing could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or the PBGC shall institute judicial proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer any such Plan or Plans which have Unfunded Vested Liabilities which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or a judicial proceeding shall be instituted by a fiduciary of any such Plan or Plans to enforce Section 515 of ERISA, the aggregate amount of delinquent contributions claimed to be owed pursuant to such Section 515 in such proceeding which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and such proceeding shall not have been dismissed within 30 days;
(j) a judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of a Dollar Amount of $100,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and such judgment or order is not within 60 days of the entry thereof bonded, discharged or stayed; provided, that any such judgment shall not be included in the calculation of the aggregate amount of judgments under this clause (j) if and for so long as (A) the amount of such judgment is covered by a valid and binding policy of insurance between the defendant and the insurer covering payment thereof and (B) such insurer, which shall be rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of, and has not disputed the claim made for payment of, the amount of such judgment;
(k) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Parent;
(l) a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent ceases to be individuals who (i) were members of such board of directors as of the Effective Date or (ii) were nominated or appointed to be members of such board by a majority of the members of such board who, at the time of such nomination or appointment, were individuals described in the foregoing clause (i) or this clause (ii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent cease to be individuals described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, it shall not constitute an Event of Default under this clause (l) of Article VII if a majority of the Parent’s board of directors (comprised of the individuals described in clauses (i) and (ii)) approves such changes; or
(m) except as otherwise expressly permitted under the Loan Documents (i) this Agreement, the Notes or any other document executed in connection herewith, at any time after its execution and delivery, ceases to be in full force and effect against any applicable Loan Party; (ii) any Loan Party or any other Person acting on behalf of any Loan Party contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any such document against any applicable Loan Party; or (iii) any Loan Party or any other Person acting on behalf of any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any such document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any such document;
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then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or the Guarantor described in clause (f) or (g) of this Article VII), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may with the consent of the Required Lenders, and shall at the request of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Term Loan Commitments, and thereupon the Term Loan Commitments shall terminate immediately (provided that the Term Loan Commitments shall not terminate prior to the earliest of, as applicable (A) the Term Loan Commitment Expiration Date and (B) the Term Loan Funding Date (after consummation of the Velocity Transactions); provided, further, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the availability of Term Loans shall be subject solely to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02) and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Loan Parties; and in case of any event with respect to the Parent or the Borrower described in clause (f) or (g) of this Article VII, the Term Loan Commitments shall automatically terminate (provided that the Term Loan Commitments shall not terminate prior to the earliest of, as applicable (A) the Term Loan Commitment Expiration Date and (B) the Term Loan Funding Date (after consummation of the Velocity Transactions); provided, further, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the availability of Term Loans shall be subject solely to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02) and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Loan Parties.
Article VIII.
The Administrative Agent
Section 8.01 Authorization and Action.
(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents. 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.
(b) As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent reasonably and in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Parent, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
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(c) In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. The motivations of the Administrative Agent are commercial in nature and not to invest in the general performance or operations of the Loan Parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(i) the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender or any other holder of Obligations other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;
(ii) to the extent that English law is applicable to the duties of the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 of the United Kingdom shall not apply to the duties of the Administrative Agent in relation to the trusts constituted by that Loan Document; where there are inconsistencies between the Trustee Act 1925 or the Trustee Act 2000 of the United Kingdom and the provisions of this Agreement or such Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000 of the United Kingdom, the provisions of this Agreement shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act; and
(iii) nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.
(d) The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.
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(e) None of any Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.
(f) In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any 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 Loan Party) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans 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 under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, examiner, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each other holder of Obligations 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 or the other holders of Obligations, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.03). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender 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.
(g) The provisions of this Article VIII are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article VIII and as otherwise provided in Section 8.01(d), none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each party that is a holder of Obligations, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article VIII.
Section 8.02 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.
(a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf, or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.
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(b) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of Default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender. Further, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
Section 8.03 Posting of Communications.
(a) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other similar electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent reasonably and in good faith to be its electronic transmission system and used by it for such purpose with respect to its credit facilities generally (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).
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(b) Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution, other than risks arising from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of any of the foregoing parties (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment).
(c) THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM, OTHER THAN DIRECT ACTUAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of any applicable party (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment).
(d) Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.
(e) Each of the Lenders and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.
(f) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.
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Section 8.04 The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Term Loan Commitment and Loans, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender. The terms “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender or as one of the Required Lenders. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, the Parent, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or to provide notice or consent of the Lenders with respect thereto.
Section 8.05 Successor Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with (and, so long as no Default shall then exist, the consent of, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) the Borrower, to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed to by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States or an Affiliate of any such bank; provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. In both cases, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article VIII and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.
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(c) If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
Section 8.06 Acknowledgement of Lenders.
(a) 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 Loan Party of any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger to any Lender as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent or any Arranger have disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) in participating as a Lender, it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of investing in the general performance or operations of the Loan Parties, or for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument such as a security (and each Lender agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing, such as a claim under the federal or state securities law), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.
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Section 8.07 Certain ERISA Matters.
(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Term Loan Commitments;
(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Term Loan 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 Term Loan Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Term Loan 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 Term Loan Commitments and this Agreement; or
(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Syndication Agents, the Documentation Agents and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Syndication Agents, the Documentation Agents or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Term Loan 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).
(c) The Administrative Agent and each Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Term Loan Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Term Loan Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Term Loan Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent fees or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.
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Section 8.08 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 the 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.
Article IX.
Miscellaneous
Section 9.01 Notices.
(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone or other means permitted hereunder (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower or any other Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the address, facsimile number or electronic mail address specified for such Person on Schedule 9.01; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number or electronic mail address specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through Approved Electronic Platforms, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).
(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Approved Electronic Platforms pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in 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.
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Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an email 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 email 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 email address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. 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.
(d) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including Borrowing Requests, Interest Election Requests and notices of prepayment of Loans) reasonably believed by the Administrative Agent or a Lender, as the case may be, to have been given by or on behalf of the Borrower if such notice has been given in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Loan Parties 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 any such notice reasonably believed to have been given by or on behalf of the Borrower.
Section 9.02 Waivers; Amendments.
(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. 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 Loan Parties 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 Article VII 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 9.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.18(c)), 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 Loan Party 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 Article VII and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.18(c), any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lender.
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(b) Except as provided in Section 2.14 or as provided in Section 9.02(e), neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Term Loan Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (provided that an amendment, modification, waiver or consent with respect to any condition precedent, covenant, Event of Default or Default shall not constitute an increase in the Term Loan Commitment of any Lender), (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon (other than waivers or amendments with respect to the application of a default rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.13(b)), or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (except that any amendment or modification of the financial covenants or ratios in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants or ratios in this Agreement) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (ii)), (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Term Loan Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that an amendment, modification, waiver or consent with respect to any condition precedent, covenant, Event of Default or Default in each case shall not constitute such a postponement, reduction, waiver or excusal), (iv) change Section 2.09(d) or Section 2.18(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction of Term Loan Commitments or pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, (v) change the payment waterfall provisions of Section 2.24(b) without the written consent of each Lender, (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby or (vii) release the Parent from its obligations under Article X without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any change to Section 2.24 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly and adversely affected by such amendment, waiver or other modification, and (B) as to any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification otherwise approved in accordance with this Section, it shall not be necessary to obtain the consent or approval of any Lender that, upon giving effect to such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification, would have no Term Loan Commitment or outstanding Loans, so long as such Lender receives payment in full of the principal of and interest on each Loan made by, and all other amounts owing to, such Lender or accrued for the account of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents at the time such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification becomes effective.
(c) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender directly affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, (ii) the Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender and (iii) such Non-Consenting Lender shall have received the outstanding principal amount of its Loans. Each party hereto agrees that (1) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (2) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
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(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (x) to add one or more credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and the Lenders.
(e) If the Administrative Agent and the Borrower acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.
Section 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and BofA Securities, Inc. in its capacity as an Arranger, including the reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary counsel (and one additional local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, 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); provided that, in advance of contacting outside counsel of the Administrative Agent regarding matters concerning the administration of this Agreement in respect of which the Administrative Agent will expect to be reimbursed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent will notify the Borrower of its intent to contact such outside counsel and (ii) all reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary counsel (and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for the Administrative Agent, one additional counsel for all the Lenders other than the Administrative Agent and additional counsel as any Lender reasonably determines are necessary to avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest or the availability of different claims or defenses, in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document at any time during a Default, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations during an Event of Default in respect of such Loans.
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(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Arranger 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, penalties and related reasonable and documented costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel (and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for the Indemnitees taken as a whole and additional counsel as any Indemnitee or group of Indemnitees reasonably determines are necessary to avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest or the availability of different claims or defenses (solely to the extent the Borrower is informed in writing of such conflict or different claim or defense in advance of hiring additional counsel), as and when incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, or the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or the 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 the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding is brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party or its or their respective equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from (a) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Indemnified Persons, (b) a dispute among the Indemnitees not arising from an act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates (other than a dispute involving a claim against an Indemnitee for its acts or omissions in its capacity as an arranger, bookrunner, agent or similar role in respect of the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement, except, with respect to this clause (b), to the extent such acts or omissions are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have constituted the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee in such capacity) or (c) such Indemnitee’s or any of its Related Indemnified Persons’ material breach of the Loan Documents (as determined pursuant to a claim asserted by the Borrower, whether as a claim, counterclaim or otherwise). This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim. For purposes of this Section 9.03(b), a “Related Indemnified Person” of an Indemnitee means (1) any controlled Affiliate of such Indemnitee, (2) the respective directors, managers, officers and employees of such Indemnitee and of its controlled Affiliates and (3) the respective agents of such Indemnitee and its controlled Affiliates, in the case of this clause (3), acting at the express instructions of such Indemnitee or such controlled Affiliate; provided that each reference to a controlled affiliate, director, manager, officer or employee in this sentence pertains to a controlled affiliate, director, manager, officer or employee involved in the arrangement, negotiation or syndication of the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement and/or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.
(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Borrower’s failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof); 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 in its capacity as such.
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(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any of the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called a “Lender-Related Person”) (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet and any Approved Electronic Platform), other than for direct or actual damages determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Lender-Related Person or (ii) on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan, or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than 30 days after written demand therefor accompanied by a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount demanded.
Section 9.04 Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Term Loan Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, it being understood that in the case of any assignment that requires the Borrower’s consent, without limiting any other factors that may be reasonable, it shall be reasonable for the Borrower to consider a proposed assignee’s right to require reimbursement for increased costs when determining whether to consent to such an assignment) of:
(A) the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof), provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required (but notice to the Borrower, either prior to or promptly after such assignment, shall be required) for an assignment to (1) a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (provided further, notwithstanding the preceding clause (1), the consent of the Borrower shall be required if, after giving effect to such assignment, the assignee, collectively with its affiliated Lenders and affiliated Approved Funds, would, as a result of such assignment, hold more than fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate amounts of Loans and unused Term Loan Commitments), or, (2) if an Event of Default under clause (a), (f) or (g) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing, any assignee; and
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(B) the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Term Loan Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Term Loan Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $500,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under clause (a), (f) or (g) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing;
(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;
(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders; 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;
(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including federal and state securities laws;
(E) without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, no assignment shall be made to a prospective assignee that bears a relationship to the Borrower described in Section 108(e)(4) of the Code; and
(F) the assignee shall not be the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower.
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 Borrower 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.
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For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the term “Approved Fund” and “Ineligible Institution” have the following meanings:
“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Ineligible Institution” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) the Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, (d) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof or (e) a Disqualified Institution.
(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 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). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.
(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being only for Taxes purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Term Loan Commitment of, and principal amount (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 Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(v) Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
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(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”), other than an Ineligible Institution, in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Term Loan Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and (D) without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, no participation shall be sold to a prospective participant that bears a relationship to the Borrower described in Section 108(e)(4) of the Code. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 9.03(b) 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, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) or in clause (i) of Section 9.04(a) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(j)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Term Loan Commitments, Loans or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Term Loan Commitment, Loan or other obligation is in registered form under Treasury Regulations Section 5f.103-1(c) and Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(b) (or any amended or successor version). 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.
(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.17(e) and (h) as though it were a Lender.
(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other applicable central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
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(e) Disqualified Institutions.
(i) No assignment or participation shall be made to any Person that was a Disqualified Institution as of the date (the “Trade Date”) on which the assigning Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign or grant a participation in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless the Borrower has consented to such assignment or participation in writing in its sole and absolute discretion, in which case such Person will not be considered a Disqualified Institution for the purpose of such assignment or participation). For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any assignee or Participant that becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date (including as a result of the delivery of a notice pursuant to, and/or the expiration of the notice period referred to in, the definition of “Disqualified Institution”), (x) such assignee or Participant shall not retroactively be disqualified from being a Lender or Participant and (y) the execution by the Borrower of an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignee will not by itself result in such assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Institution. Any assignment or participation in violation of this clause (e)(i) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this clause (e) shall apply.
(ii) If any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Institution without the Borrower’s prior written consent in violation of clause (i) above, or if any Person becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, (A) in the case of outstanding Term Loans held by Disqualified Institutions, prepay such Term Loan by paying the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such Term Loans, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and/or (B) require such Disqualified Institution to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 9.04), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and the other Loan Documents.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Institutions to whom an assignment or participation is made in violation of clause (i) above (A) will not have the right to (x) receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders (or any of them) and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Institution will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Institutions consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any plan of reorganization or plan of liquidation pursuant to any Debtor Relief Laws (“Plan of Reorganization”), each Disqualified Institution party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such Plan of Reorganization, (2) if such Disqualified Institution does vote on such Plan of Reorganization notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other applicable laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such Plan of Reorganization in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other applicable laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).
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(iv) The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Borrower hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, to (A) post the list of Disqualified Institutions provided by the Borrower and any updates thereto from time to time (collectively, the “DQ List”) on an Approved Electronic Platform, including that portion of such Approved Electronic Platform that is designated for “public side” Lenders and/or (B) provide the DQ List to each Lender or potential Lender requesting the same.
(v) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, by any other Person to any Disqualified Institution.
Section 9.05 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms at any time that the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid and at any time that the Term Loan Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Term Loan Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.
Section 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. 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 Loan Parties and each of the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties 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 Loan Party 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.
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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 reasonably 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 Loan Parties and each Lender Party hereby waives (i) any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document, and (ii) waives any claim against the Administrative Agent, each Lender Party and each Related Party 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 Loan Parties to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.
Section 9.07 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 9.07, 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.
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Section 9.08 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 law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, but excluding deposits held in a trustee, fiduciary, agency or similar capacity or otherwise for the benefit of a third party) at any time held, and other obligations at any time owing, by such Lender or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the Obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or its Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.24 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 its Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or its Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
Section 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(b) Each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, notwithstanding the governing law provisions of any applicable Loan Document, any claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the consummation or administration of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(c) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to only the jurisdiction of (i) the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan) and (ii) any U.S. federal or Illinois state court sitting in Chicago, Illinois, and in each case 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 the transactions relating hereto or thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such Federal (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties (i) in the courts of any jurisdiction, and (ii) in respect of any Loan Party incorporated in Luxembourg only, any courts having jurisdiction where the head office, central administration, centre of main interest, place of effective management, domicile and/or establishment of that Loan Party is situated or where any asset of that Loan Party is situated.
(d) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (c) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
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(e) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. The Parent and the Guarantor irrevocably designates and appoints the Service of Process Agent, as its authorized agent, to accept and acknowledge on its behalf, service of any and all process which may be served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 9.09(c) in any federal or New York State court sitting in New York City. The Borrower hereby represents, warrants and confirms that the Service of Process Agent has agreed to accept such appointment. Said designation and appointment shall be irrevocable by the Parent and the Guarantor, until all Loans, all reimbursement obligations, interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall have been paid in full in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof. The Parent and the Guarantor hereby consent to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 9.09(c) in any federal or New York State court sitting in New York City by service of process upon the Service of Process Agent as provided in this Section 9.09(e); provided that, to the extent lawful and possible, notice of said service upon such agent shall be mailed by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Parent and the Guarantor at its address set forth in Section 9.01 or to any other address of which the Borrower shall have given written notice to the Administrative Agent (with a copy thereof to the Service of Process Agent). The Parent and the Guarantor each irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all claim of error by reason of any such service in such manner and agrees that such service shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Parent or the Guarantor, as applicable, in any such suit, action or proceeding and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid and personal service upon and personal delivery to the Parent or the Guarantor, as applicable. To the extent the Parent or the Guarantor has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether from service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of a judgment, execution or otherwise), the Parent and the Guarantor each hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under the Loan Documents. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
Section 9.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
Section 9.11 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
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Section 9.12 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 and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential to the same extent as if they were parties hereto), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required (i) by applicable laws or regulations or (ii) by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (it being understood that the DQ List may be disclosed to any assignee or Participant, or prospective assignee or Participant, in reliance on and subject to the terms of this clause (f)(i)) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to (A) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein or (B) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein, (h) with the written consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (B) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, reasonably believes is not prohibited from disclosing such information to such party in violation of a duty of confidentiality to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. In the event of disclosure pursuant to clause (c)(ii) above, the applicable disclosing Person shall, (x) to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, as promptly as practicable notify the Borrower in writing of such required disclosure, (y) so furnish only that portion of the Information which such disclosing Person reasonably determines (which may be in reliance on the advice of legal counsel) it is legally required to disclose and (z) use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any such Information so disclosed is accorded confidential treatment. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information which is received from or on behalf of the Borrower relating to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or their respective business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information but in no event less than a reasonable degree of care.
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.
EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
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ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW AND AGREES TO UPDATE SUCH CREDIT CONTACT BY NOTICE TO THE BORROWER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FROM TIME TO TIME AS NECESSARY TO CAUSE THE FOREGOING REPRESENTATION TO BE TRUE AT ALL TIMES.
Section 9.13 USA PATRIOT Act; Beneficial Ownership Regulation. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”) and the requirements of the Beneficial Ownership Regulation hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name, address and tax identification number of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Section 9.14 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
Section 9.15 No Fiduciary Duty, etc. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower and each other Loan Party 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 Arranger, the other Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower , each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and each Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (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 the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers 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.
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Section 9.16 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.
To the extent not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, each Lender shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent if it has become the subject of a Bail-In Action (or any case or other proceeding in which a Bail-In Action may occur).
Section 9.17 Waiver of Immunity. To the extent that any Loan Party has or hereafter may acquire any immunity (sovereign or otherwise) from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from jurisdiction of any court or from set-off or any legal process (whether service or notice, attachment in aid or otherwise) with respect to such Loan Party or any of its property, such Loan Party hereby irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Section 9.18 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Hedging Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
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Section 9.19 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 any Loan Party in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from any Loan Party in the Agreement Currency, such Loan Party agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to the applicable Loan Party (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).
Section 9.20 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the 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.
Article X.
Parent Guarantee
In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder or to any of the Parent’s Subsidiaries under Hedging Agreements and Banking Services Agreements, and for other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged) the Parent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the payment when and as due, subject to the notice provisions contained in this Article X, of the Obligations and the Specified Ancillary Obligations (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The Parent further agrees that the due and punctual payment of such Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of any such Guaranteed Obligation. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, (i) the Guaranteed Obligations shall in no event be broader than the performance of the related Obligations or Specified Ancillary Obligations in accordance with their terms and (ii) nothing contained in this Article X shall affect or otherwise impair any rights (including rights of setoff or counterclaim) that the Borrower or Subsidiary may have against any holder of Guaranteed Obligation under the applicable Hedging Agreement and/or Banking Services Agreement, as applicable, by reason of any action or failure to act of such holder thereunder (including, without limitation, any breach or default of such holder under the related Hedging Agreement or Banking Services Agreement).
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The Parent waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any Subsidiary of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and also waives, other than as set forth in this Article X, notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The obligations of the Parent under this Article X shall not be affected by: (a) the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against any Subsidiary under the provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or release from, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any other agreement (other than to the extent provided for in any express, written release, amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any of this Article X made in accordance with Section 9.02); (d) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (e) the failure of the Administrative Agent (or any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates)) to take any steps to perfect and maintain any security interest in, or to preserve any rights to, any security or collateral for the Guaranteed Obligations, if any; (f) any change in the corporate, partnership or other existence, structure or ownership of any Subsidiary or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (g) the enforceability or validity of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any Subsidiary or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, for any reason related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any provision of applicable law, decree, order or regulation of any jurisdiction purporting to prohibit the payment by such Subsidiary or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise affecting any term of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (h) any other act, omission or delay to do any other act which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Parent or otherwise operate as a discharge of a guarantor as a matter of law or equity or which would impair or eliminate any right of the Parent to subrogation.
The Parent further agrees that its agreement hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in favor of any Subsidiary or any other Person.
The obligations of the Parent hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise.
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The Parent further agrees that its obligations hereunder shall constitute a continuing and irrevocable guarantee of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Guaranteed Obligation (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or is or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) upon the insolvency, examinership, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Subsidiary or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a holder of Guaranteed Obligations in its discretion).
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) may have at law or in equity against the Parent by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any Subsidiary to pay any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Parent hereby promises to and will, promptly but in any event within two (2) Business Days following receipt of written demand by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates), forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in cash an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the Guaranteed Obligations then due, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Parent further agrees that if payment in respect of any Guaranteed Obligation shall be due in a currency other than Dollars and/or at a place of payment other than New York, Chicago or any other Payment Office and if, by reason of any Change in Law, disruption of currency or foreign exchange markets, war or civil disturbance or other similar event, payment of such Guaranteed Obligation in such currency or at such place of payment shall be impossible or, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates), disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of such Lender’s Affiliates) in any material respect, then, at the election of the Administrative Agent, the Parent shall make payment of such Guaranteed Obligation in Dollars (based upon the Dollar Amount of such Guaranteed Obligation on the date of payment) and/or in New York, Chicago or such other Payment Office as is designated by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and, as a separate and independent obligation, shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and any Lender (and such Lender’s Affiliates), as applicable, against any losses or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that it shall sustain as a result of such alternative payment.
Upon payment by the Parent of any sums as provided above, all rights of the Parent against any Subsidiary arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Guaranteed Obligations owed by such Subsidiary.
Nothing shall discharge or satisfy the liability of the Parent hereunder except the full performance and payment in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations.
Article XI.
GUARANTOR Guarantee
In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder or to any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries under Hedging Agreements and Banking Services Agreements, and for other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged) the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the payment when and as due, subject to the notice provisions contained in this Article XI, of the Obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the Specified Borrower Ancillary Obligations (collectively, the “Guaranteed Borrower Obligations”). The Guarantor further agrees that the due and punctual payment of such Guaranteed Borrower Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of any such Guaranteed Borrower Obligation. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, (i) the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations shall in no event be broader than the performance of the related Obligations or Specified Borrower Ancillary Obligations in accordance with their terms and (ii) nothing contained in this Article XI shall affect or otherwise impair any rights (including rights of setoff or counterclaim) that the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof may have against any holder of Guaranteed Borrower Obligation under the applicable Hedging Agreement and/or Banking Services Agreement, as applicable, by reason of any action or failure to act of such holder thereunder (including, without limitation, any breach or default of such holder under the related Hedging Agreement or Banking Services Agreement).
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The Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof of any of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations, and also waives, other than as set forth in this Article XI, notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The obligations of the Guarantor under this Article XI shall not be affected by: (a) the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof under the provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or release from, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any other agreement (other than to the extent provided for in any express, written release, amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any of this Article XI made in accordance with Section 9.02); (d) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations; (e) the failure of the Administrative Agent (or any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates)) to take any steps to perfect and maintain any security interest in, or to preserve any rights to, any security or collateral for the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations, if any; (f) any change in the corporate, partnership or other existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations; (g) the enforceability or validity of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral securing the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations, for any reason related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any provision of applicable law, decree, order or regulation of any jurisdiction purporting to prohibit the payment by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations, of any of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations or otherwise affecting any term of any of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations; or (h) any other act, omission or delay to do any other act which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of a guarantor as a matter of law or equity or which would impair or eliminate any right of the Guarantor to subrogation.
The Guarantor further agrees that its agreement hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in favor of the Borrower or any other Person.
The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations or otherwise.
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The Guarantor further agrees that its obligations hereunder shall constitute a continuing and irrevocable guarantee of all Guaranteed Borrower Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Guaranteed Borrower Obligation (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or is or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) upon the insolvency, examinership, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a holder of Guaranteed Borrower Obligations in its discretion).
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) may have at law or in equity against the Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof to pay any Guaranteed Borrower Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Guarantor hereby promises to and will, promptly but in any event within two (2) Business Days following receipt of written demand by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates), forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in cash an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations then due, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Guarantor further agrees that if payment in respect of any Guaranteed Borrower Obligation shall be due in a currency other than Dollars and/or at a place of payment other than New York, Chicago or any other Payment Office and if, by reason of any Change in Law, disruption of currency or foreign exchange markets, war or civil disturbance or other similar event, payment of such Guaranteed Borrower Obligation in such currency or at such place of payment shall be impossible or, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates), disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of such Lender’s Affiliates) in any material respect, then, at the election of the Administrative Agent, the Guarantor shall make payment of such Guaranteed Borrower Obligation in Dollars (based upon the Dollar Amount of such Guaranteed Borrower Obligation on the date of payment) and/or in New York, Chicago or such other Payment Office as is designated by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and, as a separate and independent obligation, shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and any Lender (and such Lender’s Affiliates), as applicable, against any losses or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that it shall sustain as a result of such alternative payment.
Upon payment by the Guarantor of any sums as provided above, all rights of the Guarantor against the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations owed by the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof.
Nothing shall discharge or satisfy the liability of the Guarantor hereunder except the full performance and payment in cash of the Guaranteed Borrower Obligations.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective authorized representatives as of the day and year first above written.
| HOFFMAN SCHROFF HOLDINGS, INC., as the Borrower | |||
| By | /s/ Randolph A. Wacker | ||
| Name: | Randolph A. Wacker | ||
| Title: | President and Treasurer | ||
| nVent Electric plc, as the Parent | |||
| By | /s/ Randolph A. Wacker | ||
| Name: | Randolph A. Wacker | ||
| Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | ||
| nVent Finance S.à r.l., as the Guarantor | |||
| By | /s/ Randolph A. Wacker | ||
| Name: | Randolph A. Wacker | ||
| Title: | Manager | ||
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as the Administrative Agent | |||
| By | /s/ Michael Contreras | ||
| Name: | Michael Contreras | ||
| Title: | Managing Director | ||
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., individually as a Lender | |||
| By | /s/ Michael Contreras | ||
| Name: | Michael Contreras | ||
| Title: | Managing Director | ||
| BANK OF CHINA LIMITED, LOS ANGELES BRANCH, as a Lender | |||
| By | /s/ Peng Li | ||
| Name: | Peng Li | ||
| Title: | SVP & Branch Manager | ||
Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement
Hoffman Schroff Holdings, Inc.
| BMO BANK N.A., as a Lender | |||
| By | /s/ Scott Ackerman | ||
| Name: | Scott Ackerman | ||
| Title: | Managing Director | ||
| U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | |||
| By | /s/ Kenneth R. Fieler | ||
| Name: | Kenneth R. Fieler | ||
| Title: | Senior Vice President | ||
| CITIBANK, N.A., as a Lender | |||
| By | /s/ Daniel Boselli | ||
| Name: | Daniel Boselli | ||
| Title: | Vice President | ||
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender | |||
| By | /s/ Eduardo López Peiró | ||
| Name: | Eduardo López Peiró | ||
| Title: | Vice President | ||
| KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | |||
| By | /s/ Michael G Kousaie | ||
| Name: | Michael G Kousaie | ||
| Title: | Senior Vice President | ||
| PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | |||
| By | /s/ Stephen J. O’Hara | ||
| Name: | Stephen J. O’Hara | ||
| Title: | SVP | ||
Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement
Hoffman Schroff Holdings, Inc.
| GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Lender | |||
| By | /s/ Thomas Manning | ||
| Name: | Thomas Manning | ||
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | ||
Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement
Hoffman Schroff Holdings, Inc.
Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION COPY
AMENDMENT NO. 2
Dated as of September 17, 2026
to
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 30, 2025
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 (this “Amendment”) is made as of September 17, 2026 by and among nVent Finance S.à r.l., a Luxembourg private limited liability company (Société à responsabilité limitée) having its registered office at 26, Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register (Registre de commerce et des sociétés, Luxembourg) under number B219846 (the “Company”), nVent Electric plc, an Irish public limited company (the “Parent”), and Hoffman Schroff Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“HSHI” and, collectively with the Company and the Parent, the “Loan Parties”), the Lenders party hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”), under that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025 by and among the Loan Parties, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and the Administrative Agent (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Loan Parties have requested that the Lenders agree to make certain modifications to the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Loan Parties, the Lenders party hereto and the Administrative Agent have agreed to amend the Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Loan Parties, the Lenders party hereto and the Administrative Agent hereby agree to enter into this Amendment.
1. Amendments
to the Credit Agreement. Effective as of the date of satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2 below
(such date, the “Amendment Effective Date”), the parties hereto agree that the Credit Agreement (including, to the
extent contemplated by Annex A hereto, the Exhibits thereto) shall be amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually
in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and
to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined
text) as set forth in the pages of the Credit Agreement (including the Exhibits thereto) attached as Annex A hereto
(the Credit Agreement as so amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”).
2. Conditions of Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective as of the first date on which each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received counterparts of this Amendment duly executed by each of the Loan Parties, the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received payment and/or reimbursement of the Administrative Agent’s and its affiliates’ fees and expenses (including, to the extent invoiced (in reasonable detail) at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Amendment Effective Date, the reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary counsel (and one additional local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for the Administrative Agent) in accordance with the Loan Documents.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders of the Amendment Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Loan Parties. Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Each of this Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each Loan Party enforceable against the applicable Loan Parties in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter affecting creditors’ rights generally, any mandatory applicable provisions of Luxembourg law of general application and general principles of equity.
(b) As of the date hereof and immediately after giving effect to the terms of this Amendment, (i) no Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in the Amended Credit Agreement (other than the representations contained in Sections 3.04(b) and 3.05 of the Amended Credit Agreement) are true and correct in all material respects (provided that any representation or warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect is true and correct in all respects), or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date.
4. Confirmation of Guarantees. The Parent, by its execution of this Amendment, hereby consents to this Amendment and confirms and ratifies that all of its obligations as a Guarantor under the Amended Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, Article X thereof) shall continue in full force and effect for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Amended Credit Agreement. Each Primary Borrower, by its execution of this Amendment, hereby consents to this Amendment and confirms and ratifies that all of its obligations as a guarantor under the Amended Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, Article XI thereof) shall continue in full force and effect for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Amended Credit Agreement.
5. Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement.
(a) From and after the effectiveness of the amendment to the Credit Agreement evidenced hereby, the terms “Agreement”, “this Agreement”, “herein”, “hereinafter”, “hereto”, “hereof” and words of similar import, as used in the Amended Credit Agreement, shall, unless the context otherwise requires, refer to the Amended Credit Agreement, and the term “Credit Agreement”, as used in the other Loan Documents, shall mean the Amended Credit Agreement.
(b) Each Loan Document and all other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.
2
(c) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement, the Loan Documents or any other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.
(d) This Amendment shall be a Loan Document.
6. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York. Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to only the jurisdiction of (i) the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan) and (ii) any U.S. federal or Illinois state court sitting in Chicago, Illinois, and in each case any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Amendment or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such Federal (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Amendment or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Amendment or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
7. Headings. Section headings in this Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose.
8. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Amendment and/or any document to be signed in connection with this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures (as defined below), electronic deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be. As used herein, “Electronic Signatures” means any electronic symbol or process attached to, or associated with, any contract or other record and adopted by a person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.
[Signature Pages Follow]
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
| NVENT FINANCE S.À R.L., | ||
| as the Company | ||
| By: | /s/ Randolph A. Wacker | |
| Name: | Randolph A. Wacker | |
| Title: | Manager | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| NVENT ELECTRIC plc, | ||
| as the Parent | ||
| By: | /s/ Randolph A. Wacker | |
| Name: | Randolph A. Wacker | |
| Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| HOFFMAN SCHROFF HOLDINGS, INC., | ||
| as a Borrower | ||
| By: | /s/ Randolph A. Wacker | |
| Name: | Randolph A. Wacker | |
| Title: | President and Treasurer | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., | ||
| individually as a Lender and as Administrative Agent | ||
| By: | /s/ Eduardo López Peiró | |
| Name: | Eduardo López Peiró | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
| J.P. MORGAN SE, | ||
| as Administrative Agent | ||
| By: | /s/ Suzy Sambell | |
| Name: | Suzy Sambell | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael Contreras | |
| Name: | Michael Contreras | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| BANK OF MONTREAL, LONDON BRANCH, | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Scott Ackerman | |
| Name: | Scott Ackerman | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| CITIBANK, N.A., | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Daniel Boselli | |
| Name: | Daniel Boselli | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Kenneth R. Fieler | |
| Name: | Kenneth R. Fieler | |
| Title: | Senior Vice President | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Stephen J. O’Hara | |
| Name: | Stephen J. O’Hara | |
| Title: | SVP | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Thomas Manning | |
| Name: | Thomas Manning | |
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| BANK OF CHINA, LOS ANGELES BRANCH | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Peng Li | |
| Name: | Peng Li | |
| Title: | SVP & Branch Manager | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
| KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael G Kousaie | |
| Name: | Michael G Kousaie | |
| Title: | Senior Vice President | |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025
nVent Finance S.à r.l.
ANNEX A
Attached
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
June 30, 2025
among
NVENT ELECTRIC plc
as Parent,
NVENT FINANCE S.À R.L.
as Company and a Primary Borrower,
HOFFMAN SCHROFF HOLDINGS, INC.
as a Primary Borrower
The Affiliate Borrowers From Time to Time Party Hereto,
The Lenders Party Hereto,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and J.P. MORGAN SE
as Administrative Agent,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
BANK OF MONTREAL, LONDON BRANCH
CITIBANK, N.A. and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Syndication Agents,
and
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
BANK OF CHINA, LOS ANGELES BRANCH and
KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Documentation Agents
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
BofA SECURITIES, INC.
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.
CITIBANK, N.A. and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
| Article I. Definitions | 5 | |
| Section 1.01 | Defined Terms | 5 |
| Section 1.02 | Classification of Loans and Borrowings | |
| Section 1.03 | Terms Generally | |
| Section 1.04 | Accounting Terms; GAAP | |
| Section 1.05 | Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification | |
| Section 1.06 | Luxembourg Terms | |
| Section 1.07 | Certain Calculations | |
| Section 1.08 | Divisions | |
| Section 1.09 | Leverage Ratios | |
| Section 1.10 | Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement | |
| Article II. The Credits | ||
| Section 2.01 | Commitments | |
| Section 2.02 | Loans and Borrowings | |
| Section 2.03 | Requests for Borrowings | |
| Section 2.04 | Determination of Dollar Amounts | |
| Section 2.05 | Swingline Loans | |
| Section 2.06 | Letters of Credit | |
| Section 2.07 | Funding of Borrowings | |
| Section 2.08 | Interest Elections | |
| Section 2.09 | Termination and Reduction of Commitments | |
| Section 2.10 | Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Indebtedness | |
| Section 2.11 | Prepayment of Loans | |
| Section 2.12 | Fees | |
| Section 2.13 | Interest | |
| Section 2.14 | Alternate Rate of Interest | |
| Section 2.15 | Increased Costs | |
| Section 2.16 | Break Funding Payments | |
| Section 2.17 | Taxes | |
| Section 2.18 | Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs | |
| Section 2.19 | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | |
| Section 2.20 | Expansion Option | |
| Section 2.21 | Market Disruption | |
| Section 2.22 | Judgment Currency | |
| Section 2.23 | Designation of Affiliate Borrowers | |
| Section 2.24 | Defaulting Lenders | |
| Section 2.25 | Extension of Maturity Date | |
| Article III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | ||
| Section 3.01 | Corporate Existence and Power | |
| Section 3.02 | Corporate and Governmental Authorization; Contravention | |
| Section 3.03 | Binding Effect | |
| Section 3.04 | Financial Information | |
| Section 3.05 | Litigation, etc. | |
| Section 3.06 | ERISA Compliance | |
| Section 3.07 | Taxes | |
| Section 3.08 | Not an Investment Company | |
| Section 3.09 | Environmental Matters | |
| Section 3.10 | Use of Proceeds | |
| Section 3.11 | Disclosure | |
| Section 3.12 | Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions | |
| Section 3.13 | Domiciliation; Centre of Main Interests | |
| Section 3.14 | Swiss Non-Bank Rules | |
| Section 3.15 | Affected Financial Institutions | |
| Section 3.16 | Irish Loan Party | |
| Section 3.17 | Tax Residence | |
| Section 3.18 | Outbound Investment Rules | |
| Section 3.19 | Solvency | 95 |
| Article IV. Conditions | ||
| Section 4.01 | Effective Date | |
| Section 4.02 | Each Credit Event | |
| Section 4.03 | Designation of an Affiliate Borrower | |
| Section 4.04 | Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans | 99 |
| Article V. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | ||
| Section 5.01 | Information | |
| Section 5.02 | Use of Proceeds | |
| Section 5.03 | Compliance with Contractual Obligations and Laws | |
| Section 5.04 | Insurance | |
| Section 5.05 | Ownership of Borrowers | |
| Section 5.06 | Payment of Taxes | |
| Section 5.07 | Swiss Non-Bank Rule | |
| Section 5.08 | Loan Party Location | |
| Section 5.09 | Tax Residence | |
| Section 5.10 | Service of Process Agent | |
| Article VI. NEGATIVE COVENANTS | ||
| Section 6.01 | Maximum Net Leverage Ratio | |
| Section 6.02 | Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio | |
| Section 6.03 | Negative Pledge | |
| Section 6.04 | Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets; Acquisitions | |
| Section 6.05 | Subsidiary Debt | |
| Section 6.06 | OFAC and Anti-Corruption Laws | |
| Section 6.07 | Outbound Investment Rules | |
| Article VII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT | ||
| Article VIII. The Administrative Agent | ||
| Section 8.01 | Authorization and Action | |
| Section 8.02 | Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. | |
| Section 8.03 | Posting of Communications | |
| Section 8.04 | The Administrative Agent Individually | |
| Section 8.05 | Successor Administrative Agent | |
| Section 8.06 | Acknowledgement of Lenders and Issuing Banks | |
| Section 8.07 | Certain ERISA Matters | |
| Section 8.08 | Borrower Communications | |
| Article IX. Miscellaneous | ||
| Section 9.01 | Notices | |
| Section 9.02 | Waivers; Amendments | |
| Section 9.03 | Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | |
| Section 9.04 | Successors and Assigns | |
| Section 9.05 | Survival | |
| Section 9.06 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution | |
| Section 9.07 | Severability | |
| Section 9.08 | Right of Setoff | |
| Section 9.09 | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process | |
| Section 9.10 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | |
| Section 9.11 | Headings | |
| Section 9.12 | Confidentiality | |
| Section 9.13 | USA PATRIOT Act; Beneficial Ownership Regulation | |
| Section 9.14 | Interest Rate Limitation | |
| Section 9.15 | No Fiduciary Duty, etc. | |
| Section 9.16 | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | |
| Section 9.17 | Confirmation of Lender’s Status as Swiss Qualifying Lender | |
| Section 9.18 | Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs | |
| Article X. Parent Guarantee | ||
| Article XI. PRIMARY BORROWERS CROSS-GUARANTEE | ||
| SCHEDULES: | ||
| Schedule 2.01 | -- | Commitments |
| Schedule 2.05 | -- | Swingline Sublimits |
| Schedule 6.03 | -- | List of Existing Liens |
| Schedule 6.05 | -- | Existing Debt |
| EXHIBITS: | ||
| Exhibit A | -- | Form of Assignment and Assumption |
| Exhibit B-1 | -- | Form of Opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP |
| Exhibit B-2 | -- | Form of Opinion of Arthur Cox |
| Exhibit B-3 | -- | Form of Opinion of Allen Overy Shearman Sterling |
| Exhibit C-1 | -- | Form of Increasing Lender Supplement |
| Exhibit C-2 | -- | Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement |
| Exhibit D-1 | -- | Form of Revolving Credit Note |
| Exhibit D-2 | -- | Form of Term Loan Note |
| Exhibit E | -- | List of Closing Documents |
| Exhibit F-1 | -- | Form of Affiliate Borrowing Agreement |
| Exhibit F-2 | -- | Form of Affiliate Borrowing Termination |
| Exhibit G | -- | [Reserved] |
| Exhibits H-1-4 | -- | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates |
| Exhibit I | -- | Form of Irish Qualifying Lender Confirmation |
| Exhibit J | -- | Form of Solvency Certificate |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of June 30, 2025 among nVent Electric plc, an Irish public limited company, nVent Finance S.à r.l., a Luxembourg private limited liability company (Société à responsabilité limitée) having its registered office at 26, Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register (Registre de commerce et des sociétés, Luxembourg) under number B219846, HOFFMAN SCHROFF HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation, the AFFILIATE BORROWERS from time to time party hereto, the LENDERS from time to time party hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and J.P. MORGAN SE, as Administrative Agent.
WHEREAS, the Parent, the Company, HSHI, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent thereunder, are currently party to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2021 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”).
WHEREAS, the Parent, the Company, HSHI, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to enter into this Agreement in order to (i) amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety; (ii) re-evidence the “Obligations” under, and as defined in, the Existing Credit Agreement, which shall be repayable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (iii) set forth the terms and conditions under which the Lenders will, from time to time, make loans and extend other financial accommodations to or for the benefit of the Borrowers.
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the parties hereto that this Agreement not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities of the parties under the Existing Credit Agreement or be deemed to evidence or constitute full repayment of such obligations and liabilities, but that this Agreement amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement and re-evidence the obligations and liabilities of the Parent, the Company and HSHI outstanding thereunder, which shall be payable in accordance with the terms hereof.
WHEREAS, it is also the intent of the Parent, the Company and HSHI to confirm that all obligations under the applicable “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall continue in full force and effect as modified or restated by the Loan Documents (as referred to and defined herein) and that, from and after the Effective Date, all references to the “Credit Agreement” contained in any such existing “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree that the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:
Article I.
Definitions
Section 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
“ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate. All ABR Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.
“Acquisition” means any transaction or series of related transactions (excluding any transaction solely among the Parent and/or one or more persons that are already Subsidiaries) that result, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition by the Parent or any Subsidiary of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of all or substantially all of any business or division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or equity of any Person, or otherwise causing any Person to become a Subsidiary, or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person; provided that the Parent or a Subsidiary is the ultimate surviving entity.
“Acquisition Debt” means any Debt of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that has been issued for the purpose of financing, in whole or in part, a Material Acquisition and any related transactions or series of related transactions (including for the purpose of refinancing or replacing all or a portion of any pre-existing Debt of the Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or the person(s) or assets to be acquired); provided that (a) the release of the proceeds thereof to the Parent and its Subsidiaries is contingent upon the consummation of such Material Acquisition and, pending such release, such proceeds are held in escrow (and, if the definitive agreement (or, in the case of a tender offer or similar transaction, the definitive offer document) for such acquisition is terminated prior to the consummation of such Material Acquisition or if such Material Acquisition is otherwise not consummated by the date specified in the definitive documentation relating to such Debt, such proceeds shall be promptly applied to satisfy and discharge all obligations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in respect of such Debt) or (b) such Debt contains a “special mandatory redemption” provision (or other similar provision) or otherwise permits or requires such Debt to be redeemed or prepaid if such Material Acquisition is not consummated by the date specified in the definitive documentation relating to such Debt (and if the definitive agreement (or, in the case of a tender offer or similar transaction, the definitive offer document) for such Material Acquisition is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the consummation of such Material Acquisition or such Material Acquisition is otherwise not consummated by the date specified in the definitive documentation relating to such Debt, such Debt is so redeemed or prepaid within 90 days of such termination or such specified date, as the case may be).
“Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
“Additional Commitment Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(d).
“Adjusted Daily Simple RFR” means, (i) with respect to any RFR Borrowing denominated in Pounds Sterling, an interest rate per annum equal to the Daily Simple RFR for Pounds Sterling, (ii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing comprised of Swingline Loans denominated in euro, an interest rate per annum equal to the Daily Simple RFR for euro and (iii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars, an interest rate per annum equal to the Daily Simple RFR for Dollars; provided that if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Adjusted EURIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in euro for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the EURIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate; provided that if the Adjusted EURIBO Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Administrative Agent” means the U.S. Administrative Agent and/or the Non-U.S. Administrative Agent as the context requires or as the U.S. Administrative Agent and/or Non-U.S. Administrative Agent deems appropriate in its or their sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, a consent or other action by either the U.S. Administrative Agent or the Non-U.S. Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be a conclusive consent or action by the Administrative Agent for all purposes of this Agreement.
6
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to be “controlled by” any other Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise (but, for the avoidance of doubt, no individual shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of a Person solely because such individual is a director (or the equivalent thereof) or senior officer of such Person).
“Affiliate Borrower Sublimit” means $300,000,000.
“Affiliate Borrowers” means, collectively, each Eligible Subsidiary that becomes an Affiliate Borrower pursuant to Section 2.23 and, in each case, that has not ceased to be an Affiliate Borrower; and “Affiliate Borrower” means any of the Affiliate Borrowers.
“Affiliate Borrowing Agreement” means an Affiliate Borrowing Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1.
“Affiliate Borrowing Termination” means an Affiliate Borrowing Termination substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2.
“Agreed Currencies” means with respect to (a) Revolving Loans, Agreed Loan Currencies and (b) Letters of Credit, Agreed LC Currencies.
“Agreed LC Currencies” means (a) the Agreed Loan Currencies and (b) any other currency that is (i) readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars and (ii) agreed to by the Company, the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Bank.
“Agreed Loan Currencies” means (i) Dollars, (ii) euro, (iii) Pounds Sterling and (iv) any other currency that is (A) a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars and (B) agreed to by the Administrative Agent and each of the Revolving Lenders.
“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.
“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for a one month Interest Period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day) plus 1%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.14(b)), then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.
7
“Amendment No. 2 Effective Date” means September 17, 2026.
“Ancillary Document” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.06.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Parent and its affiliated companies concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.
“Applicable LC Sublimit” means (i) with respect to JPMCB in its capacity as an Issuing Bank under this Agreement, $40,000,000, (ii) with respect to Bank of America, N.A. in its capacity as an Issuing Bank under this Agreement, $40,000,000, (iii) with respect to Bank of Montreal, London Branch in its capacity as an Issuing Bank under this Agreement, $40,000,000, (iv) with respect to Citibank, N.A. in its capacity as an Issuing Bank under this Agreement, $40,000,000, (v) with respect to U.S. Bank National Association in its capacity as an Issuing Bank under this Agreement, $40,000,000 and (vi) with respect to any other Person that becomes an Issuing Bank pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, such amount as agreed to in writing by the Company, the Administrative Agent and such Person at the time such Person becomes an Issuing Bank pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, as each of the foregoing amounts may be decreased or increased from time to time with the written consent of the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks (provided that any increase in the Applicable LC Sublimit with respect to any Issuing Bank shall only require the consent of the Company and such Issuing Bank).
“Applicable Maturity Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(a).
“Applicable Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03(c).
“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, (a) with respect to Revolving Loans, Revolving Credit Exposure, LC Exposure or Swingline Loans, the percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate Revolving Commitments of all Revolving Lenders (if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments) and (b) with respect to the Term Loans, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans of all Term Lenders; provided that, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), in the case of Section 2.24 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, any such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment and/or Term Loan Commitment, as applicable, shall be disregarded in the calculation.
“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Term Benchmark Revolving Loan, any Term Benchmark Term Loan, any ABR Revolving Loan, any ABR Term Loan or any RFR Loan, or with respect to the facility fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Term Benchmark / RFR Spread for Revolving Loans”, “Term Benchmark / RFR Spread for Term Loans”, “ABR Spread for Revolving Loans”, “ABR Spread for Term Loans” or “Facility Fee”, as the case may be, based upon the Pricing Level applicable on such date.
8
| Pricing Level | Facility Fee | Term Benchmark / RFR Spread for Revolving Loans | ABR Spread for Revolving Loans | Term Benchmark / RFR Spread for Term Loans | ABR Spread for Term Loans | |||||||||||||||
| Level I | 0.10 | % | 0.90 | % | 0 | % | 1.00 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||||
| Level II | 0.11 | % | 1.015 | % | 0.015 | % | 1.125 | % | 0.125 | % | ||||||||||
| Level III | 0.125 | % | 1.125 | % | 0.125 | % | 1.25 | % | 0.25 | % | ||||||||||
| Level IV | 0.15 | % | 1.225 | % | 0.225 | % | 1.375 | % | 0.375 | % | ||||||||||
| Level V | 0.20 | % | 1.425 | % | 0.425 | % | 1.625 | % | 0.625 | % | ||||||||||
For purposes hereof: (i) Pricing Level I, Leverage Level 1 and Ratings Level A are equivalent and correspond to each other, (ii) Pricing Level II, Leverage Level 2 and Ratings Level B are equivalent and correspond to each other, (iii) Pricing Level III, Leverage Level 3 and Ratings Level C are equivalent and correspond to each other, (iv) Pricing Level IV, Leverage Level 4 and Ratings Level D are equivalent and correspond to each other and (v) Pricing Level V, Leverage Level 5 and Ratings Level E are equivalent and correspond to each other.
At any time of determination, the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Leverage Level or the Ratings Level, as the Company shall from time to time elect by written notice to the Administrative Agent, and any change in Pricing Level resulting from such election by the Company shall be effected as promptly as practicable by the Administrative Agent after receiving such written election from the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this definition, it is understood and agreed that Pricing Level III shall be deemed to be applicable from the Effective Date until the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the financial statements and related compliance certificate for the Parent’s fiscal quarter ending on or about June 30, 2025 (it being understood and agreed that the Company shall not be permitted to elect pricing by reference to the Ratings Level until such receipt by the Administrative Agent of such financial statements and compliance certificate), and adjustments to the Pricing Level then in effect shall thereafter be effected in accordance with the terms of this definition.
Leverage Level Determination
| Leverage Level | Net Leverage Ratio |
|
Level 1 |
≤ 0.50 to 1.00 |
| Level 2 |
> 0.50 to 1.00 but ≤ 1.00 to 1.00 |
| Level 3 | > 1.00 to 1.00 but ≤ 1.75 to 1.00 |
| Level 4 | >1.75 to 1.00 but ≤ 2.50 to 1.00 |
|
Level 5 |
> 2.50 to 1.00 |
If at any time the Parent fails to deliver the quarterly or annual financial statements or related compliance certificates required under Section 5.01 on or before the date such statements or certificates are due, Leverage Level 5 shall be deemed applicable for the period commencing three (3) Business Days after such required date of delivery and ending on the date which is three (3) Business Days after such statements or certificates are actually delivered, after which the Leverage Level shall be determined in accordance with this definition.
9
Except as otherwise provided in the paragraph below or in the immediately preceding paragraph, adjustments, if any, to the Leverage Level then in effect shall be effective three (3) Business Days after the Administrative Agent has received the applicable financial statements and certificates (it being understood and agreed that each change in Leverage Level shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change).
Ratings Level Determination
| Ratings Level |
Public Debt Ratings (S&P / Moody’s / Fitch) |
|
Level A
|
A- / A3 / A- or higher |
| Level B |
BBB+ / Baa1 / BBB+
|
| Level C |
BBB / Baa2 / BBB
|
| Level D |
BBB- / Baa3 / BBB-
|
|
Level E
|
BB+ / Ba1 / BB+ or lower |
For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if only one of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Ratings Level shall be determined by reference to the available rating; (b) if none of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Ratings Level will be set in accordance with Level E; (c) if all three of the rating agencies shall have a Public Debt Rating in effect and the ratings established by each of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch shall fall within three different Levels in the immediately foregoing table (such Level A, Level B, Level C, Level D and Level E, collectively, the “Levels” and each a “Level”), the Ratings Level shall be based upon the intermediate Level; (d) if all three of the rating agencies shall have a Public Debt Rating in effect and two out of the three ratings of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch are at the same Level, then the Ratings Level shall be based on such Level, (e) if only two Public Debt Ratings from S&P, Moody’s and Fitch are available and such ratings fall within different Levels, then the Ratings Level shall be based on the higher rating unless such ratings differ by two or more Levels, in which case the applicable Ratings Level will be deemed to be one Level above the lower of such Levels, (f) if any rating established by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch shall be changed, such change shall be effective as of the date that is three (3) Business Days after the date on which such change is first announced publicly by the rating agency making such change; (g) if S&P, Moody’s or Fitch shall change the basis on which ratings are established, each reference to the Public Debt Rating announced by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as the case may be, shall refer to the then equivalent rating by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as the case may be (and if there is no such equivalent rating, to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change); and (h) if any such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Company and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of such amendment, the Ratings Level shall be determined by reference to the rating (and the Level applicable thereto) most recently in effect prior to such cessation.
“Applicable Time” means, with respect to any Borrowings and payments in any Foreign Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Foreign Currency as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank, 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 Borrower Portal” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.08(a).
“Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(a).
“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.
“Approved Jurisdictions” means Ireland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the United States and England and Wales.
“Arrangers” means each of JPMCB, BofA Securities, Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Citibank, N.A. and U.S. Bank National Association in its capacity as a joint bookrunner and joint lead arranger hereunder.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Augmenting Lender” is defined in Section 2.20.
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments.
“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark for any Agreed Loan Currency, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (e) of Section 2.14.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bail-In Lender” is defined in Section 2.19(b).
“Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Parent or any Subsidiary by any Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) credit cards for commercial customers (including, without limitation, commercial credit cards and purchasing cards), (b) stored value cards, (c) merchant processing services and (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement services, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items services, any direct debit scheme or arrangement, overdraft services and interstate depository network services).
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“Banking Services Agreement” means any agreement entered into by the Parent or any Subsidiary in connection with Banking Services.
“Bankruptcy Code” means the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11 U.S.C. §101, et seq.).
“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment or has had any order for relief in such proceeding entered in respect thereof, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, unless such ownership interest results in or provides such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permits such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any (i) RFR Loan in any Agreed Loan Currency, the applicable Relevant Rate for such Agreed Loan Currency or (ii) Term Benchmark Loan, the Relevant Rate for such Agreed Loan Currency; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the applicable Relevant Rate or the then-current Benchmark for such Agreed Loan Currency, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.14.
“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided that, in the case of any Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency, “Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the alternative set forth in (2) below:
(1) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for RFR Borrowings denominated in Dollars; or
(2) the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Company as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Loan Currency at such time in the United States and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
provided that if the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or clause (2) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Company for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Loan Currency at such time.
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“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Revolving Loan denominated in Dollars, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “RFR Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Company, decides in its reasonable good faith discretion may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides in its reasonable good faith discretion that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines in its reasonable good faith discretion that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Company, decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:
(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or component thereof) have been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if such Benchmark (or component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.
For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
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“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:
(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely as of a specific date; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);
(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Board, the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, the central bank for the Agreed Loan Currency applicable to such Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely as of a specific date; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.
For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.
“Blocking Law” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12 hereof.
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“Blocking Regulation” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12 hereof
“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
“Borrower” means the Company, HSHI or any Affiliate Borrower.
“Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, (b) a Term Loan of the same Type and Class, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (c) a Swingline Loan.
“Borrowing Request” means a request by any Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 in substantially the form approved by the Administrative Agent and separately provided to the Company.
“Bridge Facility Commitment Letter” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(a) hereof.
“Bridge Facility” means any bridge loan facility entered into pursuant to the Bridge Facility Commitment Letter.
“Business Day” means, any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in New York City; provided that, in addition to the foregoing, a Business Day shall be (i) in relation to Loans denominated in euro and in relation to the calculation or computation of the EURIBO Rate, any such day that is a TARGET Day, (ii) in relation to RFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings in the applicable Agreed Currency of such RFR Loan, any such day that is an RFR Business Day and (iii) in relation to Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or any other dealings of such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, any such day that is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.
“Calendar Quarter” means each of the four calendar quarters of each calendar year ending each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each calendar year.
“Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders, as collateral or support for the LC Exposure, cash or deposit account balances, or a standby letter of credit from a financial institution satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term shall have corresponding meanings.
“CBR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Central Bank Rate.
“CBR Spread” means the Applicable Rate applicable to a Loan that is replaced by a CBR Loan.
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“Central Bank Rate” means the greater of (i) (A) for any Loan denominated in (a) Pounds Sterling, the Bank of England (or any successor thereto)’s “Bank Rate” as published by the Bank of England (or any successor thereto) from time to time, (b) euro, one of the following three rates as may be selected by the Administrative Agent reasonably and in good faith: (1) the fixed rate for the main refinancing operations of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), or, if that rate is not published, the minimum bid rate for the main refinancing operations of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), each as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time, (2) the rate for the marginal lending facility of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time, or (3) the rate for the deposit facility of the central banking system of the Participating Member States, as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time and (c) any other Foreign Currency determined after the Effective Date, a central bank rate as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable good faith discretion; plus (B) the applicable Central Bank Rate Adjustment and (ii) the Floor.
“Central Bank Rate Adjustment” means, for any day, for any Loan denominated in:
(a) Pounds Sterling, a rate equal to the difference (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) of (i) the average of the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Pounds Sterling Borrowings for the five most recent RFR Business Days preceding such day for which the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Pounds Sterling Borrowings was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest such Adjusted Daily Simple RFR applicable during such period of five RFR Business Days) minus (ii) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Pounds Sterling in effect on the last RFR Business Day in such period,
(b) euro, a rate equal to the difference (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) of (i) the average of the Adjusted EURIBO Rate for the five most recent Business Days preceding such day for which the EURIBO Screen Rate was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest Adjusted EURIBO Rate applicable during such period of five Business Days) minus (ii) the Central Bank Rate in respect of euro in effect on the last Business Day in such period, and
(c) any other Foreign Currency determined after the Effective Date, an adjustment as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable good faith discretion designed to represent the reserve ratio or analogous requirement of any central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Loans.
For purposes of this definition, (x) the term Central Bank Rate shall be determined disregarding clause (i)(B) of the definition of such term and (y) the EURIBO Rate on any day shall be based on the EURIBO Screen Rate on such day at approximately the time referred to in the definition of such term for deposits in the applicable Agreed Currency for a maturity of one month.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Effective Date (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following: (a) the adoption 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, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except to the extent they are merely proposed and not in effect, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
“Charges” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.14.
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“Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Term Loans or Swingline Loans.
“CME Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) (or a successor administrator).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Combination” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Combined Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and Term Loan Commitment. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) as provided in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C) or other documentation contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment or Term Loan Commitment pursuant to the terms hereof, as applicable.
“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
“Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to Section 8.03(c), including through an Approved Electronic Platform.
“Company” means nVent Finance S.à r.l., a Luxembourg private limited liability company (société à responsabilité limitée), having its registered office at 26, Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register (Registre de commerce et des sociétés, Luxembourg) under number B 219846.
“Computation Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04.
“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 Subsidiary” means, as of any date, any Subsidiary or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the Parent in its consolidated financial statements as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means the total consolidated assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.
“Country Risk Event” means:
(a) any law, action or failure to act by any Governmental Authority in any Borrower’s or Letter of Credit beneficiary’s country which has the effect of:
(i) changing the obligations of any Issuing Bank or the Lenders under the relevant Letter of Credit, the Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents as originally agreed or otherwise creating any additional liability, cost or expense to any Issuing Bank, the Lenders or the Administrative Agent from that which exists on the Effective Date,
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(ii) changing the ownership or control by such Borrower or Letter of Credit beneficiary of its business, or
(iii) preventing or restricting the conversion into or transfer of the applicable Agreed Currency;
(b) force majeure; or
(c) any similar event,
which, in relation to (a), (b) and (c), directly or indirectly, prevents or restricts the payment or transfer of any amounts owing under the relevant Letter of Credit in the applicable Agreed Currency into an account designated by the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank and freely available to the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank.
“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).
“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.18.
“Credit Event” means a Borrowing, the issuance or extension of a Letter of Credit, the amendment of a Letter of Credit that increases the face amount thereof, an LC Disbursement or any of the foregoing.
“Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure at such time, plus (b) an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of its Term Loans outstanding at such time.
“Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lenders or any other Lender.
“Daily Simple RFR” means, for any day (an “RFR Interest Day”), an interest rate per annum equal to, for any RFR Loan denominated in (i) Pounds Sterling, SONIA for the day that is five (5) RFR Business Days prior to (A) if such RFR Interest Day is an RFR Business Day, such RFR Interest Day or (B) if such RFR Interest Day is not an RFR Business Day, the RFR Business Day immediately preceding such RFR Interest Day, (ii) euro (solely with respect to Swingline Loans denominated in euro), ESTR for the day that is five (5) RFR Business Days prior to (A) if such RFR Interest Day is an RFR Business Day, such RFR Interest Day or (B) if such RFR Interest Day is not an RFR Business Day, the RFR Business Day immediately preceding such RFR Interest Day and (iii) Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR (following a Benchmark Transition Event and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate).
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“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day that is five (5) RFR Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is an RFR Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not an RFR Business Day, the RFR Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Company. If by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the second (2nd) RFR Business Day immediately following any SOFR Determination Date, SOFR in respect of such SOFR Determination Date has not been published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR has not occurred, then SOFR for such SOFR Determination Date will be SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding RFR Business Day for which such SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.
“Debt” means, with respect to any Person at any date, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities (including employee compensation and benefit obligations) arising in the ordinary course of business, (iv) the outstanding principal obligations of such Person as lessee under finance leases, (v) all Debt of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person (it being understood that if such Debt has not been assumed by such Person, the amount of such Debt shall be deemed to be the lesser of the fair market value at such date of such asset and the amount of such Debt), (vi) the aggregate outstanding investment or claim held by purchasers, assignees or transferees of (or of interests in) receivables of such Person in connection with any Securitization Transaction, (vii) all non-contingent reimbursement obligations of such Person under letters of credit and bank guarantees, and (viii) all Debt (as defined above) of others Guaranteed by such Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Debt shall exclude (a) any customary purchase price adjustments, earnouts, holdbacks and deferred payments of a similar nature in connection with a Permitted Acquisition (including deferred compensation representing consideration or other contingent obligations incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition), (b) any obligations in respect of customer advances in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, (c) defeased, discharged and/or redeemed indebtedness so long as (1) neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary has any liability (contingent or otherwise) with respect to such indebtedness and (2) the cash, securities and/or other assets used to defease, discharge and/or redeem such indebtedness are not, directly or indirectly, an asset of the Parent or any Subsidiary and (d) interest, fees, make-whole amounts, premiums, charges or expenses, if any, relating to the principal amount of Debt. In the event any of the foregoing Debt is limited to recourse against a particular asset or assets of such Person, the amount of the corresponding Debt shall be equal to the lesser of the amount of such Debt and the fair market value of such asset or assets, as determined by the Company in good faith, at the date for determination of the amount of such Debt. For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of Debt of any Person at any date will be calculated without duplication of any Guarantee in respect thereof.
“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
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“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Company or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Company or the Administrative Agent, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (i) a Bankruptcy Event and/or (ii) a Bail-In Action.
“Designated Persons” means any Person that is the subject of any Sanctions, including any Person listed on a Sanctions List.
“Disqualified Institutions” means (i) those Persons identified by the Company to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in writing prior to the Effective Date, (ii) those Persons that are reasonably determined by the Company to be competitors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and which have been specifically identified by the Company to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in writing prior to the Effective Date and (iii) in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) (and any supplements thereto as contemplated below), any of their respective Affiliates, to the extent any such Affiliate (x) is clearly identifiable as an Affiliate of the applicable Person solely by similarity of such Affiliate’s name and (y) is not a bona fide debt investment fund that is an Affiliate of such Person; provided that, the Company, by notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders after the Effective Date, shall be permitted to supplement from time to time in writing by name the list of Persons that are Disqualified Institutions to the extent that the Persons added by such supplements are determined by the Company to be competitors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or Affiliates of such competitors that are not bona fide debt investment funds). Each such supplement shall become effective three (3) Business Days after delivery thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (including through an Approved Electronic Platform) in accordance with Section 9.01, but which shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any Persons that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in the Loans (but solely with respect to such Loans). It is understood and agreed that (i) the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility or liability to determine or monitor whether any Lender or potential Lender is a Disqualified Institution, (ii) the Company’s failure to deliver such list (or supplement thereto) in accordance with Section 9.01 shall render such list (or supplement) not received and not effective and (iii) “Disqualified Institution” shall exclude any Person that the Company has designated as no longer being a “Disqualified Institution” by written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent (which notice may be distributed to the Lenders) from time to time in accordance with Section 9.01.
“Disregarded Entity” means an entity that, pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-2(c)(2), is disregarded for U.S. federal income Tax purposes as an entity separate from its owner.
“Documentation Agent” means each of PNC Bank, National Association, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch and KeyBank National Association in its capacity as documentation agent for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.
“Dollar Amount” of any amount of any currency means, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, (b) if such amount is expressed in a Foreign Currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with such Foreign Currency last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent) by the applicable Reuters source on the Business Day (New York City time) immediately preceding the date of determination or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide a rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with such Foreign Currency, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Reuters chosen by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Company, using any reasonable method of determination it deems reasonably appropriate) and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Company, using any reasonable method of determination it deems reasonably appropriate.
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“Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of the Parent other than a Foreign Subsidiary.
“DQ List” has the meaning specified in Section 9.04(e)(iv) hereof.
“EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of the consolidated net income of the Parent for such period excluding the effect of (a) any non-cash gains (including any non-cash gains arising from the adoption of mark-to-market accounting with respect to pension or other retirement benefit plans); (b) any non-cash losses, charges and expenses (including any non-cash loss, charge or expense arising from the adoption of mark-to-market accounting with respect to pension or other retirement benefit plans); (c) any earnings from discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, such earnings shall be excluded in the calculation of EBITDA (i) only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of and (ii) if the sales revenue generated by the applicable entity or business unit in the twelve (12) months prior to such disposition was $25,000,000 or more); (d) fees, costs, expenses, premiums, make-whole or penalty payments, other similar items and, in the case of clause (v) below, awards, settlement payments and similar amounts, in each case, incurred after the Effective Date arising out of (i) Permitted Acquisitions, (ii) investments and dispositions not prohibited by this Agreement, (iii) any incurrence, issuance, repayment or refinancing of Debt permitted by this Agreement, (iv) any issuance or redemption of Equity Interests and (v) litigation, arbitration and/or other resolutions of legal disputes (provided that the aggregate amount permitted to be added back pursuant to this clause (d)(v) shall not exceed $25,000,000 during such period); (e) any losses, charges, costs and expenses from discontinued operations plus, to the extent deducted in determining such consolidated net income, but without duplication, Interest Expense, taxes on or measured by income, depreciation, amortization, non-cash stock-based compensation expenses; (f) any losses, charges, costs and expenses from restructurings, casualty and condemnation events, takings under power of eminent domain and similar events (not to exceed 10% of EBITDA for such period); (g) any unusual or non-recurring losses, charges, costs and expenses to the extent deducted in the calculation of consolidated net income (together with the amount added back pursuant to clause (h) below, not to exceed 10% of EBITDA); and (h) any cost-savings and cost synergies resulting from a Permitted Acquisition projected in good faith by the Parent to be realized within 18 months of such acquisition (together with the amounts in clause (g) above, not to exceed 10% of EBITDA).
“ECP” means an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1(a)(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the SEC.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
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“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
“Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.
“Eligible Subsidiary” means any (i) Subsidiary incorporated or organized under the laws of an Approved Jurisdiction and (ii) Subsidiary that is approved from time to time by the Administrative Agent and each of the Revolving Lenders.
“Environmental Claims” means all claims, however asserted, by any Governmental Authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law, or for release or injury to the environment.
“Environmental Laws” means all federal, state and local laws, statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any judicial, regulating or other governmental authority, in each case relating to environmental and land use matters or health or safety matters affecting the environment or land use.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Parent or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.
“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 Parent 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).
“ESTR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the Euro Short Term Rate for such Business Day published by the ESTR Administrator on the ESTR Administrator’s Website.
“ESTR Administrator” means the European Central Bank (or any successor administrator of the Euro Short Term Rate).
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“ESTR Administrator’s Website” means the European Central Bank’s website, currently at http://www.ecb.europa.eu, or any successor source for the Euro Short Term Rate identified as such by the ESTR Administrator from time to time.
“EU” means the European Union.
“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.
“EURIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in euro and for any Interest Period, the EURIBO Screen Rate two (2) TARGET Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
“EURIBO Screen Rate” means the euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) on page EURIBOR01 of the Reuters screen (or any replacement Reuters page which displays that rate) or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Reuters as published at approximately 11:00 a.m. Brussels time on such date of determination. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Administrative Agent may specify another commercially recognized page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Company.
“euro” and/or “EUR” means the single currency of the Participating Member States.
“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII; provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition has been satisfied.
“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Specified Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Specified Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) (a) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation or (b) in the case of a Specified Swap Obligation subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to Section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto), because such Loan Party is a “financial entity,” as defined in Section 2(h)(7)(C)(i) of the Commodity Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto), at the time the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such related Specified Swap Obligation. If a Specified Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Specified Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower or any guarantor under any Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which it has a principal office 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 Lender, any U.S. federal withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Company or any other Borrower under Section 2.19(b) or Section 9.02(c)) or (ii) such Lender designates a new lending office, except in each case to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately before the designation of a new lending office (or an assignment), to receive additional amounts pursuant to Section 2.17(a), (c) Taxes attributable to such recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(e), (d) any withholding Tax that is imposed under FATCA and (e) any deduction or withholding on account of Taxes imposed by Luxembourg under the law dated 23 December 2005, as amended, introducing a final withholding tax on interest payable to Luxembourg resident individuals.
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“Existing 2023 Loan Agreement” means the Loan Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2023, by and among the Parent, the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent thereunder (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified).
“Existing Credit Agreement” is defined in the recitals hereof.
“Existing Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.10.
“Extended Maturity Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(a).
“Extending Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(b).
“Extension Availability Period” means the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the five year anniversary thereof.
“Extension Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(a).
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.
“FATCA Deduction” means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Loan Document required by FATCA.
“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as shall be set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Financial Officer” means (i) with respect to the Company, a Manager of the Company; and (ii) with respect to the Parent, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer or the Treasurer of the Parent.
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc.
“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate, each Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, or the Central Bank Rate, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial Floor for each of the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate, each Adjusted Daily Simple RFR or the Central Bank Rate shall be 0%.
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“Foreign Currencies” means each Agreed Currency other than Dollars.
“Foreign Currency LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the Dollar Amount of the aggregate undrawn, available and unexpired amount of all outstanding Foreign Currency Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all LC Disbursements in respect of Foreign Currency Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed at such time.
“Foreign Currency Letter of Credit” means a Letter of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency.
“Foreign Currency Payment Office” of the Administrative Agent shall mean, for each Foreign Currency, the office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the Administrative Agent for such currency as specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Company and each Lender.
“Foreign Currency Sublimit” means $300,000,000.
“Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is neither a U.S. Person nor a Disregarded Entity that is treated for U.S. federal income Tax purposes as having as its sole owner a Person that is a U.S. Person.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, each Subsidiary of such Person that is incorporated or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located outside of the United States or any state thereof.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as from time to time in effect in the United States of America.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, municipal, national or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency, ministry or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any entity, officer, minister or other Person exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) and any group or body charged with setting financial accounting or regulatory capital rules or standards (including the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).
“Guarantee” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person, contingent or otherwise, directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person or in any manner providing for the payment of any Debt of any other Person or otherwise protecting the holder of such Debt against loss (whether by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or otherwise); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a correlative meaning. It is understood that the amount of any Guarantee of or by any Person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) the amount of Debt in respect of which such Guarantee exists and (b) the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable pursuant to the instrument embodying such Guarantee. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event any Guarantee is limited to recourse against a particular asset or assets of such Person, the amount of such Guarantee shall be equal to the lesser of the amount of such Guarantee and the fair market value of such asset or assets, as determined by such Person in good faith, at the date for determination of the amount of such Guarantee.
“Guarantor” means the Parent.
“Hazardous Materials” means (a) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.
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“Hedging Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Parent or the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedging Agreement.
“HSHI” means Hoffman Schroff Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Increasing Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
“Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
“Incremental Term Loan Amendment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes other than Excluded Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment made by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) Other Taxes.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).
“Ineligible Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
“Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.12.
“Insolvency Regulation” means the Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings (recast).
“Interest Coverage Ratio” means, for any period, the ratio of (i) EBITDA for such period to (ii) Interest Expense (excluding any Interest Expense in respect of intercompany Debt), to the extent paid in cash, for such period.
“Interest Expense” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication, of consolidated interest expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period (including, in each case to the extent included in interest expense on the Parent’s consolidated income statement, the interest component of finance leases, the interest component of Synthetic Lease Obligations, facility, commitment and usage fees, and fees for standby letters of credit), plus consolidated yield or discount accrued, during such period on the aggregate outstanding investment or claim held by purchasers, assignees or other transferees of (or of interests in) receivables of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in connection with any Securitization Transaction (regardless of the accounting treatment of such Securitization Transaction), plus net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Agreements, minus the sum (without duplication) of (a) annual administrative agent fees, (b) costs associated with obtaining swap agreements and any interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under swap agreements or other derivative instruments and any one-time costs associated with breakage in respect of swap agreements for interest rates, (c) costs associated with the issuance or incurrence of debt, including amortization and write-off of deferred and other financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and original issue discount, (d) PIK interest, (e) any non-cash expense in respect of any interest component relating to accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities and (f) net receipts (if any) pursuant to Hedging Agreements.
“Interest Election Request” means a request by the applicable Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08 in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-2 or such other form as the Administrative Agent may approve from time to time.
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“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and the applicable Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any RFR Loan, each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such RFR Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and the applicable Maturity Date, (c) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the applicable Maturity Date, and (d) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the applicable Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter (or such other period of time as is acceptable to each of the Lenders) (in each case, subject to the availability for the Benchmark applicable to the relevant Loan or Commitment for any Agreed Currency), as the applicable Borrower (or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower) may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (iii) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.14(e) (and not reinstated pursuant to Section 2.14(e)) shall be available for specification in any Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter, other than for purposes of Section 4.02, shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
“Ireland” means Ireland, exclusive of Northern Ireland.
“Irish Borrower” means any Affiliate Borrower resident for tax purposes in Ireland.
“Irish Companies Act” means the Companies Act 2014 of Ireland.
“Irish Guarantor” means the Parent.
“Irish Loan Party” means any Irish Borrower or any Irish Guarantor or any Affiliate Borrower incorporated in Ireland.
“Irish Qualifying Lender” means a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to it in respect of an advance under this Agreement, and is:
(a) a bank within the meaning of Section 246 of the Irish TCA which is carrying on a bona fide banking business in Ireland for the purposes of Section 246(3)(a) of the Irish TCA; or
| (b) |
(i) a company (within the meaning of Section 246 of the Irish TCA) which by virtue of the laws of a Relevant Territory is resident in that Relevant Territory for the purposes of tax and that Relevant Territory imposes a tax that generally applies to interest receivable in that Relevant Territory by companies from sources outside that Relevant Territory; or
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(ii) a company (within the meaning of Section 246 of the Irish TCA) in receipt of interest under this Agreement which:
| (A) | is exempted from the charge to Irish income tax under an Irish Treaty between Ireland and the country in which the Lender is resident for tax purposes having the force of law under the procedures set out in section 826(1) of the Irish TCA; or |
| (B) | would be exempted from the charge to Irish income tax under an Irish Treaty between Ireland and the country in which the Lender is resident for tax purposes entered into on or before the payment date of that interest if that Irish Treaty had the force of law under the procedures set out in section 826(1) of the Irish TCA at that date; or |
(iii) a U.S. company that is incorporated in the U.S. and taxed in the U.S. on its worldwide income; or
(iv) a U.S. limited liability company (“LLC”), provided the ultimate recipients of the interest would be Irish Qualifying Lenders within paragraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of this definition and the business conducted through the LLC is so structured for non-tax commercial reasons and not for tax avoidance purposes;
provided that, in the case of (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv), the company does not provide its (or in the case of (iv), the ultimate recipients of the interest do not provide their) commitment in connection with a trade or business which is carried on in Ireland through a branch or agency; or
(c) a body corporate which:
(i) advances money in the ordinary course of a trade which includes the lending of money; and
(ii) in whose hands any interest payable in respect of money so advanced is taken into account in computing the trading income of that company; and
(iii) which has complied with the notification requirements set out in Section 246(5)(a) of the Irish TCA.
(d) a qualifying company within the meaning of Section 110 of the Irish TCA; or
(e) an investment undertaking within the meaning of Section 739B of the Irish TCA; or
(f) an Irish Treaty Lender; or
(g) an exempted approved scheme within the meaning of Section 774 of the Irish TCA.
“Irish TCA” means the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 of Ireland.
“Irish Treaty Lender” means a Lender (other than a Lender falling within clause (b) of the definition of Irish Qualifying Lender) which is on the date the relevant payment is made entitled under a double taxation agreement (an “Irish Treaty”) in force on that date between Ireland and another jurisdiction to that payment without any withholding for or on account of Irish Tax (subject to the completion of any procedural formalities or self-certification procedure) and which does not carry on a business in Ireland through a permanent establishment with which that Lender’s participation in the Loan is effectively connected.
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“Issuing Bank” means each of JPMCB, Bank of America, N.A., Bank of Montreal, London Branch, Citibank, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association and each other Lender designated by the Company as an “Issuing Bank” hereunder that has agreed to such designation (and is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), each in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). Each Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates or branches of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate or branch, as applicable, with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate or branch, as applicable (excluding Sections 2.06(i) and 9.04(b)(i)(C)). Each reference herein to the “Issuing Bank” in connection with a Letter of Credit or other matter shall be deemed to be a reference to the relevant Issuing Bank with respect thereto, and, further, references herein to “the Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to each of the Issuing Banks or the relevant Issuing Bank, as the context requires.
“JPMCB” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
“Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer, without giving effect to imputed or constructive knowledge or giving rise to any duty to investigate.
“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn Dollar Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time which are then available plus (b) the aggregate Dollar Amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Company at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Article 29(a) of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or similar terms in the governing rules or laws or of the Letter of Credit itself, or if compliant documents have been presented but not yet honored, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” and “undrawn” in the amount so remaining available to be paid, and the obligations of the Company and each Lender shall remain in full force and effect until the relevant Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.
“Lender Notice Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(b).
“Lender Parent” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.
“Lender-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(d).
“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.20 or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lenders and the Issuing Banks.
“Letter of Credit” means any standby or commercial letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.
“Letter of Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).
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“Liabilities” means any losses, claims, damages or liabilities.
“Lien” means any interest in property securing any obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute, regulation, decree or contract, including (a) any lien or security interest arising from any mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or consignment or bailment for security purposes and (b) the interest of a person under a finance lease (but excluding the interest of a lessor under an operating lease).
“Liquidity”
means, at any time, the amount of unrestricted anand
unencumbered cash and cash equivalent investments of the Parent and its Subsidiaries at such time that is not subject to any Lien other
than Liens permitted under Section 6.03 that is in excess of $5,000,000 but in no event to exceed $250,000,000.
“Limited Conditionality Acquisition” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
“Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Affiliate Borrowing Agreement, each Affiliate Borrowing Termination, each Letter of Credit Agreement, any promissory notes executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.10(d), each Borrowing Request and any and all other instruments and documents executed and delivered in connection with any of the foregoing.
“Loan Party” means the Parent, the Company, HSHI and each Affiliate Borrower.
“Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement, it being understood that conversions and continuations of Loans are not Loans hereunder.
“Local Time” means (i) Chicago time in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in Dollars and (ii) local time in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in a Foreign Currency (it being understood that such local time shall mean (a) London, England time with respect to any Foreign Currency (other than euro) and (b) Brussels, Belgium time with respect to euro, in each case of the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) unless otherwise notified by the Administrative Agent).
“Luxembourg” means the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
“Luxembourg Debtor Relief Laws” means (i) bankruptcy (faillite) within the meaning of Articles 437 et seq. of the Luxembourg Commercial Code, (ii) judicial reorganisation proceedings in the form of a mutual agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord amiable), a collective agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord collectif) or a judicial reorganisation by transfer by court order (réorganisation judiciaire par transfert par décision de justice) within the meaning of Luxembourg law of 7 August 2023 on business preservation and modernization of the bankruptcy law, (iv) suspension of payments (sursis de paiement) within the meaning of Articles 593 et seq. of the Luxembourg Commercial Code, and (v) voluntary or compulsory liquidation pursuant to the Luxembourg law of August 10, 1915 on commercial companies.
“Luxembourg Person” means an entity that (i) is organized under the laws of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, (ii) has its center of main interests, within the meaning of the Insolvency Regulation, in Luxembourg or (iii) has an establishment, within the meaning of the Insolvency Regulation, in Luxembourg.
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“Luxembourg Relief” means bankruptcy (faillite), suspension of payments (sursis de paiement), administrative dissolution without liquidation (dissolution administrative sans liquidation), judicial reorganisation proceedings in the form of a mutual agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord amiable), a collective agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord collectif) or a judicial reorganisation by transfer by court order (réorganisation judiciaire par transfert par décision de justice), a general settlement with creditors and voluntary or compulsory liquidation, as such terms are understood within the Luxembourg Debtor Relief Laws, and also means any other proceedings affecting the rights of creditors generally or the appointment of an interim administrator (administrateur provisoire).
“Material Acquisition” means any acquisition if the aggregate consideration paid or to be paid (including liabilities to be assumed as part of the purchase consideration) by the Parent or a Subsidiary in respect of such acquisition is equal to or greater than $250,000,000.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder; provided, however, that specific events, circumstances, changes, effects or conditions (and not general economic or industry conditions) specifically applicable to the Parent and its Subsidiaries disclosed in any Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed by the Parent with the SEC prior to the Effective Date shall not constitute a “Material Adverse Effect” to the extent so disclosed.
“Material Financial Obligations” means Debt or Synthetic Lease Obligations of the Parent or any Subsidiary (excluding amounts owed to the Parent or any Subsidiary that is wholly-owned (except for directors’ qualifying shares)) in an aggregate amount (for all applicable Debt and Synthetic Lease Obligations, but without duplication) equal to or greater than a Dollar Amount of $75,000,000.
“Material Subsidiary” means (a) each Borrower and (b) each other Subsidiary of the Parent that at the time of determination constitutes a “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Regulation S-X of the SEC as in effect on the date of this Agreement).
“Maturity Date” means the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or the Term Loan Maturity Date, as the case may be.
“Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.14.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
“Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, the ratio of (a) (i) the sum (without duplication) of the outstanding principal amount of all Debt (excluding, without duplication, Synthetic Lease Obligations) of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of such date, minus (ii) Liquidity as of such date, to (b) EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended; provided that for purposes of calculating EBITDA pursuant to this clause (b), the consolidated net income of any Person or business unit acquired (or divested or liquidated, if the sales revenue generated by such Person or business unit in the 12 months prior to such divestiture or liquidation was $25,000,000 or more) by the Parent or any Subsidiary during such period (plus, to the extent deducted in determining such consolidated net income, Interest Expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization and non-cash compensation expenses of such Person or business unit) shall be included (or, in the case of a divestiture or liquidation, excluded) on a pro forma basis for such period (assuming the consummation of each such acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of any Debt in connection therewith (or the consummation of such divestiture or liquidation) occurred on the first day of such period) in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X of the SEC; provided, further, that, at any time after the definitive agreement for any Material Acquisition shall have been executed (or, in the case of a Material Acquisition in the form of a tender offer or similar transaction, after the offer shall have been launched) and prior to the consummation of such Material Acquisition (or termination of the definitive documentation in respect thereof (or such later date as such indebtedness ceases to constitute Acquisition Debt as set forth in the definition of “Acquisition Debt”)), any Acquisition Debt (and the proceeds of such Debt) shall be excluded from the determination of the Net Leverage Ratio.
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“New Money Credit Event” means with respect to any Issuing Bank, any increase (directly or indirectly) in such Issuing Bank’s exposure (whether by way of additional credit or banking facilities or otherwise, including as part of a restructuring) to any Borrower occurring by reason of (i) any law, action or requirement of any Governmental Authority in such Borrower’s or such Letter of Credit beneficiary’s country, or (ii) any agreement in relation to clause (i), in each case to the extent calculated by reference to the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures outstanding prior to such increase.
“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c).
“Non-Extending Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(b).
“Non-U.S. Administrative Agent” means J.P. Morgan SE (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
“Note” means a note substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 or D-2 hereto, as applicable, evidencing the Loans of the applicable Class made by any applicable Lender to each applicable Borrower.
“NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate quoted for such date for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker unaffiliated with the Administrative Agent of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined would be less than 0%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0% for purposes of this Agreement.
“NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.
“Obligations” means all indebtedness (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of any of the Parent and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders, any of the Issuing Banks, any indemnified party and the Administrative Agent, individually or collectively, under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made or reimbursement obligations incurred or any of the Letters of Credit or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof.
“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of Treasury.
“Organizational Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation or unlimited liability company, 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.
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“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan, Letter of Credit or Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp, registration or documentary Taxes or any other excise or property Taxes, charges or similar Taxes or levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, but excluding (i) Excluded Taxes and (ii) any such stamp, court or documentary, intangible, mortgage, recording, filing or similar Tax that becomes payable upon a registration made by any party (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Luxembourg registration duties (droits d'enregistrement)), including the Administrative Agent or any Lender, if such registration is not required to enforce the rights of such party or obligations of any party under a Loan Document.
“Outbound Investment Rules” means the regulations administered and enforced, together with any related public guidance issued, by the United States Treasury Department under U.S. Executive Order 14105 of August 9, 2023, or any similar law or regulation; as of the date of this Agreement, and as codified at 31 C.F.R. § 850.101 et seq.
“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar transactions denominated in Dollars by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions (as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.
“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the NYFRB Rate and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in a Foreign Currency, an overnight rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent or the relevant Issuing Bank, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
“Parent” means nVent Electric plc, an Irish public limited company.
“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(c).
“Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(c).
“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.
“Patriot Act” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.13.
“Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.06(c).
“Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.06(c).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any successor thereto.
“Permitted Acquisition”
means any(i) the Velocity Acquisition and (ii) any
other Acquisition by the Parent or a Subsidiary which satisfies each of the following requirements: (ix) no
Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of, or will result upon giving effect to, such Acquisition; and
(iiy) in the case of the Acquisition of any Person,
the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Person being acquired (or all of the equity holders thereof) shall have approved
such Acquisition.
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“Permitted Surviving Debt” means (i) purchase money Debt, working capital facilities, overdraft facilities, letter of credit and bank guarantee facilities or similar facilities, capital and finance leases, equipment financings and bilateral lines of credit for working capital purposes of the Parent’s Subsidiaries, in each case, that will remain outstanding following the Velocity Closing Date, (ii) intercompany Debt among any of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, (iii) Debt under this Agreement, (iv) indebtedness permitted to be incurred by Velocity and/or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Velocity Acquisition Agreement (including after giving effect to any consent by the Parent, HSHI or any of their respective Affiliates to any such incurrence that the Parent and HSHI determine that the Parent or HSHI or any of their respective Affiliates are required to give pursuant to the terms of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement) and (v) other Debt that is permitted to be outstanding by the terms of the Velocity Term Loan Agreement or otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or Governmental Authority.
“Plan” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code and is either (i) maintained by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate for employees of the Parent or such ERISA Affiliate or (ii) maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or any other arrangement under which more than one employer makes contributions and to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or has within the preceding five plan years made contributions.
“Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.
“Pounds Sterling” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
“Primary Borrowers” means, collectively, the Company and HSHI and, each, a “Primary Borrower”.
“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Board (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.
“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 Debt Rating” means the rating that has been most recently announced by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as the case may be, for any class of non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Company (or if no such rating is then in effect with respect to such debt, then the corporate, issuer or similar rating with respect to the Parent that has been most recently announced by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as the case may be) or, if any such rating agency shall have issued more than one such rating, the lowest such rating issued by such rating agency.
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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).
“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.18.
“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (i) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the day that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (ii) if such Benchmark is the EURIBO Rate, 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, two (2) TARGET Days preceding the date of such setting, (iii) if the RFR for such Benchmark is SONIA, then four (4) RFR Business Days prior to such setting, (iv) if, following a Benchmark Transition Event and Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate, the RFR for such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four (4) RFR Business Days prior to such setting or (v) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate, Daily Simple SOFR, the EURIBO Rate or SONIA, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable good faith discretion.
“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(b).
“Related Indemnified Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(b).
“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 Governmental Body” means (i) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Dollars, the Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto, (ii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, the Bank of England, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Bank of England or, in each case, any successor thereto, (iii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in euro, the European Central Bank, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the European Central Bank or, in each case, any successor thereto or (iv) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in any other currency, (a) the central bank for the currency in which such Benchmark Replacement is denominated or any central bank or other supervisor which is responsible for supervising either (1) such Benchmark Replacement or (2) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement or (b) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (1) the central bank for the currency in which such Benchmark Replacement is denominated, (2) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (A) such Benchmark Replacement or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement, (3) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (4) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.
“Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the Term SOFR Rate, (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in euro, the EURIBO Rate or (iii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing denominated in Pounds Sterling or Dollars, the applicable Daily Simple RFR, in each case, as applicable.
“Relevant Screen Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in euro, the EURIBO Screen Rate.
“Relevant Territory” means:
(a) a member state of the European Communities (other than Ireland); or
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(b) to the extent not a member state of the European Communities, a jurisdiction with which Ireland has entered into a double taxation treaty that either has the force of law by virtue of Section 826(1) of the Irish TCA or which will have the force of law on completion of the procedures set out in Section 826(1) of the Irish TCA.
“Replacement Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Required Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.24, (a) at any time prior to the earlier of the Loans becoming due and payable pursuant to Article VII or the Revolving Commitments terminating or expiring, Lenders having Credit Exposures and Unfunded Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Credit Exposures and Unfunded Commitments at such time; provided that, solely for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Article VII, the Unfunded Commitment of each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to be zero; and (b) for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Article VII or the Revolving Commitments expire or terminate, Lenders having Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Credit Exposures; provided that, in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Lender that is a Swingline Lender shall be deemed to exclude any amount of its Swingline Exposure in excess of its Applicable Percentage of all outstanding Swingline Loans, adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.24 of the Swingline Exposures of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and the Unfunded Commitment of such Lender shall be determined on the basis of its Revolving Credit Exposure excluding such excess amount and (y) for the purpose of determining the Required Lenders needed for any waiver, amendment, modification or consent of or under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any Lender that is the Parent or an Affiliate of the Parent shall be disregarded.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Responsible Officer” means (i) with respect to the Company, a Manager of the Company; (ii) with respect to the Parent, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer or the Treasurer of the Parent; and (iii) with respect to any other Loan Party, a manager, a director, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the president, any vice president (if appointed by the board of directors or similar governing body of such Loan Party), the chief financial officer, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer of such Loan Party, or any other officer having substantially the same authority and responsibility.
“Retired Commitments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Reuters” means Thomson Reuters Corp., Refinitiv or any successor thereto.
“Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender, if any, to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.20 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) as provided in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C) or other documentation contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment pursuant to the terms hereof, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Revolving Lenders’ Revolving Commitments is $600,000,000.
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“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure at such time.
“Revolving Credit Maturity Date” means the five year anniversary of the Effective Date, as extended (in the case of each Revolving Lender consenting thereto) pursuant to Section 2.25; provided, however, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.
“Revolving Lender” means, as of any date of determination, each Lender that has a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Credit Exposure.
“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
“RFR” means, for any RFR Loan denominated in (a) Pounds Sterling, SONIA, (b) euro (but solely with respect to a Swingline Loan denominated in euro), ESTR and (c) Dollars, (solely following a Benchmark Transition Event and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate), Daily Simple SOFR, and when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR.
“RFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the RFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.
“RFR Business Day” means, for any Loan denominated in (a) Pounds Sterling, any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which banks are closed for general business in London, (b) euro (but solely with respect to a Swingline Loan denominated in euro), any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) any day on which the TARGET2 payment system is not open for the settlement of payments in euro and (c) Dollars, a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.
“RFR Interest Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple RFR”.
“RFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc.
“Sanctioned Country” means a country, region or territory which is at any relevant time subject to any comprehensive Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).
“Sanctions” means:
(a) economic or financial sanctions, trade embargoes or similar restrictions imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the US government and administered by OFAC; and
(b) economic or financial sanctions, trade embargoes or similar restrictions imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the US State Department, the US Department of Commerce, the US Department of the Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.
“Sanctions List” means any of the lists of specifically designated nationals or designated persons or entities (or equivalent) maintained by the US government, including by OFAC, the US State Department, the US Department of Commerce or the US Department of the Treasury or by the United Nations Security Council or any similar list maintained by any other U.S. government entity or other relevant sanctions authority, in each case as the same may be amended, supplemented or substituted from time to time.
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“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securitization Transaction” means any sale, assignment or other transfer by the Parent or any Subsidiary of accounts receivable, lease receivables, financial assets or other payment obligations owing to the Parent or such Subsidiary or any interest in any of the foregoing (other than sales of defaulted receivables, foreign receivables or similar items in the ordinary course of business), together in each case with any collections and other proceeds thereof, any collection or deposit accounts related thereto, and any collateral, guaranties or other property or claims in favor of the Parent or such Subsidiary supporting or securing payment by the obligor thereon of, or otherwise related to, any such receivables, financial assets or other payment obligations.
“Senior Financial Officer” means the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer or the Treasurer of the Parent.
“Senior Notes” means all Senior Notes issued by the Company or HSHI as of the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, including $500,000,000 of 4.550% Senior Notes due 2028, $300,000,000 of 2.750% Senior Notes due 2031, and $500,000,000 of 5.650% Senior Notes due 2033, each issued by the Company and guaranteed by the Parent.
“Service of Process Agent” means (i) so long as HSHI is a Borrower hereunder, HSHI and (ii) to the extent HSHI ceases to be a Borrower hereunder in accordance with the terms of Section 2.23, CT Corporation Systems, with an office on the date hereof at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011.
“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.
“SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s Website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.
“SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.
“SONIA” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the Sterling Overnight Index Average for such Business Day published by the SONIA Administrator on the SONIA Administrator’s Website on the immediately succeeding Business Day.
“SONIA Administrator” means the Bank of England (or any successor administrator of the Sterling Overnight Index Average).
“SONIA Administrator’s Website” means the Bank of England’s website, currently at http://www.bankofengland.co.uk, or any successor source for the Sterling Overnight Index Average identified as such by the SONIA Administrator from time to time.
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“Specified Ancillary Obligations” means all obligations and liabilities (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) of any of the Subsidiaries, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, to the Lenders or any of their Affiliates under any Hedging Agreement or any Banking Services Agreement; provided that the definition of “Specified Ancillary Obligations” shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.
“Specified Primary Borrower Ancillary Obligations” means all obligations and liabilities (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) of any of the Subsidiaries of any Primary Borrower, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, to the Lenders or any of their Affiliates under any Hedging Agreement or any Banking Services Agreement; provided that the definition of “Specified Primary Borrower Ancillary Obligations” shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.
“Specified Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted EURIBO Rate for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board) or any other reserve ratio or analogous requirement of any central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Loans. Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D of the Board. Term Benchmark Loans for which the associated Benchmark is adjusted by reference to the Statutory Reserve Rate (per the related definition of such Benchmark) shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D of the Board or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage, and the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company promptly of any such adjustment.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a company, 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 Parent.
“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.18.
“Surviving Commitment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
“Surviving Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(c).
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“Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be the sum, without duplication, of (a) its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time (excluding, in the case of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender, Swingline Loans made by it that are outstanding at such time to the extent that the other Lenders shall not have funded their participations in such Swingline Loans), adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.24 of the Swingline Exposure of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and (b) in the case of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender, the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Swingline Loans made by such Lender outstanding at such time, less the Dollar Amount of participations funded by the other Revolving Lenders in such Swingline Loans.
“Swingline Foreign Currency Sublimit” means $30,000,000.
“Swingline Lenders” means each of JPMCB, Bank of America, N.A., Bank of Montreal, London Branch, Citibank, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association and each other Lender designated by the Company as a “Swingline Lender” hereunder that has agreed to such designation (and is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), each in its capacity as a lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.
“Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.05.
“Swingline Sublimit” means as to any Lender (i) the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.05 hereof or (ii) if such Lender has entered into an Assignment and Assumption, the amount set forth for such Lender as its Swingline Sublimit in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.04(b)(iv) (provided that, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), any increase in the Swingline Sublimit with respect to any Lender shall only require the consent of the Company and such Lender).
“Swiss Borrower” means any Affiliate Borrower organized under the laws of Switzerland or, if different, is deemed resident in Switzerland for Swiss Withholding Tax purposes pursuant to Article 9 of the Swiss Withholding Tax Act.
“Swiss Guidelines” means, together,
(a) guideline S-02.123 in relation to interbank loans of 22 September 1986 (Merkblatt Verrechnungssteuer auf Zinsen von Bankguthaben, deren Gläubiger Banken sind (Interbankguthaben) vom 22 September 1986);
(b) guideline S-02.130.1 in relation to money market instruments and book claims of April 1999 (Merkblatt vom April 1999 betreffend Geldmarktpapiere und Buchforderungen inländischer Schuldner);
(c) circular letter no. 34 of 26 July 2011 (1.034-V-2011) in relation to deposits (Kreisschreiben Nr. 34 betreffend Kundenguthaben vom 26. Juli 2011);
(d) circular letter no. 15 of 3 October 2017 (1-015-DVS-2017) in relation to bonds and derivative financial instruments as subject matter of taxation of Swiss federal income tax, Swiss withholding tax and Swiss stamp taxes (Kreisschreiben Nr. 15 “Obligationen und derivative Finanzinstrumente als Gegenstand der direkten Bundessteuer, der Verrechnungssteuer und der Stempelabgaben” vom 3. Oktober 2017);
(e) circular letter No. 46 of 24 July 2019 (1-046-VS-2019) in relation to syndicated credit facilities (Kreisschreiben Nr. 46 betreffend steuerliche Behandlung von Konsortialdarlehen, Schuldscheindarlehen, Wechseln und Unterbeteiligungen vom 24. Juli 2019);
(f) circular letter No. 47 of 25 July 2019 (1-047-V-2019) in relation to bonds (Kreisschreiben Nr. 47 betreffend Obligationen vom 25. Juli 2019); and
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(g) notice 010-DVS-2019-d in relation to withholding tax treatment of credit balances within the group of 5 February 2019;
each as issued, amended or substituted from time to time by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration or as substituted or superseded or overruled by any law, statute, ordinance, court decision, regulation or the like as in force from time to time.
“Swiss Loan Party” means (a) any Loan Party that is organized under the laws of Switzerland, (b) any Loan Party that is treated as resident in Switzerland for Swiss Withholding Tax purposes and/or (c) any other Loan Party if, as a result of such Loan Party’s obtaining or maintaining Credit Events hereunder, there is a bona fide risk that any payment hereunder would become subject to taxation for Swiss Withholding Tax purposes.
“Swiss Qualifying Lender” means (i) any bank as defined in the Swiss Federal Code for Banks and Savings Banks dated 8 November 1934 (Bundesgesetz über die Banken und Sparkassen) as amended from time to time or (ii) a person or entity which effectively conducts banking activities with its own infrastructure and staff as its principal business purpose and which has a banking license in full force and effect issued in accordance with the banking laws in force in its jurisdiction of incorporation, or if acting through a branch, issued in accordance with the banking laws in the jurisdiction of such branch, all and in each case in accordance with the Swiss Guidelines.
“Swiss Non-Bank Rules” means together the Swiss Twenty Non-Bank Rule and the Swiss Ten-Non-Bank Rule.
“Swiss Non-Qualifying Lender” means any person which does not qualify as a Swiss Qualifying Lender.
“Swiss Ten Non-Bank Rule” means the rule that the aggregate number of Lenders (other than Swiss Qualifying Lenders) of any Swiss Loan Party under this Agreement must not at any time exceed ten (10); in each case in accordance with the meaning of the Swiss Guidelines or the applicable legislation or explanatory notes addressing the same issues that are in force at such time.
“Swiss Twenty Non-Bank Rule” means the rule that (without duplication) the aggregate number of creditors (including the Lenders), other than Swiss Qualifying Lenders, of the Swiss Borrower under all outstanding debts relevant for classification as debenture (Kassenobligation) (including debt arising under this Agreement and intra-group loans (if and to the extent intra-group loans are not exempt in accordance with the ordinance of the Swiss Federal Council of 18 June 2010 amending the Swiss Federal Ordinance on withholding tax and the Swiss Federal Ordinance on stamp duties with effect as of 1 August 2010)), loans, facilities and/or private placements (including under this Agreement) must not, at any time, exceed twenty (20); in each case in accordance with the meaning of the Swiss Guidelines.
“Swiss Withholding Tax” means any Taxes levied pursuant to the Swiss Withholding Tax Act.
“Swiss Withholding Tax Act” means the Swiss Federal Act on the Withholding Tax of 13 October 1965 (Bundesgesetz über die Verrechnungssteuer vom 13. Oktober 1965, SR 642.21), together with the related ordinances, regulations and guidelines, all as amended and applicable from time to time.
“Switzerland” means the Swiss Confederation.
“Syndication Agent” means each of Bank of America, N.A., Bank of Montreal, London Branch, Citibank, N.A. and U.S. Bank National Association in its capacity as syndication agent for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.
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“Synthetic Lease Obligations” means obligations under operating leases of properties which are reported for United States income tax purposes as owned by the Parent or a Consolidated Subsidiary. The amount of Synthetic Lease Obligations under any such lease shall be determined in accordance with GAAP as if such operating lease were a finance lease.
“T2” means the real time gross settlement system operated by the Eurosystem, or any successor system.
“TARGET Day” means any day on which T2 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in euro.
“Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, fees, value added taxes, or any other goods and services, use or sales taxes, assessments, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Term Benchmark”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (except pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate”) or the Adjusted EURIBO Rate.
“Term Lender” means, as of any date of determination, each Lender having a Term Loan Commitment or that holds Term Loans.
“Term Loan Commitment” means (a) as to any Term Lender, the aggregate commitment of such Term Lender to make Term Loans as set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) as provided in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C) or other documentation contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Term Loan Commitment, as applicable and (b) as to all Term Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Term Lenders to make Term Loans, which aggregate commitment shall be $275,000,000 on the date of this Agreement. After advancing the Term Loan, each reference to a Term Lender’s Term Loan Commitment shall refer to that Term Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Term Loans.
“Term Loan Maturity Date” means the five year anniversary of the Effective Date, as extended (in the case of each Term Lender consenting thereto) pursuant to Section 2.25; provided, however, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Term Loan Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day
“Term Loans” means the term loans made by the Term Lenders to the Company pursuant to Section 2.01(b).
“Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.
“Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.
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“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and identified reasonably and in good faith by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. If by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate has not occurred, then, so long as such day is otherwise a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day.
“Total Revolving Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans at such time and (b) the total LC Exposure at such time.
“Trade Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.04(e)(i) hereof.
“Transactions” means (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) the borrowing of Loans, (iii) the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder and (iv) the Velocity Transactions.
“Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate, the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, the Alternate Base Rate or the Central Bank Rate.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“Unfunded Commitment” means, with respect to each Revolving Lender, the Revolving Commitment of such Lender less its Revolving Credit Exposure.
“Unfunded Vested Liabilities” means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount (if any) by which (i) the current liability as defined in Section 412(l)(7) of the Code under such Plan exceeds (ii) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all as determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent that such excess represents a potential liability of the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC or such Plan under Title IV of ERISA.
“United Kingdom”
and “UK” each mean the United Kingdom of GreanGreat
Britain and Northern Ireland.
“United States” and “U.S.” each mean the United States of America.
“U.S. Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
“U.S. Lender” means a Lender that is not a Foreign Lender.
“U.S. Person” means (i) for purposes of Sections 3.18 and 6.07 hereof, any United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States, including any foreign branch of any such entity, or any person in the United States and (ii) for all other purposes, a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
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“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.18.
“UK Bankruptcy Event” means:
(a) a UK Relevant Entity is unable or admits inability to pay its debts (as defined in section 123(1)(a) of the UK Insolvency Act) as they fall due or is deemed to or declared to be unable to pay its debts under applicable law, or suspends or threatens to suspend making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties; or
(b) any corporate action, legal proceedings or other formal procedure or formal step for (i) the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganization (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any UK Relevant Entity; (ii) a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any UK Relevant Entity; or (iii) the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of any UK Relevant Entity, or any of the assets of any UK Relevant Entity; save that this paragraph (b) shall not apply to any action, proceeding, procedure or formal step which is frivolous or vexatious and is discharged, stayed or dismissed within 14 days of commencement.
“UK Borrower” means any Affiliate Borrower resident for tax purposes in England and Wales.
“UK Borrower DTTP Filing” means an HM Revenue & Customs’ Form DTTP2, duly completed and filed by the relevant UK Borrower, which:
(a) where it relates to a UK Treaty Lender that is a Lender on the day this Agreement is entered into (or any amendment hereto), contains the scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence stated on its signature page to this Agreement (or any amendment hereto) or as otherwise notified to the Company by that UK Treaty Lender in writing, and:
(i) where the UK Borrower is an Affiliate Borrower on the day this Agreement (or any amendment hereto) is entered into, is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of the date of this Agreement (or any amendment hereto); or
(ii) where the UK Borrower is not an Affiliate Borrower on the day this Agreement is entered into, is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of the date on which that UK Borrower becomes an Affiliate Borrower; or
(b) where it relates to a UK Treaty Lender that is not a party to this Agreement on the date on which this Agreement (or any amendment hereto) is entered into, contains the scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence stated in respect of that Lender in the relevant Assignment and Assumption, Increasing Lender Supplement or Augmenting Lender Supplement, as the case may be, or as otherwise notified to the Company in writing, and:
(i) where the UK Borrower is an Affiliate Borrower as at the relevant assignment date or the date on which the increase to the Commitments and/or the Incremental Term Loans described in the relevant Increasing Lender Supplement or Augmenting Lender Supplement take effect (as applicable) is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of that date; or
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(ii) where the UK Borrower is not an Affiliate Borrower as at the relevant assignment date or the date on which the increase to the Commitments and/or the Incremental Term Loans described in the relevant Increasing Lender Supplement or Augmenting Lender Supplement take effect (as applicable) is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of the date on which that UK Borrower becomes a Borrower.
“UK Companies Act” means the Companies Act 2006 of the United Kingdom.
“UK CTA 2009” means the United Kingdom Corporation Tax Act 2009.
“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 falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Insolvency Act” means the Insolvency Act 1986 of the United Kingdom.
“UK ITA 2007” means the United Kingdom Income Tax Act 2007.
“UK Loan Party” means any UK Borrower.
“UKPTIL” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12 hereof.
“UK Qualifying Lender” means (a) a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Loan Document and is (i) a Lender (A) which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the UK ITA 2007) making an advance under a Loan Document and is within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance or would be within such charge as respects such payments apart from section 18A of the UK CTA 2009; or (B) in respect of an advance made under a Loan Document by a person that was a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the UK ITA 2007) at the time that that advance was made and within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance; or (ii) a Lender which is: (A) a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes or (B) a partnership each member of which is (x) a company so resident in the United Kingdom or (y) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the UK CTA 2009) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the UK CTA 2009 or (C) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the UK CTA 2009) of that company; or (iii) a UK Treaty Lender, or (b) a Lender which is a building society (as defined for the purposes of section 880 of the UK ITA 2007) making an advance under a Loan Document.
“UK Relevant Entity” means any Borrower or Material Subsidiary that is incorporated in England and Wales, or any other Borrower or Material Subsidiary capable of becoming subject of an order for winding-up or administration under the Insolvency Act 1986.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
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“UK Tax Confirmation” means a confirmation by a Lender that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Loan Document is either (a) a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes or (b) a partnership each member of which is (i) a company so resident in the United Kingdom or (ii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the UK CTA 2009) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the UK CTA 2009 or (c) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the UK CTA 2009) of that company.
“UK Tax Deduction” means a deduction or withholding for, or on account of, Tax imposed by the United Kingdom from a payment under a Loan Document, other than a FATCA Deduction.
“UK Treaty” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “UK Treaty State”.
“UK Treaty Lender” means a Lender which is (i) treated as a resident of a UK Treaty State for the purposes of the relevant UK Treaty, (ii) does not carry on a business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with which that Lender’s participation in the Loan is effectively connected, and (iii) subject to the completion of procedural formalities, fulfills any other conditions which must be fulfilled under the relevant UK Treaty to obtain exemption from Tax imposed by the United Kingdom on payments of interest.
“UK Treaty State” means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement with the United Kingdom (a “UK Treaty”) which makes provision for full exemption from Tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest.
“VAT” means (a) any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112); (b) any value added tax imposed by the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and (c) any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in clause (a) or (b) above, or imposed elsewhere.
“Velocity” means Maverick Power, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.
“Velocity Acquisition” means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of all of the outstanding equity interests of Velocity by HSHI pursuant to the Velocity Acquisition Agreement.
“Velocity Acquisition Agreement” means the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2026 (together with all exhibits, schedules and disclosure letters thereto), by and among Maverick Power Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, Velocity, HSHI and the Parent, as in effect on August 21, 2026.
“Velocity Acquisition Agreement Representations” means such of the representations made by or on behalf of or with respect to Velocity and its subsidiaries in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that (x) the accuracy of any such representation is a condition to the Parent or HSHI (or any of their Subsidiaries’) obligations to close the Velocity Acquisition under the Velocity Acquisition Agreement or (y) the Parent or HSHI (or any of their Subsidiaries) have the right to terminate the Parent’s or HSHI’s (or any of their Subsidiaries’) obligations under the Velocity Acquisition Agreement or decline to consummate the Velocity Acquisition, in each case as a result of a breach of such representations in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement.
“Velocity Certain Funds Purpose” means (i) the payment of the consideration pursuant to the terms of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement and (ii) the payment of Velocity Transaction Costs.
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“Velocity Closing Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.04 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02), including the consummation of the Velocity Acquisition.
“Velocity Closing Date Revolving Commitment” means Revolving Commitments of the Lenders to make the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans.
“Velocity Closing Date Revolving Commitment Expiration Date” means the earliest of (i) 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date that is the earliest of: (x) the date on which the Velocity Acquisition Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10.1 thereof and (y) five (5) “Business Days” after the “Termination Date” (each as defined in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement as in effect on August 21, 2026), (ii) the closing of the Velocity Acquisition with or without the use of any of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans under this Agreement, (iii) the public announcement of the abandonment of the Velocity Acquisition by the Parent or HSHI (or any of their Affiliates) and (iv) the termination of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement prior to closing of the Velocity Acquisition or the termination of the Parent’s or HSHI’s (or any of their respective Affiliates’) obligations under the Velocity Acquisition Agreement to consummate the Velocity Acquisition in accordance with the terms of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement.
“Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans” means Revolving Loans to be made by the Lenders in Dollars to HSHI which are used for Velocity Certain Funds Purposes in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans Sublimit.
“Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans Sublimit” means $250,000,000, which shall automatically be reduced to $0 on the Velocity Closing Date (after giving effect to any Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans made on such date). The Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Commitments, and shall expire on the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Commitment Expiration Date.
“Velocity Refinancing” means the repayment of all indebtedness to be repaid on the Velocity Closing Date pursuant to the terms of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement and the discharge (or the making of arrangements for discharge) of all Liens securing any assets or property of Velocity or its subsidiaries (other than Liens permitted under this Agreement).
“Velocity Specified Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.08, 3.10 and 3.14.
“Velocity Term Loan Agreement” means that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2026, by and among the Parent, HSHI, the Company, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent (as in effect on the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date).
“Velocity Term Loan Facility” means the term loan credit facility established pursuant to the Velocity Term Loan Agreement.
“Velocity Transaction Costs” means any fees, costs or expenses incurred or paid by the Parent, HSHI or any other Subsidiary in connection with the Velocity Transactions.
“Velocity Transactions” means (i) the consummation of the Velocity Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, (ii) the Velocity Refinancing and (iii) the payment of the Velocity Transaction Costs.
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“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
Section 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Loan” or an “RFR Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Loan” or an “RFR Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Borrowing” or an “RFR Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing” or an “RFR Revolving Borrowing”).
Section 1.03 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
Section 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Company notifies the Administrative Agent that the Company requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Company that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied without giving effect to such change until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (i) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein (including computations in respect of compliance with Sections 6.01 and 6.02) shall be made (a) without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Debt or other liabilities of the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (b) without giving effect to any treatment of Debt under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 or 2015-03 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Debt in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Debt shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof and (ii) except to the extent contemplated by clause (b) of the second sentence of the definition of “Synthetic Lease Obligations”, without giving effect to any change to, or modification of, GAAP (including any future phase-in of changes to GAAP that have been approved as of December 1, 2018) which would require the capitalization of leases characterized as “operating leases” as of December 1, 2018 (it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) shall be prepared without giving effect to this sentence).
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Section 1.05 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in Dollars or a Foreign Currency may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.14(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, in each case with respect to its obligation to apply the definition of such rate in accordance with its terms and comply with its obligations in Article II (including Section 2.14) of this Agreement). The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services commonly used in the banking industry for such purposes in its reasonable good faith discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrowers, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
Section 1.06 Luxembourg Terms. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in this Agreement where it relates to the Company or any Affiliate Borrower which is organized under the laws of Luxembourg, a reference to: (a) a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, compulsory manager or other similar officer includes a juge délégué, juge-commissaire, mandataire de justice, administrateur provisoire, conciliateur d’entreprise, liquidateur or curateur; (b) liquidation, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or any similar proceeding shall include (i) insolvency/bankruptcy (faillite) within the meaning of Articles 437 ff. of the Luxembourg Commercial Code,, (ii) suspension of payments (sursis de paiement) within the meaning of Articles 593 ff. of the Luxembourg Commercial Code , (iii) administrative dissolution without liquidation (dissolution administrative sans liquidation) within the meaning of the Luxembourg law of October 28, 2022 creating the procedure for administrative dissolution without liquidation, (iv) voluntary or compulsory winding-up pursuant to the law of 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended or (v) judicial reorganisation proceedings in the form of a mutual agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord amiable), a collective agreement (réorganisation judiciaire par accord collectif) or a judicial reorganisation by transfer by court order (réorganisation judiciaire par transfert par décision de justice) within the meaning of the law of 7 August 2023 on the preservation of companies and modernisation of the bankruptcy law, (c) a lien or security interest includes any hypothèque, nantissement, gage, privilège, sûreté réelle, droit de rétention, and any type of security in rem (sûreté réelle) or agreement or arrangement having a similar effect and any transfer of title by way of security; (d) a person being unable to pay its debts includes that person being in a state of cessation of payments (cessation de paiements) or having lost or meeting the criteria to lose its commercial creditworthiness (ébranlement de crédit); (e) attachments or similar creditors process means an executory attachment (saisie exécutoire) or conservatory attachment (saisie arrêt); and (f) a “set-off” includes, for purposes of Luxembourg law, legal set-off.
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Section 1.07 Certain Calculations. No Default or Event of Default shall arise as a result of any limitation or threshold set forth in Dollars in Articles VI and VII under this Agreement being exceeded solely as a result of changes in currency exchange rates from those rates applicable on the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Parent immediately preceding the fiscal quarter of the Parent in which the applicable transaction or occurrence requiring a determination occurs.
Section 1.08 Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.
Section 1.09 Leverage Ratios. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of calculating any pro forma leverage ratio herein in connection with the incurrence of any Debt, (a) there shall be no netting of the cash proceeds proposed to be received in connection with the incurrence of such Debt and (b) to the extent the Debt to be incurred is revolving Debt, such incurred revolving Debt (or if applicable, the portion (and only such portion) of the increased commitments thereunder) shall be treated as fully drawn.
Section 1.10 Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement. The parties to this Agreement agree that, upon (i) the execution and delivery by each of the parties hereto of this Agreement and (ii) satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.01, the terms and provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement shall be and hereby are amended, superseded and restated in their entirety by the terms and provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement is not intended to and shall not constitute a novation. All “Loans” (the “Existing Loans”) made and “Obligations” incurred under the Existing Credit Agreement which are outstanding on the Effective Date shall (other than any “Term Loans” under (and as defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement to the extent repaid on the Effective Date) continue as Loans and Obligations under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the foregoing, upon the effectiveness hereof: (a) all references in the “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) to the “Administrative Agent”, the “Credit Agreement” and the “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to the Administrative Agent, this Agreement and the Loan Documents, (b) the Administrative Agent shall make such reallocations, sales, assignments or other relevant actions in respect of each Lender’s credit exposure under the Existing Credit Agreement as are necessary in order that each such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure and outstanding Revolving Loans hereunder reflects such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures on the Effective Date (without the necessity of executing and delivering any Assignment and Assumption or the payment of any processing or recordation fee) and (c) the Company hereby agrees to compensate each Lender for any and all losses, costs and expenses incurred by such Lender in connection with the sale and assignment of any Term Benchmark Loans (including the “Term Benchmark Loans” under (and as defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement) and such reallocation described above, in each case on the terms and in the manner set forth in Section 2.16 hereof.
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Article II.
The Credits
Section 2.01 Commitments.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (a) each Revolving Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make
Revolving Loans to the Borrowers in Agreed Loan Currencies from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate
principal amount that will not, subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and Section 2.11.2 and subject to any
application of proceeds of such Borrowing to any Swingline Loans outstanding pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(i), result in
(i) subject to Section 2.04, the Dollar Amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such
Lender’s Revolving Commitment, (ii) subject to Section 2.04, the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit
Exposure exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments, (iii) subject to Section 2.04, the sum of the aggregate
principal Dollar Amount of all Loans outstanding to Affiliate Borrowers exceeding the Affiliate Borrower Sublimit
or, (iv) subject to Section 2.04,
the Dollar Amount of the total outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure, in each case denominated in Foreign Currencies,
exceeding the Foreign Currency Sublimit or (v) in the case of
Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans, the Dollar Amount of such Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans exceeding the Velocity
Closing Date Revolving Loans Sublimit, and (b) each Term Lender with a Term Loan Commitment (severally and not
jointly) agrees to make Term Loans to the Company in Dollars on the Effective Date by making immediately available funds available
to the Administrative Agent’s designated account, not later than the time specified by the Administrative Agent. Within the
foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving
Loans. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.
Section 2.02 Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the applicable Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required. Any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05. The Term Loans shall amortize as set forth in Section 2.10.
(b) Subject to Section 2.14, (i) each Revolving Borrowing and Term Loan Borrowing shall be comprised (x) in the case of Borrowings in Dollars, entirely of ABR Loans or Term Benchmark Loans and (y) in the case of Borrowings in any other Agreed Currency, entirely of Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans, as applicable, in each case of the same Agreed Currency, as the relevant Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that each ABR Loan shall only be made in Dollars and (ii) each Swingline Loan shall be (x) an ABR Loan in the case of a Swingline Loan denominated in Dollars or (y) an RFR Loan in the case of a Swingline Loan denominated in euro or Pounds Sterling. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of any Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency, 1,000,000 units of such currency) and not less than $5,000,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency, 5,000,000 units of such currency). At the time that each ABR Borrowing and/or RFR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate Dollar Amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the aggregate Revolving Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $25,000 (or, if such Swingline Loan is denominated in a Foreign Currency, 25,000 units of such currency) and not less than $100,000 (or, if such Swingline Loan is denominated in a Foreign Currency, 100,000 units of such currency). Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of fifteen (15) Term Benchmark Borrowings or RFR Borrowings outstanding.
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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Borrower shall be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the applicable Maturity Date.
Section 2.03 Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower, shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request (a) by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request signed by the applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower) (i)(x) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, not later than 3:00 p.m., Chicago time, three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (y) in the case of an RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars, not later than 3:00 p.m., Chicago time, five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing, (ii) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in euro, not later than 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, four (4) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (iii) in the case of an RFR Borrowing denominated in Pounds Sterling, not later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, five (5) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request signed by the applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower; provided that, if such Borrowing Request is submitted through an Approved Borrower Portal, the foregoing signature requirement may be waived at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, on the Business Day of the proposed Borrowing. Each such Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the name of the applicable Borrower (which shall be HSHI in the case of a Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loan);
(ii) the Agreed Currency and aggregate principal amount of the requested Borrowing (which shall be Dollars in the case of a Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loan);
(iii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing (in the case of Borrowings denominated in Dollars), a Term Benchmark Borrowing or an RFR Borrowing and whether such Borrowing is a Revolving Borrowing or a Term Loan Borrowing;
(v) in
the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by
the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and
(vi) whether a Revolving Loan constitutes a Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loan; and
(vii) (vi) the
location and number of the applicable Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements
of Section 2.07.
If no election as to the currency of a Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be made in Dollars. If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then, in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the requested Borrowing shall be a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month’s duration. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Term Benchmark Borrowing, then the relevant Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the applicable Class of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Borrower be permitted to request pursuant to this Section 2.03, a CBR Loan or, prior to a Benchmark Transition Event and Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate, an RFR Loan bearing interest based on Daily Simple SOFR (it being understood and agreed that a Central Bank Rate and Daily Simple SOFR shall only apply to the extent provided in Sections 2.08(e) (solely with respect to the Central Bank Rate), 2.14(a) and 2.14(f), as applicable).
Section 2.04 Determination of Dollar Amounts. The Administrative Agent will determine the Dollar Amount of:
(a) any Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency, on each of the following: (i) the date of the Borrowing of such Loan and (ii)(A) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, each date of a conversion or continuation of such Loan pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and (B) with respect to any RFR Loan, each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month),
(b) any Letter of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency, on each of the following: (i) the date on which such Letter of Credit is issued, (ii) the first Business Day of each calendar month and (iii) the date of any amendment of such Letter of Credit that has the effect of increasing the face amount thereof, and
(c) any Credit Event, on any additional date as the Administrative Agent may determine at any time when an Event of Default exists.
Each day upon or as of which the Administrative Agent determines Dollar Amounts as described in the preceding clauses (a), (b) and (c) is herein described as a “Computation Date” with respect to each Credit Event for which a Dollar Amount is determined on or as of such day, and the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company of all such determinations and related computations on such Computation Date.
Section 2.05 Swingline Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Swingline Lender may in its sole discretion make Swingline Loans in Agreed Loan Currencies to any Primary Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal Dollar Amount at any time outstanding that will not, subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and Section 2.11.2, result in (i) subject to Section 2.04, the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans made by such Swingline Lender exceeding such Swingline Lender’s Swingline Sublimit, except to the extent otherwise agreed by such Swingline Lender and the Company, with notice to be concurrently given to the Administrative Agent, (ii) subject to Section 2.04, any Swingline Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding its Revolving Commitment, (iii) subject to Section 2.04, the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $100,000,000, (iv) subject to Section 2.04, the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitment or (v) subject to Section 2.04, the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency exceeding the Swingline Foreign Currency Sublimit; provided that a Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, any Primary Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.
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(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the applicable Primary Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by (i) irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request signed by the applicable Primary Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Primary Borrower or, if arrangements for such transmission have been approved by the Administrative Agent, transmitted by electronic communication including an Approved Borrower Portal), not later than 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan in Dollars and (ii) irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request signed by the applicable Primary Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Primary Borrower or, if arrangements for such transmission have been approved by the Administrative Agent, transmitted by electronic communication including an Approved Borrower Portal), not later than 9:00 a.m., Local Time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan in euro or Pounds Sterling. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day), applicable currency, Type and amount of the requested Swingline Loan and the Swingline Lender to make such Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise such Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the applicable Primary Borrower. Unless otherwise directed by the applicable Primary Borrower, each Swingline Lender shall (subject to such Swingline Lender’s discretion to make Swingline Loans as set forth in Section 2.05(a)) make each Swingline Loan to be made by it available to the applicable Primary Borrower by means of a credit to an account of the applicable Primary Borrower with the Administrative Agent designated for such purpose (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e), by remittance to the relevant Issuing Bank) by 3:00 p.m., Local Time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.
(c) Any Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent require the Revolving Lenders to acquire participations in all or a portion of its Swingline Loans outstanding in the applicable Agreed Currency of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount and Agreed Currency of Swingline Loans in which Revolving Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans and the applicable Agreed Currency of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, promptly upon receipt of such notice from the Administrative Agent (and in any event, if such notice is received by 12:00 noon, Local Time, on a Business Day, no later than 5:00 p.m., Local Time, on such Business Day and if received after 12:00 noon, Local Time, on a Business Day, no later than 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on the immediately succeeding Business Day), to pay in the applicable Agreed Currency to the Administrative Agent, for the account of such Swingline Lender, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Revolving Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to such Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company promptly of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to such Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by a Swingline Lender from the applicable Primary Borrower (or other party on behalf of such Primary Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by such Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to such Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to such Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the applicable Primary Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the applicable Primary Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.
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(d) Any Swingline Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Company, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Swingline Lender and the successor Swingline Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such replacement of the relevant Swingline Lender. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Company shall pay all unpaid interest accrued for the account of the replaced Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.13(a). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Swingline Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Swingline Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Swingline Lender, or to such successor and all previous Swingline Lenders, as the context shall require. After the replacement of a Swingline Lender hereunder, the replaced Swingline Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made by it prior to its replacement, but shall not be required to make additional Swingline Loans.
(e) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Swingline Lender, any Swingline Lender may resign as a Swingline Lender at any time upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Company and the Revolving Lenders, in which case, such Swingline Lender shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.05(d) above.
Section 2.06 Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company may request the issuance of Letters of Credit (or the amendment or extension of any outstanding Letter of Credit) denominated in Agreed LC Currencies for its own account, as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the Company and the Issuing Bank issuing such Letter of Credit, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any Letter of Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control; provided, however, if any Issuing Bank is requested to issue Letters of Credit with respect to a jurisdiction such Issuing Bank deems, in its reasonable judgment applied generally to substantially similar credit facilities for which it acts as an issuing bank, may at any time subject it to a New Money Credit Event or a Country Risk Event, the Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Company of such determination prior to the issuance of any Letter of Credit, and the Company shall either withdraw its request to issue such Letter of Credit or, at the request of such Issuing Bank, guaranty and indemnify such Issuing Bank against any and all costs, liabilities and losses resulting from such New Money Credit Event or Country Risk Event, in each case in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Issuing Bank shall have any obligation hereunder to issue, amend or extend, and shall not issue, amend or extend any Letter of Credit the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (i) to fund any activity or business of or with any Designated Person, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement or (iii) in any manner that would result in a violation of one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally. The Parent unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, in connection with any Letter of Credit issued for the support of any Subsidiary’s obligations as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Parent will be fully responsible for the reimbursement of LC Disbursements in accordance with the terms hereof, the payment of interest thereon and the payment of fees due under Section 2.12(b) to the same extent as if it were the sole account party in respect of such Letter of Credit (the Parent hereby irrevocably waiving any defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of the obligations of such a Subsidiary that is an account party in respect of any such Letter of Credit).
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(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Company shall hand deliver, email or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, including an Approved Borrower Portal, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by such Issuing Bank) to the applicable Issuing Bank (selected by the Company in its sole discretion) and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension, but in any event no less than three (3) Business Days in advance thereof unless a shorter period is acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank in its sole discretion) a written notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the Agreed LC Currency applicable thereto, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend or extend such Letter of Credit. In addition, if required by such Issuing Bank, as a condition to any such Letter of Credit issuance, the Company shall have entered into a continuing agreement (or other letter of credit agreement) for the issuance of letters of credit and/or shall submit a letter of credit application, in a form agreed to by the Company and the applicable Issuing Bank in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit (each, a “Letter of Credit Agreement”). A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended to increase the amount or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment to increase the amount or extension of each Letter of Credit the Company shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment or extension, but allowing for fluctuations in currency exchange rates and subject to Section 2.11.2, (i) subject to Section 2.04, the Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure shall not exceed $200,000,000, (ii) subject to Section 2.04, the Dollar Amount of the aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit issued and then outstanding by any Issuing Bank shall not exceed such Issuing Bank’s Applicable LC Sublimit, (iii) subject to Section 2.04, the sum of the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments, (iv) subject to Section 2.04, the Dollar Amount of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and (v) subject to Section 2.04, the Dollar Amount of the total outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure, in each case denominated in Foreign Currencies, shall not exceed the Foreign Currency Sublimit.
(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or, if set forth in such Letter of Credit, be subject to termination by notice from the Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date two years after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any extension thereof, two years after such extension), unless the Required Lenders and the applicable Issuing Bank, in their discretion, have approved a later expiry date in writing and (ii) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; provided that, notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii) above, upon the Company’s request and subject to the approval, in its discretion, by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank that has issued such Letter of Credit, any such Letter of Credit may have a later expiry date (but in any event not later than one (1) year after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date) if Cash Collateralized in compliance with Section 2.06(j) below.
(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount or extending the term thereof) and without any further action on the part of any Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, each Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Company on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Company for any reason, including after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit and to make payments in respect of such acquired participations are absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
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(e) Reimbursement. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Company shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent in Dollars the Dollar Amount equal to such LC Disbursement, calculated as of the date such Issuing Bank made such LC Disbursement (or if such Issuing Bank shall so elect in its sole discretion by notice to the Company, in such other Agreed LC Currency which was paid by such Issuing Bank pursuant to such LC Disbursement in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement) not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Company shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Company prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on (i) the Business Day that the Company receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Company receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, (i) to the extent such LC Disbursement was made in Dollars, such payment shall, automatically and without notice, be financed with (x) if the LC Disbursement is equal to or greater than $1,000,000, an ABR Revolving Borrowing in Dollars or, at the Company’s election, a Swingline Loan, or (y) if the LC Disbursement is equal to or greater than $100,000 but less than $1,000,000, a Swingline Loan, in each case in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement or (ii) to the extent such LC Disbursement was made in a Foreign Currency, the Company may request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with (i) an ABR Revolving Borrowing or Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing in Dollars in the Dollar Amount of such LC Disbursement or (ii) to the extent that such LC Disbursement was made in a Foreign Currency, a Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing or an RFR Revolving Borrowing in such Foreign Currency (in the event such Foreign Currency is an Agreed Loan Currency) in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement, and, in each case, to the extent so financed, the Company’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing, Swingline Loan, Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing or RFR Revolving Borrowing, as applicable. If the Company fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Company in respect thereof and such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Company, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Revolving Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders, provided that, with respect to any such payment in respect of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Agreed LC Currency that is not an Agreed Loan Currency, any Revolving Lender may make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Amount of such LC Disbursement), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to such Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Company pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to such Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Revolving Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse any Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans, Term Benchmark Revolving Loans, RFR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Company of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement. If the Company’s reimbursement of, or obligation to reimburse, any amounts in any Foreign Currency would subject the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Revolving Lender to any stamp duty, ad valorem charge or similar tax that would not be payable if such reimbursement were made or required to be made in Dollars, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company prior to payment by the Company, and the Company shall, at its option, either (x) pay the amount of any such tax requested by the Administrative Agent, the relevant Issuing Bank or the relevant Revolving Lender or (y) reimburse each LC Disbursement made in such Foreign Currency in Dollars, in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount thereof calculated on the date such LC Disbursement is made.
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(f) Obligations Absolute. The Company’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Agreement or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) any payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Company’s obligations hereunder, or (v) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Foreign Currency to the Company or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Lenders nor the Issuing Banks, nor any of their respective Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, document, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of an Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Company to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Company to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Company that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the relevant Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
(g) Disbursement Procedures. Each Issuing Bank shall, within the time period stipulated by the terms and conditions of the applicable Letter of Credit following its receipt thereof (and, if no time period is so stipulated, promptly), examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. After such examination, such Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Company by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or email in accordance with Section 9.01) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that such notice need not be given prior to payment by the Issuing Bank and any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Company of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement in accordance with Section 2.06(e).
(h) Interim Interest. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Company shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Company reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans (or in the case such LC Disbursement is denominated in a Foreign Currency, at the Overnight Rate for such Agreed LC Currency plus the then effective Applicable Rate with respect to Term Benchmark Revolving Loans); provided that, if the Company fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(b) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse any Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Revolving Lender to the extent of such payment.
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(i) Replacement and Resignation of Issuing Bank. (A) Each Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Company, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Company shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit then outstanding and issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(B) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, any Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Company and the Revolving Lenders, in which case, such resigning Issuing Bank shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.06(i)(A) above.
(j) Cover. If (x) any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Company receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph or (y) the Company requests the issuance of a Letter of Credit with an expiry date that is later than the expiry date prescribed in clause (c) of this Section 2.06 (an “Extended Letter of Credit”), the Company shall on either such Business Day of receipt of notice (in the case of the foregoing clause (x)) or on such date of issuance (in the case of the foregoing clause (y)) either (A) cover by arranging for the issuance of one or more standby letters of credit issued by an issuer, and otherwise on terms and conditions, satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Bank or (B) deposit cash in an account with the Administrative Agent, in each case in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Revolving Lenders, and in an amount equal to (1) with respect to a Letter of Credit denominated in Dollars, 100% and (2) with respect to a Foreign Currency Letter of Credit, 105%, in each case of the Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure in respect of such Extended Letter of Credit (in the case of the foregoing clause (y)) or in the aggregate (in the case of the foregoing clause (x)) as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that (i) the portions of such amount attributable to undrawn Foreign Currency Letters of Credit or LC Disbursements in a Foreign Currency that the Company is not late in reimbursing shall be covered or deposited in the applicable Foreign Currencies in an amount equal to 105% of the actual amounts of such undrawn Letters of Credit and LC Disbursements and (ii) the obligation to provide such letter(s) of credit cover or deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such cover or deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Company described in clause (f), (g) or (h) of Article VII. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Foreign Currency LC Exposure shall be calculated using the Dollar Amount thereof on the date notice demanding letter of credit cover or cash collateralization is delivered to the Company. The Company also shall deposit cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph as and to the extent required by Section 2.11.2. Any such deposits shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Such deposits shall bear interest, and such deposits shall be invested by the Administrative Agent in direct short term obligations of, or in other short term obligations which are unconditionally guaranteed with respect to all principal thereof and interest thereon by, the United States of America, in each case maturing no later than the expiry date of the Letter of Credit giving rise to LC Exposure. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Company for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Obligations; provided that at any time that the money remaining in such account exceeds the LC Exposure by $100,000 or more, the Administrative Agent will, promptly after request therefor by the Company at any time that no Default shall exist, deliver such excess to the Company. If the Company is required to provide an amount of cash collateral or letter of credit cover hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount or letter of credit (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Company or the issuer of such letter of credit (as applicable) within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.
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(k) Conversion. In the event that the Loans become immediately due and payable on any date pursuant to Article VII, all amounts (i) that the Company is at the time or thereafter becomes required to reimburse or otherwise pay to the Administrative Agent in respect of LC Disbursements made under any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit (other than amounts in respect of which the Company has provided letter of credit cover, or deposited cash collateral, pursuant to paragraph (j) above, if such letter of credit was issued, or cash collateral was deposited, in the applicable Foreign Currency to the extent so deposited or applied), (ii) that the Revolving Lenders are at the time or thereafter become required to pay to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent is at the time or thereafter becomes required to distribute to any Issuing Bank pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section in respect of unreimbursed LC Disbursements made under any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit and (iii) of each Revolving Lender’s participation in any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit under which an LC Disbursement has been made shall, automatically and with no further action required, be converted into the Dollar Amount thereof, calculated on such date (or in the case of any LC Disbursement made after such date, on the date such LC Disbursement is made), of such amounts. On and after such conversion, all amounts accruing and owed to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Revolving Lender in respect of the obligations described in this paragraph shall accrue and be payable in Dollars at the rates otherwise applicable hereunder.
(l) Issuing Bank Agreements. Each Issuing Bank agrees that, unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day of each week, the daily activity (set forth by day) in respect of Letters of Credit during the immediately preceding week, including all issuances, extensions and amendments, all expirations and cancellations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank expects to issue, amend or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment or extension occurred (and whether the amount thereof changed), (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any LC Disbursement, the date of such LC Disbursement and the amount of such LC Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which any Borrower fails to reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount and currency of such LC Disbursement and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.
(m) LC Exposure Determination. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the amount of such Letter of Credit available to be drawn at such time; provided that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the available amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum amount is available to be drawn at such time.
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Section 2.07 Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date specified in accordance with the terms hereof in the Borrowing Request (which, in the case of the Term Loans, shall be the Effective Date) solely by wire transfer of immediately available funds (i) in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars, by 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders and (ii) in the case of each Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency, by 1:00 p.m., Local Time, in the city of the Administrative Agent’s Foreign Currency Payment Office for such currency and at such Foreign Currency Payment Office for such currency; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05. Except in respect of the provisions of this Agreement covering the reimbursement of Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the relevant Borrower by promptly crediting funds so received in the aforesaid account of the Administrative Agent to (x) an account of the Company maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City or Chicago and designated by the relevant Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request, in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars and (y) an account of such Borrower maintained in the relevant jurisdiction and designated by such Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request, in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency; provided that Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the relevant Issuing Bank.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing (or in the case of an ABR Borrowing, prior to 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, 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 paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the relevant 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 such Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the applicable Overnight Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of such Borrower, the interest rate applicable under this Agreement to such Loans, or in the case of Foreign Currencies, in accordance with such market practice, in each case, as applicable. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.
Section 2.08 Interest Elections. (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type and Agreed Loan Currency specified in the applicable Borrowing Request (or, if not so specified, as provided in Section 2.03) and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request (or, if not so specified, as provided in Section 2.03). Thereafter, the relevant Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. A Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, a Borrower, or the Company on its behalf, shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election (by irrevocable written notice (via an Interest Election Request signed by such Borrower, or the Company on its behalf; provided that, if such Interest Election Request is submitted through an Approved Borrower Portal, the foregoing signature requirement may be waived at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent)) by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if such Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit any Borrower to (i) change the currency of any Borrowing, (ii) elect an Interest Period for Term Benchmark Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d) or (iii) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a Type not available under the Class of Commitments pursuant to which such Borrowing was made.
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(c) Each Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the name of the applicable Borrower and the Agreed Loan Currency and principal amount of the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing (in the case of Borrowings denominated in Dollars), a Term Benchmark Borrowing or an RFR Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which Interest Period shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Borrower be permitted to request pursuant to this Section 2.08(c) a CBR Loan or, prior to a Benchmark Transition Event and Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate, an RFR Loan bearing interest based on Daily Simple SOFR (it being understood and agreed that a Central Bank Rate and Daily Simple SOFR shall only apply to the extent provided in Sections 2.08(e) (solely with respect to the Central Bank Rate), 2.14(a) and 2.14(f), as applicable).
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the applicable Class of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.
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(e) If the relevant Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Term Benchmark Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period (i) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing; provided that if the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent its customary standard documentation pre-authorizing automatic continuations, such Borrowing shall automatically be continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing in its original Agreed Loan Currency with an Interest Period of one month at the end of such Interest Period, and (ii) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency, such Borrower shall be deemed to have selected that such Borrowing shall automatically be continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing in its original Agreed Loan Currency with an Interest Period of one month at the end of such Interest Period. If the relevant Borrower fails to deliver a timely and complete Interest Election Request with respect to an RFR Borrowing in a Foreign Currency prior to the Interest Payment Date therefor, then, unless such RFR Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, such Borrower shall be deemed to have selected that such RFR Borrowing shall automatically be continued as an RFR Borrowing in its original Agreed Loan Currency bearing interest at a rate based upon the applicable Daily Simple RFR as of such Interest Payment Date. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Company, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing or an RFR Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, (x)(A) each Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto and (B) each RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing on the last day of the calendar month and (y) each Term Benchmark Borrowing and each RFR Borrowing, in each case denominated in a Foreign Currency shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines reasonably and in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent demonstrable error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans denominated in any Foreign Currency shall either be (A) converted to an ABR Borrowing denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such Foreign Currency) at the end of the Interest Period or on the Interest Payment Date, as applicable, therefor or (B) prepaid at the end of the applicable Interest Period or on the Interest Payment Date, as applicable, in full; provided that if no election is made by the relevant Borrower by the earlier of (x) the date that is three (3) Business Days after receipt by the Company of such notice and (y) the last day of the current Interest Period for the applicable Term Benchmark Loan, such Borrower shall be deemed to have elected clause (A) above.
Section 2.09 Termination and Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Unless previously terminated, the Term Loan Commitments shall terminate at 3:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the Effective Date. Unless previously terminated, the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (subject to Section 2.25).
(b) The Company may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Company shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, (A) the Dollar Amount of any Revolving Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed its Revolving Commitment or (B) the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the acquisition of one Lender by another Lender, or the merger, consolidation or other combination of any two or more Lenders (any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or other combination being referred to hereinafter as a “Combination” and each Lender which is a party to such Combination being hereinafter referred to as a “Combined Lender”), the Company may notify the Administrative Agent that it desires to reduce the Commitment of the Lender surviving such Combination (the “Surviving Lender”) to an amount equal to the Commitment of that Combined Lender which had the largest Commitment of each of the Combined Lenders party to such Combination (such largest Commitment being the “Surviving Commitment” and the Commitments of the other Combined Lenders being hereinafter referred to, collectively, as the “Retired Commitments”). If the Required Lenders (determined as set forth below) and the Administrative Agent agree to such reduction in the Surviving Lender’s Commitment, then (i) the aggregate amount of the Commitments shall be reduced by the Retired Commitments effective upon the effective date of the Combination (or such later date as the Company may specify in its request), provided, that, on or before such date the Borrowers have paid in full the outstanding principal amount of the Loans of each of the Combined Lenders other than the Combined Lender whose Commitment is the Surviving Commitment, (ii) from and after the effective date of such reduction, the Surviving Lender shall have no obligation with respect to the Retired Commitments, and (iii) the Company shall notify the Administrative Agent whether it wants such reduction to be a permanent reduction or a temporary reduction. If such reduction is to be a temporary reduction, then the Company shall be responsible for finding one or more financial institutions (which for the avoidance of doubt may be an existing Lender) (each, a “Replacement Lender”), acceptable to the Administrative Agent (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), willing to assume the obligations of a Lender hereunder with aggregate Commitments up to the amount of the Retired Commitments. The Administrative Agent may require the Replacement Lenders to execute such documents, instruments or agreements as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary or desirable to evidence such Replacement Lenders’ agreement to become parties hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.09(c), Required Lenders shall be determined as if the reduction in the aggregate amount of the Commitments requested by the Company had occurred (i.e., the Combined Lenders shall be deemed to have a single Commitment equal to the Surviving Commitment and the aggregate amount of the Commitments shall be deemed to have been reduced by the Retired Commitments).
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(d) The Company shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Revolving Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Company pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Company may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other matters specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Company (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be made ratably among the Revolving Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments.
Section 2.10 Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Indebtedness.
(a) (i) Each Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (A) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan made to such Borrower on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date in the currency of such Loan and (B) in the case of each Primary Borrower, to the relevant Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan made by such Swingline Lender to such Primary Borrower on the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the 14th Business Day after the date such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, each Primary Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans made to such Primary Borrower then outstanding and the proceeds of any such Borrowing shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to repay any Swingline Loans outstanding.
(ii) The Company shall repay Term Loans in installments as follows: (i) on the last day of the first full Calendar Quarter following the Effective Date and on the last day of each of the eleven Calendar Quarters ending immediately after such first full Calendar Quarter, 1.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans actually funded under this Agreement prior to each such last day of such calendar quarter; and (ii) on the last day of the thirteenth full Calendar Quarter following the Effective Date and on the last day of each Calendar Quarter ending after such thirteenth full Calendar Quarter (and prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date), 1.875% of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans actually funded under this Agreement prior to each such last day of such calendar quarter (in each of the foregoing cases, as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 2.11.1(b)). To the extent not previously repaid, all unpaid Term Loans shall be paid in full in Dollars by the Company on the Term Loan Maturity Date.
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of each Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
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(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class, Agreed Currency and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from each Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of any Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it to any Borrower be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the relevant Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form attached hereto as Exhibit D-1 or D-2, as applicable. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.
Section 2.11 Prepayment of Loans.
SECTION 2.11.1. Voluntary Prepayments.
(a) Any Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that (i) each prepayment of a Term Benchmark Borrowing (other than in connection with a prepayment of all outstanding Term Benchmark Borrowings and/or a prepayment of a Term Benchmark Borrowing made to refinance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e)) shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency, 1,000,000 units of such currency) and not less than $5,000,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency, 5,000,000 units of such currency) and (ii) each prepayment of an ABR Borrowing (other than in connection with a prepayment of all outstanding ABR Borrowings and/or a prepayment of an ABR Borrowing made to refinance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e)) shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000.
(b) The applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower, shall notify the Administrative Agent by written notice (submitted by telecopy or electronic communication, including an Approved Borrower Portal, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent and, if relevant, the applicable Swingline Lender) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, not later than 3:00 p.m., Chicago time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated euro, not later than 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, four (4) Business Days before the date of prepayment, (iii) in the case of prepayment of an RFR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, five (5) RFR Business Days before the date of prepayment, (iv) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the date of prepayment or (v) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination or reduction of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination or reduction is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09 and (B) a notice of prepayment by any Borrower, or the Company on behalf of any Borrower, may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other matters specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the applicable Class of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Revolving Loans included in the prepaid Revolving Borrowing, and each voluntary prepayment of a Term Loan Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Term Loans included in the prepaid Term Loan Borrowing in such order of application as directed by the Company. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments required by Section 2.16.
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SECTION 2.11.2. Mandatory Prepayments. If at any time, (i) other than as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, (w) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure (calculated, with respect to those Credit Events denominated in Foreign Currencies, as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Credit Event) exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments, (x) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Loans (calculated, with respect to those Credit Events denominated in Foreign Currencies, as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Credit Event) outstanding denominated in Foreign Currencies exceeds the Foreign Currency Sublimit, (y) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Loans (calculated, with respect to those Credit Events denominated in Foreign Currencies, as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Credit Event) outstanding to the Affiliate Borrowers exceeds the Affiliate Borrower Sublimit or (z) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Swingline Loans (calculated, with respect to those Swingline Loans denominated in Foreign Currencies, as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Swingline Loan) outstanding denominated in Foreign Currencies exceeds the Swingline Foreign Currency Sublimit or (ii) solely as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, (w) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure (as so calculated) exceeds 105% of the aggregate Revolving Commitments, (x) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the Revolving Credit Exposures (as so calculated) denominated in Foreign Currencies exceeds 105% of the Foreign Currency Sublimit, (y) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the Revolving Credit Exposures (as so calculated) to the Affiliate Borrowers exceeds 105% of the Affiliate Borrower Sublimit or (z) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Swingline Loans (as so calculated) denominated in Foreign Currencies exceeds 105% of the Swingline Foreign Currency Sublimit, the Borrowers shall, promptly after receipt of written notice from the Administrative Agent, repay Borrowings and, if no Borrowings are then outstanding, Cash Collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(j), in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to eliminate any such excess.
Section 2.12 Fees. (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a facility fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the average daily amount of the Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender (whether used or unused) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Revolving Commitment terminates; provided that, if such Revolving Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure after its Revolving Commitment terminates, then such facility fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure from and including the date on which its Revolving Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Revolving Lender ceases to have any Revolving Credit Exposure. Accrued facility fees shall be payable in arrears on the fifteenth (15th) Business Day following the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof; provided that any facility fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand accompanied by an invoice in reasonable detail. All facility fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
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(b) The Company agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the Applicable LC Fee Rate (as defined below) on the average daily Dollar Amount of such Revolving Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Revolving Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue at a rate per annum separately agreed upon between the Company and such Issuing Bank on the average daily Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to Letters of Credit issued by the relevant Issuing Bank during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the fifteenth (15th) Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable promptly after demand. Any other fees payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within thirty (30) days after demand accompanied by an invoice in reasonable detail. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). Participation fees and fronting fees in respect of Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars shall be paid in Dollars, and participation fees and fronting fees in respect of Letters of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be paid in Dollars in the Dollar Amount thereof. As used above, “Applicable LC Fee Rate” means at any time (x) in the case of standby Letters of Credit (other than those described in the following clause (y)), the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Revolving Loans at such time and (y) in the case of commercial Letters of Credit and standby Letters of Credit issued to ensure the performance of services and/or delivery of goods, in each case at a per annum rate equal to 50% of the Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Revolving Loans at such time.
(c) The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Company and the Administrative Agent.
(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds in Dollars (except as expressly provided in this Section), to the Administrative Agent (or to the relevant Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of facility fees and participation fees, to the applicable Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
Section 2.13 Interest.
(a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (other than any Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate. Each Swingline Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum agreed upon between the Company and the relevant Swingline Lender (or, if such a rate per annum is not agreed upon between the Company and the relevant Swingline Lender in respect of a Swingline Loan, such Swingline Loan shall bear interest at (i) in the case of a Swingline Loan denominated in Dollars, the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for ABR Revolving Borrowings or (ii) in the case of a Swingline Loan denominated in euro or Pounds Sterling, the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR plus the Applicable Rate). The Loans comprising each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall bear interest at (i) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate and (ii) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in euro, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate. Each RFR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR plus the Applicable Rate.
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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee payable by any Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any interest or fee, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.
(c) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(d) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Daily Simple RFR with respect to Pounds Sterling or the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year). In each case interest shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All interest hereunder on any Loan shall be computed on a daily basis based upon the outstanding principal amount of such Loan as of the applicable date of determination. The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted EURIBO Rate, EURIBO Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple RFR or Daily Simple RFR shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.
(e) By entering into this Agreement, the parties have assumed in bona fide that the interest payable hereunder is not and will not become subject to any deduction or withholding of Taxes for Swiss Withholding Tax. Nevertheless, if a deduction or withholding of Taxes for Swiss Withholding Tax is required by Swiss law to be made by the Swiss Borrower in respect of any interest payable by it under a Loan Document then:
(i) the applicable interest rate in relation to that interest payment shall be
(A) the interest rate which would have applied to that interest payment (as provided for in this Section 2.13) in the absence of this paragraph (e), divided by
(B) one (1) minus the rate at which the relevant deduction or withholding of Taxes for Swiss Withholding Tax is required to be made (where the rate at which the relevant deduction or withholding of Taxes for Swiss Withholding Tax is required to be made is for this purpose expressed as a fraction of (1) rather than as percentage);
(ii) the Swiss Borrower shall: (i) pay the relevant interest at the adjusted rate in accordance with paragraph (a) above and (ii) make the deduction or withholding of Taxes for Swiss Withholding Tax on the interest so recalculated; and
(iii) all references to a rate of interest with respect to any Loan shall be construed accordingly.
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To the extent that interest payable by a Swiss Borrower under this Agreement becomes subject to Swiss Withholding Tax, each relevant Lender and each Swiss Borrower shall promptly cooperate by completing any procedural formalities (including submitting forms and documents required by the appropriate Tax authority) to the extent possible and necessary for that Swiss Borrower to obtain authorization to make interest payments without them being subject to Swiss Withholding Tax or to being subject to Swiss Withholding Tax at a rate reduced under applicable double taxation treaties.
In the event Swiss Withholding Tax is refunded to a Lender by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration, the relevant Lender shall forward, after deduction of any due payment to be made at the time of such refund by the relevant Swiss Borrower under this Agreement and costs, such amount to the relevant Swiss Borrower.
(f) The Swiss Borrower is not required to make an increased payment to a Lender under paragraph (e) above by reason of a deduction or withholding of Taxes for Swiss Withholding Tax due to a breach of the Swiss Non-Bank Rules (i) if such lender has made an incorrect declaration of its status as to whether or not it is a Swiss Qualifying Lender, (ii) has breached the assignment, transfer or exposure transfer restrictions pursuant to Section 9.04(b)(ii)(G) (Successors and Assigns), or (iii) has ceased to be a Swiss Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under this agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or double taxation treaty, or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority.
(g) Interest in respect of Loans denominated in Dollars shall be paid in Dollars, and interest in respect of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be paid in such Foreign Currency.
Section 2.14 Alternate Rate of Interest.
(a) Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this Section 2.14, if:
(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted EURIBO Rate (including because the Relevant Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis) for the applicable Agreed Loan Currency and such Interest Period or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for the applicable Agreed Loan Currency; or
(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted EURIBO Rate for the applicable Agreed Loan Currency and such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Loan Currency and for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for the applicable Agreed Loan Currency will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Loan Currency;
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then the Administrative Agent shall give notice (in reasonable detail) thereof to the Company and the Lenders of the applicable Class prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, by telephone, facsimile or email in accordance with Section 9.01 as promptly as practicable thereafter, and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Company and the Lenders of the applicable Class that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist (which notice shall be given by the Administrative Agent promptly after such circumstances cease to exist) with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the applicable Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, (A) for Loans denominated in Dollars, any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be an Interest Election Request or a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for (x) an RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is not also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings also is the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above and (B) for Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency, any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing or an RFR Borrowing, in each case, for the relevant Benchmark, shall be ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowing, then all other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan in any Agreed Loan Currency is outstanding on the date of the Company’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.14(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Company and the Lenders of the applicable Class that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist (which notice shall be given by the Administrative Agent promptly after such circumstances cease to exist) with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the applicable Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, (A) for Loans denominated in Dollars, any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan, be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is not also the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings also is the subject of Section 2.14(a)(i) or (ii) above, on such day and (B) for Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Foreign Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines reasonably and in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent demonstrable error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Foreign Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in such Foreign Currency shall, at the Company’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the applicable Borrower on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, such Term Benchmark Loan denominated in such Foreign Currency shall be deemed to be a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Dollars and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars at such time and (2) any RFR Loan shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Foreign Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines reasonably and in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent demonstrable error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Foreign Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected RFR Loans denominated in any Foreign Currency, at the Company’s election, shall either (A) be converted into ABR Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such Foreign Currency) immediately or (B) be prepaid in full immediately.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” with respect to Dollars for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark (including any related adjustments) for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” with respect to any Agreed Loan Currency for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark (including any related adjustments) for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders and the Company without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.
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(c) In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(d) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (e) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.14, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent demonstrable error and may be made in its or their sole reasonable good faith discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.14.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Rate or the EURIBO Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service commonly used in the banking industry for such purpose that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion and consistent with such selection generally under other substantially similar syndicated credit facilities for which it acts as the administrative agent or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.
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(f) Upon the Company’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period from the Administrative Agent and until a Benchmark Replacement becomes effective in accordance with this Section 2.14, the applicable Borrower may revoke any request for a (i) Term Benchmark Borrowing, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued or (ii) a RFR Borrowing or conversion to RFR Loans, during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, either (x) such Borrower will be deemed to have converted any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing, as applicable, denominated in Dollars into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to (A) solely with respect to any such request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, an RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) any request relating to a Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be ineffective. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Alternate Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Alternate Base Rate. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan in any Agreed Loan Currency is outstanding on the date of the Company’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement for such Agreed Loan Currency is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.14, (A) for Loans denominated in Dollars any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan, be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day and (B) for Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Foreign Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines reasonably and in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent demonstrable error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Foreign Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in any Foreign Currency shall, at the applicable Borrower’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by such Borrower on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, such Term Benchmark Loan denominated in any Foreign Currency shall be deemed to be a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Dollars and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars at such time and (2) any RFR Loan shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Foreign Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines reasonably and in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent demonstrable error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Foreign Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected RFR Loans denominated in any Foreign Currency, at the applicable Borrower’s election, shall either (A) be converted into ABR Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such Foreign Currency) immediately or (B) be prepaid in full immediately.
Section 2.15 Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted EURIBO Rate) or any Issuing Bank;
(ii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London or other applicable offshore interbank market for the applicable Agreed Currency any other condition affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or
(iii) subject the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of “Excluded Taxes” and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations of the type that such Lender has hereunder, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto
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and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank of making, continuing, converting or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or Issuing Bank hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise, then the applicable Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent, such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered as reasonably determined by such Lender or such Issuing Bank (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender or the applicable Issuing Bank under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.15 after consideration of such factors as such Lender or such Issuing Bank then reasonably determines to be relevant).
(b) If any Lender or Issuing Bank reasonably determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the applicable Borrower will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered as reasonably determined by such Lender or such Issuing Bank (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender or the applicable Issuing Bank under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.15 after consideration of such factors as such Lender or such Issuing Bank then reasonably determines to be relevant).
(c) A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth in reasonable detail the computation of the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Company contemporaneously with any demand for payment hereunder and shall be conclusive absent clearly demonstrable error. The Company shall pay, or cause the other Borrowers to pay, such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Company shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions if such Lender or such Issuing Bank fails to notify the Company within 90 days after it obtains actual knowledge (or, in the exercise of ordinary due diligence, should have obtained actual knowledge) and such Lender and such Issuing Bank shall only be entitled to receive such compensation for any losses incurred by it or amounts to which it would otherwise be entitled from and after the date 90 days prior to the date such Lender or such Issuing Bank provided notice thereof to the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s claim for compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 90-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
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Section 2.16 Break Funding Payments.
(a) With respect to Term Benchmark Loans, in the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (b) the conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Term Benchmark Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith), (d) the assignment of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 2.19 or 9.02(e) or (e) the failure by any Borrower to make any payment of any Loan (or interest due thereof) denominated in a Foreign Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency, then, in any such event, the relevant Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss (excluding loss of margin), cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth the computation in reasonable detail of any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the applicable Borrower contemporaneously with the demand for payment and shall be conclusive absent clearly demonstrable error. The applicable Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate free of clearly demonstrable error within 30 days after receipt thereof.
(b) With respect to RFR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (ii) the failure to borrow or prepay any RFR Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith), (iii) the assignment of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 2.19 or 9.02(e) or (iv) the failure by the applicable Borrower to make any payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereof) denominated in a Foreign Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency, then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth the computation in reasonable detail of any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the applicable Borrower contemporaneously with the demand for payment and shall be conclusive absent clearly demonstrable error. The applicable Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate free of clearly demonstrable error within 30 days after receipt thereof.
Section 2.17 Taxes.
(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the reasonable good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then, subject to Section 2.17(m) and without duplication, (i) the sum payable by the relevant Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings for Indemnified Taxes (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender, or any other recipient of such payments (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings in respect of Indemnified Taxes been made, (ii) such Loan Party shall make such deductions or withholdings and (iii) such Loan Party shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) In addition, each Borrower shall pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes related to such Borrower.
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(c) The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 30 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of such Borrower under any Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any interest and reasonable 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. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability together with a supporting document shall be delivered to the Company by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender contemporaneously with any demand for payment, and shall be conclusive absent clearly demonstrable error. This paragraph (c) shall not apply to the extent such Taxes would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Section 2.17(m)(i) but were not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions set forth in Section 2.17(m)(iii) applied.
(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a copy of a receipt issued, if available, by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) (i) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which a Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to such Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by such Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable such Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(e)(ii)(A) and (ii)(B) 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. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 2.17(e)(i) shall not apply to UK Treaty Lenders (to which the provisions of Section 2.17(m)(vi) shall apply).
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that any Borrower is a U.S. Person:
(A) any U.S. Lender shall deliver to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of such Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of such Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
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(2) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of such Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(5) for purposes of furnishing the U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate as described in the foregoing clauses (3) and (4), if a Foreign Lender (or a foreign Participant) is a Disregarded Entity, the Foreign Lender will submit such certificate based on the status of the Person that is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as being the sole owner of such Lender or Participant; and
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of such Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit such Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
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(f) If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrowers or with respect to which a Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall pay over such refund to such Borrower (but only to the extent of the indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such Lender or the Administrative Agent and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such Borrower, upon the request of such Lender or the Administrative Agent, shall repay to such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (f) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (f), in no event will a Lender or the Administrative Agent be required to pay any amount to a Borrower pursuant to this paragraph (f) the payment of which would place such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, in a less favorable net after-Tax position than it would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This Section 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 which it deems confidential) to any Borrower or any other Person.
(g) Each Lender shall severally indemnify (i) the Administrative Agent, within 30 days after demand therefor, for (A) any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so) and (B) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (ii) the Administrative Agent, within 30 days after demand therefor, for any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 2.17(g).
(h) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the 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 Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 2.17(h), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
(i) For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Effective Date, the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) this Agreement and the Loans as not qualifying as “grandfathered obligations” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i) or 1.1471-2T(b)(2)(i).
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(j) Each Lender, on or prior to the date it becomes a party hereto, shall inform the Parent whether it is an Irish Qualifying Lender by completing and providing to the Parent a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto (such certificate, an “Irish Qualifying Lender Confirmation”). Each Lender shall, upon reasonable written request from the Company or the Administrative Agent provide an updated Irish Qualifying Lender Confirmation. No Irish Borrower is required to make an increased payment in respect of any withholding tax for or on account of Irish Taxes pursuant to Section 2.17(a), if on the date on which the payment falls due: (i) the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a deduction for Irish Taxes if that Lender was an Irish Qualifying Lender, but on that date the Lender is not or has ceased to be an Irish Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any Change in Law after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement; or (ii) the relevant Lender is an Irish Treaty Lender and the Irish Borrower is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without withholding had that Lender co-operated in completing any procedural formalities necessary for the Irish Borrower to make the payment without withholding.
(k) The indemnity contained in Section 2.17(c) shall not apply to any loss, liability or cost in respect of Irish Taxes to the extent that it:
(i) is compensated for by an increased payment under Section 2.17(a); or
(ii) would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Section 2.17(a) but was not so compensated solely because the exclusion in Section 2.17(j) applied.
(l) Any Lender to which interest may be paid by the Irish Borrower free of withholding tax because such Lender falls within section 246(3)(h) of the Irish TCA shall, following a reasonable request in writing from the Irish Borrower (a) confirm its name, address and country of tax residence to the Irish Borrower for the purposes of complying with a reporting obligation under section 891A of the Irish TCA, and (b) provide the Irish Borrower with any information that is required for the Irish Borrower to comply with its obligations under Section 891E, 891F and 891G of the Irish TCA and any regulations made pursuant to those sections. Nothing in this Section 2.17(l) shall oblige a Lender to disclose any confidential information or computations in respect of Taxes or do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation, any fiduciary duty or any duty of confidentiality.
(m) United Kingdom Withholding Matters.
(i) If a UK Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by any Loan Party, the amount of the payment due from that Loan Party shall be increased to an amount which (after making any UK Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no UK Tax Deduction had been required.
(ii) The Company shall promptly upon becoming aware that a Loan Party must make a UK Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a UK Tax Deduction) notify the Administrative Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender or Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender or Issuing Bank. If the Administrative Agent receives such notification from a Lender or Issuing Bank it shall promptly notify the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, any failure by a Lender or Issuing Bank to comply with this Section 2.17(m)(ii) shall not limit or otherwise affect any of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s rights under any Loan Document or any obligation of a Loan Party under any Loan Document.
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(iii) In the case of a Lender advancing a Loan to a UK Borrower, a payment by a UK Borrower shall not be increased pursuant to Section 2.17(a) or Section 2.17(m)(i) by reason of a UK Tax Deduction on interest if on the date on which the payment falls due (A) the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a UK Tax Deduction if the Lender had been a UK Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a UK Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or UK Treaty, or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority or (B) the relevant Lender is a UK Treaty Lender and the UK Borrower making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the UK Tax Deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under Section 2.17(m)(vi) or Section 2.17(m)(vii), as applicable, or (C) the relevant Lender is a UK Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of clause (a)(ii) of the definition of “UK Qualifying Lender” and (x) an officer of H.M. Revenue & Customs has given (and not revoked) a direction (a “Direction”) under section 931 of the UK ITA 2007 which relates to the payment and that Lender has received from the Borrower making the payment a certified copy of that Direction and (y) the payment could have been made to the Lender without any UK Tax Deduction if that Direction had not been made, or (D) the relevant Lender is a UK Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of clause (a)(ii) of the definition of “UK Qualifying Lender” and (x) the relevant Lender has not given a UK Tax Confirmation to the relevant UK Borrower or the Company and (y) the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without any UK Tax Deduction if the Lender had given a UK Tax Confirmation to the relevant UK Borrower or the Company, on the basis that the UK Tax Confirmation would have enabled the UK Borrower to have formed a reasonable belief that the payment was an “excepted payment” for the purpose of section 930 of the UK ITA 2007.
(iv) Within thirty days of making either a UK Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that UK Tax Deduction the Loan Party making that UK Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Administrative Agent for the Recipient entitled to the payment a statement under section 975 of the UK ITA 2007 or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to such Recipient that the UK Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to HM Revenue & Customs.
(v) If a Loan Party is required to make a UK Tax Deduction, that Loan Party shall make that UK Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that UK Tax Deduction within the time allowed and the minimum amount required by law.
(vi) In the case of a Lender advancing a Loan to a UK Borrower:
(A) Subject to (B) below, each UK Treaty Lender and each Loan Party which makes a payment to which that UK Treaty Lender is entitled shall cooperate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for such Loan Party to obtain authorization to make such payment without a UK Tax Deduction.
(B) (1) A UK Treaty Lender which becomes a party to this Agreement (a “Party”) on the day on which this Agreement (or any amendment hereto) is entered into that (x) holds a passport under the HM Revenue & Customs DT Treaty Passport scheme and (y) wishes such scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall confirm its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence on its signature page to this Agreement (or any amendment hereto) or otherwise in writing to the Company; and
(2) a Lender which becomes a Lender hereunder after the day on which this Agreement (or any amendment hereto) is entered into that (x) holds a passport under the HM Revenue & Customs DT Treaty Passport scheme and (y) wishes such scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall provide its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in the Assignment and Assumption, Increasing Lender Supplement or Augmenting Lender Supplement, as the case may be, or otherwise in writing to the Company;
and having done so, that Lender shall not be under any obligation pursuant to paragraph (A) above.
(C) Upon satisfying either paragraph (A), (B)(1) or (B)(2) above, such Lender shall have satisfied its obligations under Section 2.17(e)(i) (in respect of a UK Tax Deduction).
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(vii) If a UK Treaty Lender has confirmed its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with Section 2.17(m)(vi)(B) above, the UK Borrower(s) making payments to that UK Treaty Lender shall make a UK Borrower DTTP filing with respect to such Lender, and shall promptly provide such Lender with a copy of such filing; provided that, if a UK Borrower making a payment to that UK Treaty Lender has made a UK Borrower DTTP Filing in respect of that UK Treaty Lender but:
(A) such UK Borrower DTTP Filing has been rejected by HM Revenue & Customs; or
(B) HM Revenue & Customs has not given such UK Borrower authority to make payments to such Lender without a UK Tax Deduction within 60 days of the date of such UK Borrower DTTP Filing;
and in each case, such UK Borrower has notified that UK Treaty Lender in writing of either (A) or (B) above, then such UK Treaty Lender and such UK Borrower shall co-operate in completing any additional procedural formalities necessary for such UK Borrower to obtain authorization to make that payment without a UK Tax Deduction.
(viii) If a Lender has not confirmed its scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with Section 2.17(m)(vi)(B) above, no Loan Party shall make a UK Borrower DTTP Filing or file any other form relating to the HM Revenue & Customs DT Treaty Passport scheme in respect of that Lender’s Commitment(s) or its participation in any Loan unless the Lender otherwise agrees.
(ix) Each Lender which becomes a Party after the date of this Agreement (a “New Lender”) shall indicate in the relevant Assignment and Assumption, Increasing Lender Supplement or Augmenting Lender Supplement (as applicable) which it executes on becoming a Party, and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and without liability to any Loan Party, which of the following categories it falls in: (i) not a UK Qualifying Lender; (ii) a UK Qualifying Lender (other than a UK Treaty Lender); or (iii) a UK Treaty Lender, and if the New Lender fails to indicate its status in accordance with this Section 2.17(m)(ix) then such New Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement (including by each Loan Party) as if it is not a UK Qualifying Lender until such time as it notifies the Administrative Agent which category applies (and the Administrative Agent, upon receipt of such notification, shall inform the relevant UK Borrower). For the avoidance of doubt, an Assignment and Assumption, Increasing Lender Supplement or Augmenting Lender Supplement shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this Section 2.17(m)(ix).
(x) Each UK Borrower shall pay and, within three (3) Business Days of demand, indemnify each Recipient against any cost, loss or liability that Recipient incurs in relation to all United Kingdom stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Loan Document.
(n) VAT.
(i) All amounts set out or expressed in a Loan Document to be payable by any Party to any Recipient which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for any supply or supplies for VAT purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to Section 2.17(n)(ii) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Recipient to any Party under a Loan Document and such Recipient is required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, that Party shall pay to such Recipient, as applicable, (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT (and such Recipient, as applicable, shall promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to such Party).
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(ii) If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Recipient (the “Supplier”) to any other Recipient (the “VAT Recipient”) under a Loan Document, and any Party other than the VAT Recipient (the “Subject Party”) is required by the terms of any Loan Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for such supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse the VAT Recipient in respect of that consideration):
(A) where the Supplier is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, the Subject Party shall also pay to the Supplier (in addition to and at the same time as paying such amount) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT. The VAT Recipient will, where this Section 2.17(n)(ii)(A) applies, promptly pay to the Subject Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment obtained by the VAT Recipient from the relevant tax authority which the VAT Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and
(B) where the VAT Recipient is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, the Subject Party shall promptly, following demand from the VAT Recipient, pay to the VAT Recipient an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply but only to the extent that the VAT Recipient reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of that VAT.
(iii) Where a Loan Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Recipient for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Recipient for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that the Recipient reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.
(iv) Any reference in this Section 2.17(n) to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is treated as a member of a group or unity (or fiscal unity) for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the person who is treated at that time as making the supply, or (as appropriate) receiving the supply, under the grouping rules (provided for in Article 11 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC (or as implemented by the relevant member state of the European Union) or any other similar provision in any jurisdiction which is not a member state of the European Union) so that a reference to a Party shall be construed as a reference to that Party or the relevant group or unity (or fiscal unity) of which that Party is a member for VAT purposes at the relevant time or the relevant representative member (or head) of that group or unity (or fiscal unity) at the relevant time (as the case may be).
(o) In relation to any supply made by a Recipient to any Party under a Loan Document, if reasonably requested by such Recipient, that Party must promptly provide details of its VAT registration and such other information as is reasonably requested in connection with such Recipient’s VAT reporting requirements in relation to such supply.
(p) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
(q) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.
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Section 2.18 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.
(a) Each Borrower shall make each payment or prepayment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to (i) in the case of payments denominated in Dollars, 1:00 p.m., Chicago time and (ii) in the case of payments denominated in a Foreign Currency, 1:00 p.m., Local Time, in the city of the Administrative Agent’s Foreign Currency Payment Office for such currency, in each case on the date when due or the date fixed for any prepayment hereunder, in immediately available funds, without set-off, recoupment or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made (i) in the same currency in which the applicable Credit Event was made (or where such currency has been converted to euro, in euro) and (ii) to the Administrative Agent at its applicable office or offices as described in an Administrative Questionnaire provided by the Administrative Agent to the Company from time to time, except payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank or a Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments denominated in the same currency received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if, after the making of any Credit Event in any Foreign Currency, currency control or exchange regulations are imposed in the country which issues such currency with the result that the type of currency in which the Credit Event was made (the “Original Currency”) no longer exists or any Borrower is not able to make payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders in such Original Currency, then all payments to be made by such Borrower hereunder in such currency shall instead be made when due in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount (as of the date of repayment) of such payment due, it being the intention of the parties hereto that the Borrowers take all risks of the imposition of any such currency control or exchange regulations.
(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.
(c) If, except as expressly provided herein, any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other similarly situated Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by all such Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by any Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph 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 set-off 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.
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(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the relevant Borrower prior to the date on which any payment or prepayment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or an Issuing Bank 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 applicable Lenders or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the applicable Lenders or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the applicable Overnight Rate.
(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lenders or the Issuing Banks to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive control as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section; in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion; it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent permitted by law, apply any cash collateral to such obligations when due.
Section 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if any Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.13(e) or Section 2.17 (other than amounts in respect of Other Taxes or VAT), then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.13(e), 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender. The Company hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
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(b) If (i) any Lender (or any of its Participants) requests compensation under Section 2.15, (ii) any Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender (or any of its Participants) or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender (or any of its Participants) pursuant to Section 2.13(e) or Section 2.17, (iii) any Lender (A) or its Lender Parent has become the subject of a Bail-In Action (or any case or other proceeding in which a Bail-In Action may occur), (B) or its Lender Parent (x) is rated lower than BBB- by S&P (or an applicable Affiliate thereof) and lower than Baa3 by Moody’s (or an applicable Affiliate thereof) or (y) has no credit (or similar) rating in effect by at least one such organization, (C) is or becomes a Defaulting Lender, a Disqualified Institution or a Swiss Non-Qualifying Lender (but only if such cessation will otherwise cause a breach of the Swiss Ten Non-Bank Rule or the Swiss Twenty Non-Bank Rule) or (D) rejects the designation of an Agreed Currency or of a Foreign Subsidiary as an Eligible Subsidiary if, in each case, such Agreed Currency or designation of a Foreign Subsidiary as an Eligible Subsidiary has otherwise been approved by the Required Lenders, (iv) any Lender shall determine that any law, regulation or treaty or directive, or any change therein or in the interpretation or application thereof, shall make it unlawful for such Lender to make or maintain any Term Benchmark Loans as contemplated by this Agreement, (v) any Lender shall enter into, or purport to enter into, any assignment or participation with a Disqualified Institution in violation of this Agreement or (vi) any Lender that is a Swingline Lender or an Issuing Bank shall (A) resign in its capacity as such, (B) fail to promptly approve the assignment of a Commitment that the Administrative Agent has approved as contemplated by clause (i) of the proviso below or (C) fail to promptly approve a New Lender that the Administrative Agent has approved in the case of an increase in the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.20, 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 Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under the Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) such Lender is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (and if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lenders) and (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company (in the case of all other amounts). Each party hereto agrees that (1) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (2) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if a Lender has become the subject of a Bail-In Action (or any case or other proceeding in which a Bail-In Action may occur) (each, a “Bail-In Lender”), then the Company may terminate such Bail-In Lender’s Commitment hereunder, provided that (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such Commitment termination, (B) in the case of a Bail-In Lender, the Company shall concurrently terminate the Commitment of each other Lender that is a Bail-In Lender at such time, (C) the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall have consented to each such Commitment termination (such consents not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, but may include consideration of the adequacy of the liquidity of the Company and its Subsidiaries) and (D) such Bail-In Lender shall have been paid all amounts then due to it under this Agreement and each other Loan Document (which, for the avoidance of doubt, the respective Borrowers may pay in connection with any such termination without making ratable payments to any other Lender (other than another Lender that has a Commitment that concurrently is being terminated under this Section 2.19(b))).
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Section 2.20 Expansion Option. The Company may from time to time elect to increase the Revolving Commitments or enter into one or more tranches of term loans (each an “Incremental Term Loan”), in each case in a minimum amount of $25,000,000 and minimum increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, so long as, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of such increases and all such Incremental Term Loans does not exceed $300,000,000. The Company may arrange for any such increase or tranche to be provided by one or more Lenders (each Lender so agreeing to an increase in its Revolving Commitment, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, an “Increasing Lender”), or by one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an “Augmenting Lender”; provided that no Ineligible Institution may be an Augmenting Lender), which agree to increase their existing Revolving Commitments, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, or provide new Revolving Commitments, as the case may be; provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender shall be subject to the approval of the Company, the Administrative Agent, and in the case of an increase in the Revolving Commitments, each Issuing Bank and each Swingline Lender (each such consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Lender, the Company and such Increasing Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 hereto, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Lender, the Company and such Augmenting Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 hereto. No consent of any Lender (other than the Lenders participating in the increase or any Incremental Term Loan) shall be required for any increase in Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Loan pursuant to this Section 2.20. Increases and new Revolving Commitments and Incremental Term Loans created pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall become effective on the date agreed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and the relevant Increasing Lenders or Augmenting Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Revolving Commitments (or in the Revolving Commitment of any Lender) or tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall become effective under this paragraph unless, (i) on the proposed date of the effectiveness of such increase or Incremental Term Loans, (A) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer of the Company and (B) the Company shall be in compliance (on a pro forma basis) with the covenants contained in Sections 6.01 and 6.02 and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received (x) documents and opinions consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date as to the organizational power and authority of the Borrowers to borrow hereunder after giving effect to such increase or Incremental Term Loans, as the case may be and (y) a reaffirmation from the Parent; provided that, with respect to any Incremental Term Loans incurred for the purpose of financing an acquisition for which the Company has determined, in good faith, that limited conditionality is reasonably necessary (any such acquisition, a “Limited Conditionality Acquisition” and such Incremental Term Loans, “Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans”), (x) clause (i)(A) of this sentence shall be deemed to have been satisfied so long as (1) as of the date of execution of the definitive acquisition documentation in respect of a Limited Conditionality Acquisition (a “Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement”) by the parties thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from entry into such documentation, (2) as of the date of the borrowing of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, no Event of Default under clause (a), (f), (g) or (h) of Article VII is in existence immediately before or immediately after giving effect (including on a pro forma basis) to such borrowing and to any concurrent transactions and any substantially concurrent use of proceeds thereof, (3) the representations and warranties set forth in Article III shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date of execution of the applicable Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement by the parties thereto, except to the extent any such representation and warranty specifically refers to an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date and (4) as of the date of the borrowing of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, customary “Sungard” representations and warranties (with such representations and warranties to be reasonably determined by the Lenders providing such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans) shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects) immediately prior to, and immediately after giving effect to, the incurrence of such Acquisition-Related Incremental Term Loans, except to the extent any such representation and warranty specifically refers to an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date and (y) clause (i)(B) of this sentence shall be deemed to have been satisfied so long as the Parent shall be in compliance (on a pro forma basis) with the covenants contained in Sections 6.01 and 6.02 as of the date of execution of the related Limited Conditionality Acquisition Agreement by the parties thereto. On the effective date of any increase in the Revolving Commitments or any Incremental Term Loans being made, (i) each relevant Increasing Lender and Augmenting Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lender’s portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Lenders to equal its Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) the Borrowers shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase in the Revolving Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower, in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03). The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, in respect of each Term Benchmark Loan, shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrowers pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. The Incremental Term Loans (a) shall rank pari passu in right of payment with the Revolving Loans and the initial Term Loans, (b) shall not mature earlier than the latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans (but may have amortization prior to such date) and (c) shall be treated substantially the same as (and in any event no more favorably than) the Revolving Loans and the initial Term Loans; provided that (i) the terms and conditions applicable to any tranche of Incremental Term Loans maturing after the latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans may provide for material additional or different financial or other covenants or prepayment requirements applicable only during periods after the latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans and (ii) the Incremental Term Loans may be priced differently than the Revolving Loans and the initial Term Loans. Incremental Term Loans may be made hereunder pursuant to an amendment or restatement (an “Incremental Term Loan Amendment”) of this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrowers, each Increasing Lender participating in such tranche, each Augmenting Lender participating in such tranche, if any, and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Term Loan Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20. Nothing contained in this Section 2.20 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to increase its Revolving Commitment hereunder, or provide Incremental Term Loans, at any time.
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Section 2.21 Market Disruption. Notwithstanding the satisfaction of all conditions referred to in Article II and Article IV with respect to any Credit Event to be effected in any Foreign Currency, if (i) there shall occur on or prior to the date of such Credit Event any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which would in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, the relevant Issuing Bank (if such Credit Event is a Letter of Credit) or the Required Lenders make it impracticable for the Term Benchmark Borrowings or Letters of Credit comprising such Credit Event to be denominated in the Agreed Currency specified by the applicable Borrower or (ii) a Dollar Amount of such currency is not readily calculable, then the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to such Borrower, the Lenders and, if such Credit Event is a Letter of Credit, the relevant Issuing Bank, and such Credit Events shall not be denominated in such Agreed Currency but shall, except as otherwise set forth in Section 2.07, be made on the date of such Credit Event in Dollars, (a) if such Credit Event is a Borrowing, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related request for a Credit Event or Interest Election Request, as the case may be, as ABR Loans, unless such Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent prior to the occurrence of such Credit Event that (i) it elects not to borrow on such date or (ii) it elects to borrow on such date in a different Agreed Currency, as the case may be, in which the denomination of such Loans would in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders be practicable and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related request for a Credit Event or Interest Election Request, as the case may be or (b) if such Credit Event is a Letter of Credit, in a face amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the face amount specified in the related request or application for such Letter of Credit, unless such Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent prior to the occurrence of such Credit Event that (i) it elects not to request the issuance of such Letter of Credit on such date or (ii) it elects to have such Letter of Credit issued on such date in a different Agreed Currency, as the case may be, in which the denomination of such Letter of Credit would in the reasonable opinion of the Issuing Bank which has issued such Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders be practicable and in face amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the face amount specified in the related request or application for such Letter of Credit, as the case may be.
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Section 2.22 Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from any Borrower hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the “specified currency”) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the specified currency with such other currency at the Administrative Agent’s main New York City office on the Business Day preceding that on which final, non-appealable judgment is given. The obligations of each Borrower in respect of any sum due to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) may in accordance with normal, reasonable banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such other currency. If the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in the specified currency, each Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, against such loss, and if the amount of the specified currency so purchased exceeds (a) the sum originally due to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in the specified currency and (b) any amounts shared with other Lenders as a result of allocations of such excess as a disproportionate payment to such Lender under Section 2.18, such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, agrees to remit such excess to such Borrower.
Section 2.23 Designation of Affiliate Borrowers. On the Effective Date, and subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions in Article IV hereto, the Initial Affiliate Borrower shall be an Affiliate Borrower hereunder until the Company shall have executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent an Affiliate Borrowing Termination with respect to the Initial Affiliate Borrower and complied with the terms and conditions of Section 5.10, whereupon the Initial Affiliate Borrower shall cease to be an Affiliate Borrower hereunder. After the Effective Date, the Company may at any time and from time to time designate any Eligible Subsidiary as an Affiliate Borrower by delivery to the Administrative Agent of an Affiliate Borrowing Agreement executed by such Subsidiary and the Company and the satisfaction of the other conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.03, and upon such delivery and satisfaction such Subsidiary shall for all purposes of this Agreement be an Affiliate Borrower and a party to this Agreement until the Company shall have executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent an Affiliate Borrowing Termination with respect to such Subsidiary, whereupon such Subsidiary shall cease to be an Affiliate Borrower and a party to this Agreement. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, no Affiliate Borrowing Termination will become effective as to any Affiliate Borrower at a time when any principal of or interest on any Loan to such Borrower shall be outstanding hereunder, provided that such Affiliate Borrowing Termination shall be effective to terminate the right of such Affiliate Borrower to make further Borrowings under this Agreement. As soon as practicable upon receipt of an Affiliate Borrowing Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall furnish a copy thereof to each Lender. It is understood and agreed that HSHI may be terminated as a Primary Borrower (and as a Borrower) hereunder on terms, conditions and documentation substantially similar to those in respect of the termination of an Affiliate Borrower as set forth in this Section 2.23, all as mutually agreed upon by the Company, HSHI and the Administrative Agent.
Section 2.24 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);
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(b) any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (but as promptly as commercially practicable) as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Company may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Revolving Lenders, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Revolving Lender, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lenders against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to any Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by such Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Revolving Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Revolving Lender irrevocably consents hereto;
(c) the Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, this clause (c) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i) all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender (other than the portion of such Swingline Exposure referred to in clause (b) of the definition of such term) shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Commitments;
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(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Banks only the Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;
(iii) if the Company Cash Collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is Cash Collateralized;
(iv) if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; and
(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor Cash Collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of any Issuing Bank or any other Lender hereunder, all facility fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (solely with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment that was utilized by such LC Exposure) and letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Banks until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or Cash Collateralized; and
(e) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lenders shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Banks shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Revolving Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Company in accordance with Section 2.24(d), and participating interests in any such newly made Swingline Loan or any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.24(d)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).
If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or a Bail-In Action with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) any Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, no Swingline Lender shall be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Company or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Company, each Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
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Section 2.25 Extension of Maturity Date.
(a) Requests for Extension. The Company may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the applicable Class of Lenders) during the Extension Availability Period, request that each applicable Lender extend such Lender’s Revolving Credit Maturity Date or Term Loan Maturity Date, as the case may be (the “Applicable Maturity Date”), to a date (the “Extended Maturity Date”) that does not cause the tenor of any Lender’s Revolving Commitment or any Lender’s outstanding Term Loans to exceed five (5) years from the date upon which the conditions precedent to the effectiveness of such extension of the Applicable Maturity Date set forth in clause (f) below have been satisfied (an “Extension Date”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Company may request extensions of any Class without requesting an extension of the other Class.
(b) Lender Elections to Extend. Each Lender of the applicable Class, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall be irrevocable unless the Company otherwise consents in writing in its sole discretion) given not later than the date that is 15 days after the date on which the Administrative Agent received the Company’s extension request (the “Lender Notice Date”), advise the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension (each Lender of the applicable Class that determines to so extend its Applicable Maturity Date, an “Extending Lender”). Each Lender of the applicable Class that determines not to so extend its Applicable Maturity Date (a “Non-Extending Lender”) shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Lender Notice Date), and any Lender of the applicable Class that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or before the Lender Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender. The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree, and it is understood and agreed that no Lender shall have any obligation whatsoever to agree to any request made by the Company for extension of the Applicable Maturity Date.
(c) Notification by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company of each applicable Lender’s determination under this Section promptly after the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof and, in any event, no later than the date that is 15 days prior to the applicable Extension Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day).
(d) Additional Commitment Lenders. The Company shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, on or before the Applicable Maturity Date for any Non-Extending Lender to replace such Non-Extending Lender with, and add as a “Revolving Lender” (in the case of any extension of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date) or as a “Term Lender” (in the case of any extension of the Term Loan Maturity Date) under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more financial institutions that are not Ineligible Institutions (each, an “Additional Commitment Lender”) approved by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an Additional Commitment Lender assuming a new or additional Revolving Commitment, the Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lenders and Administrative Agent (in each case, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) in accordance with the procedures provided in Section 2.19(b), each of which applicable Additional Commitment Lenders shall have entered into an Assignment and Assumption (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04, with the Company or replacement Lender obligated to pay any applicable processing or recordation fee) with such Non-Extending Lender, pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lenders shall, effective on or before the Applicable Maturity Date for such Non-Extending Lender, assume a Revolving Commitment and/or Term Loans, as the case may be (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Lender of the applicable Class, its Revolving Commitment and/or its outstanding Term Loans, as applicable, so assumed shall be in addition to such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and/or its outstanding Term Loans, as applicable, hereunder on such date). Prior to any Non-Extending Lender being replaced by one or more Additional Commitment Lenders pursuant hereto, such Non-Extending Lender may elect, in its sole discretion, by giving irrevocable notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Company (which notice shall set forth such Lender’s new Applicable Maturity Date), to become an Extending Lender, provided that the Company consents thereto in writing in its sole discretion. The Administrative Agent may effect such amendments to this Agreement as are reasonably necessary to provide for any such extensions with the consent of the Company but without the consent of any other Lenders.
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(e) Minimum Extension Requirement. If (and only if) the total of the applicable Revolving Commitments or the applicable outstanding Term Loans of the Lenders of the applicable Class that have agreed to extend their Applicable Maturity Date and the new or increased Revolving Commitments or the applicable newly assumed outstanding Term Loans of any Additional Commitment Lenders is more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments or the applicable outstanding Term Loans, as applicable, in effect immediately prior to the applicable Extension Date, then, effective as of the applicable Extension Date, the Applicable Maturity Date of each Extending Lender and of each Additional Commitment Lender of the applicable Class shall be extended to the Extended Maturity Date (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such Applicable Maturity Date as so extended shall be the next preceding Business Day) and each Additional Commitment Lender of such Class shall thereupon become a “Revolving Lender”, and/or a “Term Lender”, as the case may be, for all purposes of this Agreement and shall be bound by the provisions of this Agreement as a Revolving Lender and/or Term Lender, as the case may be, hereunder and shall have the obligations of a Revolving Lender and/or a Term Lender, as the case may be, hereunder.
(f) Conditions to Effectiveness of Extension. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) no more than two (2) extensions of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and no more than two (2) extensions of the Term Loan Maturity Date shall be permitted hereunder and (y) any extension of any Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.25 shall not be effective with respect to any Extending Lender and each Additional Commitment Lender unless:
(i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the applicable Extension Date and immediately after giving effect thereto;
(ii) the representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in this Agreement (other than the representations contained in Sections 3.04(b) and 3.05) shall be true and correct in all material respects (provided that any representation or warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the applicable Extension Date (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date); and
(iii) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the Company signed by a Financial Officer of the Company (A) certifying the accuracy of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) and (B) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by each Borrower approving or consenting to such extension.
(g) Maturity Date for Non-Extending Lenders. On the Applicable Maturity Date of each Non-Extending Lender, (i) to the extent of the Revolving Commitments and Term Loans of each Non-Extending Lender of the relevant Class not assigned to the Additional Commitment Lenders of such Class, the Revolving Commitment of each Non-Extending Lender of such Class shall automatically terminate and (ii) the Company shall repay such Non-Extending Lender of such Class in accordance with Section 2.10 (and shall pay to such Non-Extending Lender all of the other Obligations due and owing to it under this Agreement) and after giving effect thereto shall prepay any Loans of the applicable Class outstanding on such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.16) to the extent necessary to keep outstanding Loans of the applicable Class ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages of the respective Lenders of such Class effective as of such date, and the Administrative Agent shall administer any necessary reallocation of the applicable Credit Exposures (without regard to any minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and/or pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement).
(h) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.18 or Section 9.02 to the contrary.
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Article III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each Loan Party, as applicable, represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, on the Effective Date and to the extent contemplated by Section 4.02, that:
Section 3.01 Corporate Existence and Power. Subject to transactions permitted under Section 6.04, such Loan Party is validly existing and, to the extent such concept is relevant in the applicable jurisdiction, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and, except to the extent that the failure to have the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, such Loan Party has all organizational powers and all material Governmental Authority licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.
Section 3.02 Corporate and Governmental Authorization; Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement are within their respective corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority (other than informational filings with the SEC or any similar Governmental Authority) and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of the Organizational Documents of any Loan Party or of any material agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other material instrument binding upon any Loan Party or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than under the Loan Documents) on any asset of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including any Borrower).
Section 3.03 Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each Loan Party enforceable against the applicable Loan Parties in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter affecting creditors’ rights generally, any mandatory applicable provisions of Luxembourg law of general application and general principles of equity.
Section 3.04 Financial Information.
(a) The audited combined balance sheet of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at December 31, 2024 and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP fairly present in all material respects, in conformity with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year.
(b) No change, occurrence or development has occurred since December 31, 2024 in respect of the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that has had a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.05 Litigation, etc. There is no action, suit or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened in writing against the Parent or any Subsidiary before any Governmental Authority or arbitrator (a) in which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse decision that could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the business, consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (b) that in any manner questions the validity of this Agreement or the financing contemplated hereby.
Section 3.06 ERISA Compliance. Each of the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate has fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each applicable Plan and is in compliance with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, and has not incurred any liability to the PBGC or a Plan under Title IV of ERISA (other than premiums which have been timely paid or for which an extension of the time for payment has been granted), other than failures to fund or comply or the incurrence of liabilities to the PBGC or any Plan that would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 3.07 Taxes. The Parent and each of its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal income tax returns, and all other material federal, foreign, state and local income, excise and other material tax returns, which are required to be filed by them and have paid or made provision for the payment of all United States federal and material foreign, state and other taxes which have become due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment in respect thereof received by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except (a) for the payment of taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided or (b) where the failure to so file or pay could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Under the laws of Luxembourg it is not necessary that the Loan Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority or that any stamp, registration or similar Taxes be paid on or in relation to the Loan Documents, except (i) where the Loan Documents are physically attached (annexé(s)) to a public deed or to any other document subject to mandatory registration, in which case either a nominal registration duty or an ad valorem duty (of, for instance, 0.24 per cent. of the amount of the payment obligation mentioned in the document so registered) will be payable depending on the nature of the document to be registered, and (ii) in the case of voluntary registration of the Loan Documents.
Section 3.08 Not an Investment Company. Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary thereof is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Section 3.09 Environmental Matters. The Parent conducts in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and existing Environmental Claims on the business, operations and properties of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, and as a result thereof the Parent has reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and Environmental Claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 3.10 Use of Proceeds. The Borrowers will use the proceeds of the Credit Events solely for the purposes described in Section 5.02 and will not use the proceeds of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans in contravention of Section 5.02 or Section 6.06(a).
Section 3.11 Disclosure. No written report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party 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 information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading when taken as a whole; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, such Loan Party represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood and agreed that projected financial information is simply an estimate, and there is no guarantee that projected results will in fact be achieved and it being further understood and agreed that any representation made pursuant to this Section 3.11 in respect of information provided with respect to any entity or assets acquired or to be acquired by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, for all periods prior to the date of the consummation of such acquisition is being made to the knowledge of the Parent). As of the Effective Date, to the best knowledge of the Parent, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all material respects.
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Section 3.12 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions.
(a) Each of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and, to its Knowledge, its controlled affiliated companies and their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents are conducting their business in compliance in all material respects with Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws in all material respects.
(b) None of the Parent or its Subsidiaries or, to its Knowledge, their respective directors, officers, employees or agents acting in any capacity in connection with, or directly benefiting from, the Credit Events:
(i) is a Designated Person;
(ii) is a Person that is 50% or greater owned or controlled by a Designated Person or by a Sanctioned Country;
(iii) is incorporated, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, in violation of Sanctions; or
(iv) is (or, except as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date, has, to the Parent’s Knowledge, within the year preceding the Effective Date) directly or, to the Parent’s Knowledge, indirectly engaged in, any dealings or transactions, in each case in violation of any Sanctions, (1) with any Designated Person or (2) in any Sanctioned Country to the extent that after giving effect to such dealings or transactions the Parent and its Subsidiaries have more than 5% of their consolidated assets in Sanctioned Countries or derive more than 5% of their consolidated revenues from investments in, or transactions with, Sanctioned Countries.
The foregoing representations in this Section 3.12 will not apply to any party hereto to which (i) Council Regulation (EC) 2271/96 (the “Blocking Regulation”) applies, (or any law or regulation, including without limitation Section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Regulation (Außenwirtschaftsverordnung), implementing such Blocking Regulation in any member state of the European Union) (the “Blocking Law”), or (ii) the UK Protection of Trading Interests Legislation (“UKPTIL”) applies, if and to the extent that such representations are or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that party pursuant to, or would otherwise result in a breach and/or violation of any provision of, the Blocking Law or the UKPTIL, as applicable.
Section 3.13 Domiciliation; Centre of Main Interests. In the case of a Loan Party organized under the laws of Luxembourg, the head office (administration centrale) and the place of effective management (siège de direction effective) are located at the place of its registered office (siège statutaire) in Luxembourg and, for the purposes of the Insolvency Regulation, the centre of main interests (centre des intérêts principaux) is located at the place of its registered office (siège statutaire) in Luxembourg. Each UK Loan Party incorporated or organized in an EU jurisdiction represents and warrants to the Lenders that its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) is in its jurisdiction of incorporation and it has no establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction. Each UK Loan Party incorporated in England and Wales represents and warrants to the Lenders that its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation as it has effect in the laws of the United Kingdom) is in England and Wales and it has no establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the of the Insolvency Regulation as it has effect in the laws of the United Kingdom) in any other jurisdiction. The Irish Guarantor represents and warrants to the Lenders that (i) as at the Effective Date its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) is in England and Wales and it has no establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction, and (ii) for the purposes of Section 4.02 its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) will be in either England and Wales or Ireland and it will have no establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction. Each Irish Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) is in Ireland and it has no establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction.
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Section 3.14 Swiss Non-Bank Rules. Each Swiss Loan Party is in compliance with the Swiss Non-Bank Rules. For the purposes of this Section 3.14, (a) each Swiss Loan Party shall assume that the aggregate number of Lenders under this Agreement which are Swiss Non-Qualifying Lenders is five (5), and (b) no Default or Event of Default with respect to this Section 3.14 shall be deemed to exist due to any inaccuracy of the representation and warranty contained herein that arises from (i) an inaccurate representation and warranty by a Lender pursuant to Section 9.17, (ii) any assignment or participation by a Lender to a Person that is a Swiss Non-Qualifying Lender without the consent of the Company or (iii) any Lender ceasing to be a Swiss Qualifying Lender so long as commencing promptly after the Company obtains Knowledge of such event, the Company and each Swiss Loan Party take all reasonable steps to cause each Swiss Loan Party to be in compliance with the Swiss Non-Bank Rules.
Section 3.15 Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.
Section 3.16 Irish Loan Party. The entry into by any Irish Loan Party of this Agreement and the performance by any Irish Loan Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and the obligations incurred hereunder does not constitute the provision of financial assistance within the meaning of Section 82 of the Irish Companies Act. The prohibition contained in Section 239 of the Irish Companies Act does not apply to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby by reason of the fact that each Irish Loan Party and each other company whose liabilities are hereby guaranteed are members of a group of companies consisting of a holding company and its subsidiaries for the purposes of Section 243 of the Irish Companies Act.
Section 3.17 Tax Residence. Each Loan Party (other than the Parent) represents that it is resident for Tax purposes only in its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Parent represents that it is resident for Tax purposes only in Ireland or the United Kingdom.
Section 3.18 Outbound Investment Rules. Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “covered foreign person” as that term is used in the Outbound Investment Rules. Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries currently engages, or has any present intention to engage in the future, directly or indirectly, in (i) a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules or (ii) any activity or transaction that would constitute a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, if the Parent were a U.S. Person.
Section 3.19 Solvency. As of the Velocity Closing Date, and immediately after the consummation of the Velocity Transactions on the Velocity Closing Date and immediately following the incurrence of the indebtedness under and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans on the Velocity Closing Date, that, with respect to the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, (a) the sum of the liabilities of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will not exceed the present fair saleable value of the assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; (b) the capital of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will not be unreasonably small in relation to the business of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, conducted on the Velocity Closing Date and (c) the Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will not have incurred, and do not believe that they will incur, debts beyond the ability of the Parent and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) to pay such debts as they mature. For the purposes of this Section 3.19, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
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Article IV.
Conditions
Section 4.01 Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party (which, subject to Section 9.06, may include any Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf, or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page).
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Foley & Lardner LLP, special counsel for the Loan Parties, (ii) Arthur Cox, special Irish counsel for the Loan Parties, and (iii) Allen Overy Shearman Sterling, Société en Commandite Simple, inscrite au barreau de Luxembourg, special Luxembourg counsel for the Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibits B-1, B-2 and B-3, respectively, and covering such other matters relating to the Parent, the Company, HSHI, this Agreement or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Company hereby requests each such counsels to deliver such opinions.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Loan Parties (which shall include, in the case of the Irish Loan Party, evidence that such Loan Party has complied with Section 82 of the Irish Companies Act), the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Parent, the Company, HSHI, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in Exhibit E.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Manager of the Company, certifying (i) compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 and (ii) that since December 31, 2024, no change, occurrence or development has occurred in respect of the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that has had a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrowers, for the benefit of each Term Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement payment of the outstanding principal amount of all Term Loans under (and as defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement and all accrued interest thereon.
(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that the term loan facility evidenced by the Existing 2023 Loan Agreement shall have been terminated and cancelled and all indebtedness thereunder shall have been fully repaid (except to the extent being so repaid with the initial Loans) and any and all liens thereunder shall have been terminated.
(g) (i) The Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information reasonably requested by such Lender in writing at least five (5) days prior to the Effective Date in order to allow it to comply with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations with respect to each Loan Party and (ii) to the extent a Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, any Lender that has reasonably requested a Beneficial Ownership Certification at least ten (10) days prior to the Effective Date in relation to such Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the conditions set forth in this clause (f) shall be deemed to be satisfied).
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(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced (in reasonable detail) at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Company hereunder.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
Section 4.02 Each
Credit Event. TheOther than with respect to any funding
of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans (which shall only be subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.04),
the obligation of each Lender to make a Loan, and of the Issuing Banks to issue, increase or extend any Letter of Credit, is
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) the representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in this Agreement (other than the representations contained in Sections 3.04(b) and 3.05) shall be true and correct in all material respects (provided that any representation or warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Loan (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date) or the date of issuance, amendment to increase or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable.
(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Loan or the issuance, amendment to increase or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Each Loan other than any Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans (which shall only be subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.04) and each issuance, amendment to increase or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
Section 4.03 Designation of an Affiliate Borrower. The designation of an Affiliate Borrower pursuant to Section 2.23 is subject to the conditions precedent that:
(a) The Company or such proposed Affiliate Borrower shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Administrative Agent:
(i) subject to clauses (d) and (e) below, copies, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or other appropriate officer, manager or director) of such Subsidiary, of its board of directors’ (or other applicable governing body’s) resolutions (and resolutions of other bodies, if any are deemed necessary by counsel for the Administrative Agent) approving the Affiliate Borrowing Agreement and any other Loan Documents to which such Subsidiary is becoming a party and such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of such Subsidiary;
(ii) an incumbency certificate, executed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or other appropriate officer, manager or director) of such Subsidiary, which shall identify by name and title and bear the signature of the officers or other representatives of such Subsidiary authorized to request Borrowings hereunder and sign the Affiliate Borrowing Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Subsidiary is becoming a party, upon which certificate the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until informed of any change in writing by the Company or such Subsidiary;
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(iii) opinions of counsel to such Subsidiary (which may include inside counsel to such Subsidiary for certain matters), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel, with respect to the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and such other matters as are reasonably requested by counsel to the Administrative Agent and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;
(iv) any promissory notes requested by any Lender, and any other instruments and documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; and
(v) any documentation and other information related to such Subsidiary reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender at least five (5) days in advance of the proposed effective date of such designation under applicable “know your customer” or similar rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that all of such Affiliate Borrower’s then existing credit facilities shall have been cancelled and terminated and all indebtedness thereunder shall have been fully repaid (except to the extent being so repaid with the initial Revolving Loans to such Borrower or otherwise permitted to be outstanding pursuant to this Agreement);
(c) In the event an Affiliate Borrower is organized under the laws of Luxembourg, (i) an excerpt (extrait) issued by the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register dated as of the date of its designation and (ii) a non-registration certificate (certificate de non-inscription d’une décision judiciaire) issued by the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register regarding the absence of judicial proceedings dated as of the date of its designation;
(d) In the event an Affiliate Borrower is organized under the laws of Switzerland, (i) a copy of the constitutional documents of such Affiliate Borrower, being a certified excerpt of the competent commercial register, a certified copy of the articles of association (containing a financial assistance clause allowing for up- and cross-stream security) and (if applicable and relevant), a copy of the duly signed and approved organizational regulations; (ii) a copy of a resolution of the board of directors of such Affiliate Borrower authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of each Loan Document to which it is a party; (iii) a copy of a resolution of its shareholders’ meeting, approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Loan Documents to which such Affiliate Borrower is a party and (iv) a certificate of the board of directors of such Affiliate Borrower certifying (a) that there have been no changes in the constitutional documents of such Affiliate Borrower as set out in Section 4.03(a)(i) above, as attached thereto and as certified as of a recent date by the commercial register, if applicable, since the date of the certification thereof by such commercial register, (b) resolutions of the Board of Directors or other governing body of such Affiliate Borrower authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of each Loan Document to which it is a party, and (c) the names and true signatures of the authorized signatories of such Affiliate Borrower authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and authorized to request Borrowings and/or LC Disbursements under this Agreement; and
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(e) In the event an Affiliate Borrower is incorporated under the laws of Ireland, evidence that entry into and performance of the Loan Documents by such Affiliate Borrower will not constitute a breach of Section 239 of the Irish Companies Act or a breach of Section 82 of the Irish Companies Act.
Section 4.04 Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans. The obligations of the Lenders to make Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans on the Velocity Closing Date shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) The Velocity Acquisition shall, substantially concurrently with the funding of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans hereunder, have been consummated in all material respects pursuant to the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, and no provision thereof shall have been amended or waived, and no consent shall have been granted under the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), if such amendment, waiver or consent is materially adverse to the Lenders in their capacities as such (it being understood and agreed that (i) amendments, waivers and other changes to the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect” in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, and consents given pursuant to any such definition shall in each case be deemed to be materially adverse to the Lenders, and (ii) any modification, amendment or express waiver or consent by the Parent or HSHI (or any of their Subsidiaries) that results in (x) an increase to the purchase price shall be deemed to not be materially adverse to the Lenders so long as such increase is not funded with the proceeds of indebtedness or is not in excess of 10% of the purchase price and (y) a decrease to the purchase price shall be deemed to not be materially adverse to the Lenders so long as (1) such reduction is less than 10% of the purchase price or (2) such reduction is allocated as follows: (A) if at the time of such reduction any commitments provided to HSHI in connection with the Velocity Acquisition pursuant to the 364-day senior unsecured bridge facility commitment letter, dated as of August 21, 2026, by and among the Parent, HSHI, BofA Securities, Inc. and Bank of America, N.A. (“Bridge Facility Commitment Letter”) (and any Bridge Facility) (such commitments described in this clause (A), the “Specified Commitments”) are outstanding, such reduction shall be applied simultaneously (I) 50% to reduce the commitments in respect of the Velocity Term Loan Facility (the “Velocity Term Loan Commitments”) on a dollar-for-dollar basis and (II) 50% to reduce the Specified Commitments on a dollar-for-dollar basis (it being understood and agreed that to the extent either the Velocity Term Loan Commitments or the Specified Commitments are reduced to zero pursuant to the foregoing clause (I) or (II), as applicable, prior to utilizing the full 50% of such reduction, the remaining unused amount of the 50% of such reduction shall then be applied to reduce the Velocity Term Loan Commitments or the Specified Commitments, whichever has not yet been reduced to zero, as applicable); and (B) if at the time of such reduction, no Specified Commitments are outstanding, such reduction shall be applied 100% to reduce the Velocity Term Loan Commitments on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
(b) The Velocity Refinancing shall have been consummated prior to or substantially concurrently with the funding of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans.
(c) Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Velocity and its Subsidiaries) shall have any Debt for borrowed money other than (i) Debt under the Bridge Facility, (ii) Debt in respect of the Senior Notes and (iii) Permitted Surviving Debt.
(d) (i) each of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if qualified by material adverse effect or other materiality qualifier) on and as of the Velocity Closing Date, (ii) each of the Velocity Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if qualified by material adverse effect or other materiality qualifier) on and as of the Velocity Closing Date and (iii) (A) no Event of Default under clause (f) or (g) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing and (B) no Default in respect of the nonpayment of fees due and payable under this Agreement and no default under the Bridge Facility Commitment Letter in respect of the nonpayment of fees due and payable thereunder has occurred and is continuing, in each case of the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) on and as of the Velocity Closing Date.
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(e) Since August 21, 2026, there shall not have occurred and be continuing any “Company Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement).
(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Velocity Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Parent, certifying that:
(i) the Velocity Acquisition has been, substantially concurrently with the funding of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans under this Agreement, consummated in all material respects pursuant to the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, and no provision of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement has been amended or waived, and no consent has been granted under the Velocity Acquisition Agreement, in violation of Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement;
(ii) the Velocity Refinancing has been consummated or will be consummated prior to or substantially concurrently with the funding of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans;
(iii) upon giving effect to the Transactions, neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Debt for borrowed money outstanding other than (x) Debt under the Bridge Facility, (y) Debt in respect of the Senior Notes and (z) Permitted Surviving Debt;
(iv) (x) each of the Velocity Acquisition Agreement Representations are true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if qualified by material adverse effect or other materiality qualifier) on and as of the Velocity Closing Date, (y) each of the Velocity Specified Representations are true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if qualified by material adverse effect or other materiality qualifier) on and as of the Velocity Closing Date and (z) (1) no Event of Default under clause (f) or (g) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing and (2) no Default in respect of the nonpayment of fees due and payable under this Agreement and no default under the Bridge Facility Commitment Letter in respect of the nonpayment of fees due and payable thereunder has occurred and is continuing, in each case of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) on and as of the Velocity Closing Date;
(v) since August 21, 2026, there has not occurred any “Company Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Velocity Acquisition Agreement) that is continuing; and
(vi) The Velocity Closing Date Revolving Commitment Expiration Date has not occurred.
(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of operations, changes in equity and cash flows of the Parent, for the three most recently completed fiscal years ended at least 90 days before the Velocity Closing Date, (ii) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of operations, changes in equity and cash flows of each of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, for each subsequent fiscal quarter ended at least 60 days before the Velocity Closing Date, (iii) audited consolidated balance sheet and audited consolidated statements of income or operations, cash flows and retained earnings or members’ equity of Velocity, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025 and (iv) unaudited consolidated balance sheet and unaudited consolidated statements of income or operations, cash flows and retained earnings of Velocity as of June 30, 2026 (with the Administrative Agent acknowledging that the conditions set forth in clauses (iii) and (iv) of this clause (g) have been satisfied as of the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date); provided that, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), filing of the required financial statements on form 10-K and/or form 10-Q, as applicable, by the Parent will satisfy the foregoing applicable requirements.
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(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received a pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Parent as of and for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the most recently completed four-fiscal quarter period ended at least 45 days prior to the Velocity Closing Date, prepared upon giving effect to the Transactions (including the Velocity Acquisition) as if the Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income).
(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate, dated as of the Velocity Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Parent, substantially in the form of Exhibit J.
(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Velocity Closing Date (or shall have been authorized to be deducted from the proceeds of the fundings of the Term Loans), including, to the extent invoiced (in reasonable detail) at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Velocity Closing Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by HSHI), reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by HSHI hereunder.
(k) The conditions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (v) in Section 2.01 are satisfied at the time of, and immediately after giving effect to , the funding of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans.
(l) The Velocity Closing Date Revolving Commitment Expiration Date shall not have occurred.
The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of the Parent certifying, in the manner described in such certificate, as to the accuracy of the matters set forth in clauses (a) through (e) and clause (l) of this Section 4.04 in making a determination of the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in such clauses. The Administrative Agent shall notify HSHI and the Lenders of the Velocity Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02).
Article V.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
The Loan Parties agree that so long as any Lender has any Commitment hereunder or any amount payable by any Borrower hereunder remains unpaid (other than contingent indemnification and similar obligations not yet due and obligations that are Cash Collateralized):
Section 5.01 Information. The Parent will deliver to the Administrative Agent (and, upon receipt, the Administrative Agent will promptly deliver to each of the Lenders):
(a) Annual Financial Statements. Within five Business Days after the date on which the Parent files such documents with the SEC, but in no event later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing.
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(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. Within five Business Days after the date on which the Parent files such documents with the SEC, but in no event later than 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting in all material respects in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) the financial position and results of operations of the Parent and the Consolidated Subsidiaries.
(c) Compliance Certificates. Simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer (i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Parent was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 6.01 and 6.02 on the date of such financial statements and (ii) stating whether there exists on the date of such certificate any Event of Default or Default and, if any such event then exists, setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Parent is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
(d) Notice of Default. Forthwith upon the occurrence of any Responsible Officer obtaining knowledge of any Event of Default or Default, a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Parent is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
(e) Shareholder Information. Promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the Parent generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so mailed.
(f) SEC Filings. Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements on Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q which the Parent shall have filed with the SEC.
(g) ERISA
Notices. If and when the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or
is required to give notice to the PBGC of any “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA)
with respect to any Plan which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds for a distress or PBGC-initiated termination of such
Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable
event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the PBGC.
(h) Notice of Other Material Events. Promptly upon obtaining knowledge thereof, notice of the commencement of any litigation or Governmental Authority proceeding affecting the Parent or any Subsidiary (including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law) in which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse decision which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) Ratings. Promptly upon the public announcement thereof, notice of any downgrade in any credit rating (including the Public Debt Rating) with respect to the Company or the Parent by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch.
(j) Beneficial Ownership Certification Changes. Promptly after the occurrence thereof, notice to the applicable Lender of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification.
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(k) KYC Information. Promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
(l) Other Information. Promptly following any request therefor, such additional information regarding the financial position or business of the Loan Parties as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any Lender, may reasonably request (it being understood and agreed that no Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to disclose or discuss, or permit the inspection, examination or making of extracts of, any records, books, information or account or other matter (i) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or their representatives is then prohibited by applicable law or any agreement binding on any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) that is protected from disclosure by the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product privilege or (iii) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information).
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 3.04 or 5.01 (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 such documents are posted on the Parent’s behalf on SyndTrak/IntraLinks/IntraAgency, on EDGAR (the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system of the SEC) or any successor thereto, or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that, except in the case of any filing on EDGAR or any successor thereto, the Parent shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the posting of any such documents. 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 Parent 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.
If any financial materials and related certificates required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 5.01(a), (b) and/or (c) shall be required to be delivered pursuant to the terms of such Section(s) on a day that is not a Business Day, the required date for such delivery shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day.
Section 5.02 Use of Proceeds. The Parent shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, use the proceeds of the Loans solely for working capital needs and for general corporate purposes of the Parent, each Borrower and the Subsidiaries; provided that the proceeds of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Loans may only be used to finance the Velocity Transactions. Without limiting the foregoing, the Parent shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, use the proceeds of any Credit Events, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any “margin stock” in violation of Regulation U of the Board. In no event shall the proceeds of the Loans be utilized for any purpose that would constitute unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of sections 678 or 679 of the UK Companies Act 2006 or section 82 of the Irish Companies Act.
Each Loan Party shall (and the Company shall ensure that each Subsidiary will) ensure that no proceeds of the Loans will be used in a manner which would constitute a “use of proceeds in Switzerland” as interpreted by Swiss tax authorities for purposes of Swiss Withholding Tax, unless a written confirmation or countersigned tax ruling application from the Swiss Federal Tax Administration has been obtained (in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) confirming that such use does not result in the Loan qualifying as a Swiss financing for Swiss Withholding Tax purposes.
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Section 5.03 Compliance with Contractual Obligations and Laws. The Parent shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all applicable laws and regulations of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or its business the non-compliance with which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the foregoing, each Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance by such Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.
Section 5.04 Insurance. The Parent shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers (as determined at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed in the good faith judgment of the Parent or relevant Subsidiary) and/or pursuant to a self-insurance program, 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 businesses and covering similar properties in the same or similar localities, of such types, with such deductibles, covering such risks and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.05 Ownership of Borrowers. The Parent shall at all times own and control, directly or indirectly, all of the equity interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and other than as may be required by law) of each Borrower (unless, in the case of any Borrower other than the Company, such Borrower and has ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to Section 2.23).
Section 5.06 Payment of Taxes. The Parent shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, pay or make provision for the payment of all United States federal and material foreign, state and other taxes which have become due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment in respect thereof received by the Parent or any Subsidiary, except (a) taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided and/or (b) where the failure to so pay could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.07 Swiss Non-Bank Rules. Each Swiss Loan Party shall at all times comply with the Swiss Twenty Non-Bank Rule, to the extent applicable; provided that a Swiss Loan Party shall not be in breach of this Section 5.07 if non-compliance arises solely as a consequence of (a) an inaccurate representation and warranty by a Lender pursuant to Section 9.17; (b) any assignment or participation by a Lender to a Person that is not a Swiss Qualifying Lender without the consent of the Company; or (c) any Lender ceasing to be a Swiss Qualifying Lender so long as commencing promptly after the Company obtains knowledge of such event, the Company and such Swiss Loan Party take all reasonable steps to cause the number of creditors of such Swiss Loan Party relevant under the Swiss Twenty Non-Bank Rule to be not more than 20.
Section 5.08 Loan Party Location. The Parent will cause (i) each Borrower and each Material Subsidiary incorporated or organized in an EU jurisdiction to cause its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) to be situated solely in its jurisdiction of incorporation and not to have an establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) situated outside its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as applicable and (ii) each Borrower and each Material Subsidiary incorporated in England and Wales to cause its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) to be situated solely in England and Wales and not to have an establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) situated outside its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Parent will cause its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) to be situated either in England and Wales or Ireland and not to have an establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) situated in any other jurisdiction. The Parent shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent by notice in writing upon it becoming aware that its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Insolvency Regulation) is situated in Ireland or it has an establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Insolvency Regulation) in Ireland.
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Section 5.09 Tax Residence. No Loan Party may change its residence for Tax purposes without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed; provided that the Parent may change its residence from time to time for Tax purposes from the United Kingdom to Ireland or from Ireland to the United Kingdom.
Section 5.10 Service of Process Agent. To the extent that the Company wishes to terminate HSHI as a Borrower hereunder, the Company will provide to the Administrative Agent prior to, or substantially contemporaneously with, such termination a letter from the Service of Process Agent described in clause (ii) of the definition of “Service of Process Agent” (or any other Service of Process Agent acceptable to the Administrative Agent), and such letter will confirm such Service of Process Agent’s consent to its appointment by the Parent, the Company and each Affiliate Borrower as their agent to receive service of process as specified in this Agreement.
Article VI.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
The Loan Parties agree that so long as any Lender has any Commitment hereunder or any amount payable by any Borrower hereunder remains unpaid (other than contingent indemnification and similar obligations not yet due and obligations that are Cash Collateralized):
Section 6.01 Maximum Net Leverage Ratio. The Parent shall not permit the Net Leverage Ratio on the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent to exceed 3.75 to 1.00; provided, that (i) the Company may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders and not more than two times during any five consecutive year term of this Agreement, elect to increase the maximum Net Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.01 to 4.25 to 1.00 as of the end of each of the first four (4) periods of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or after the date of a Permitted Acquisition, if the aggregate consideration paid or to be paid in respect of such Permitted Acquisition is equal to or greater than $250,000,000 (any such four consecutive periods of four consecutive fiscal quarters following such a Permitted Acquisition, an “Adjusted Covenant Period”) and (ii) in connection with any such election, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least five business days prior to consummating such Acquisition, notice of such Acquisition and pro forma calculations (in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) demonstrating compliance with the maximum Net Leverage Ratio required by the foregoing clause (i) (it being understood and agreed that (A) the Company may not elect an Adjusted Covenant Period for at least two (2) fiscal quarters following the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period before a new Adjusted Covenant Period is available again pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) and (B) at the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period, the maximum Net Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.01 shall revert to 3.75 to 1.00 as of the end of each subsequent fiscal quarter unless and until another Adjusted Covenant Period is elected pursuant to the terms and conditions described above).
Section 6.02 Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio. The Parent shall not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter of the Parent to be less than 3.00 to 1.00.
Section 6.03 Negative Pledge. Neither the Parent nor any Material Subsidiary will create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by any of them, except:
(a) any Lien existing on the date of this Agreement and set forth in Schedule 6.03;
(b) Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or charges of any Governmental Authority for claims which are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days, or to the extent that such Lien is being contested in good faith by appropriate actions and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained therefor, provided that no notice of Lien has been filed or recorded under the Code;
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(c) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law or created in the ordinary course of business, provided that (i) the obligation secured by the applicable Lien has not been delinquent for more than 90 days or remains payable without penalty and, in each case, the property subject to such Lien is not subject to forfeiture as a result of such Lien or (ii) the applicable Lien is being contested in good faith by appropriate actions, which proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject thereto;
(d) Liens (other than any Lien imposed under ERISA) consisting of pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business (i) required in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and (ii) securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers to secure obligations with respect to casualty or liability insurance maintained by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) Liens on property of the Parent or any Subsidiary securing (i) the non-delinquent performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases or statutory obligations, (ii) surety bonds (excluding appeal bonds and other bonds posted in connection with court proceedings or judgments) and (iii) other non-delinquent obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Liens consisting of judgment or judicial attachment liens and Liens securing contingent obligations on appeal bonds and other bonds posted in connection with court proceedings or judgments, to the extent that such Liens do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (j) of Article VII;
(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances on real property which in the aggregate do not materially detract from the value of such property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the businesses of the Parent and its Subsidiaries;
(h) Liens securing obligations in respect of finance leases on assets subject to such leases, provided that such leases are otherwise permitted hereunder;
(i) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to bankers’ liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies (or, with respect to accounts located in Luxembourg, contractual provisions) as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution and/or Liens arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to deposit accounts relating to intercompany cash pooling, interest set-off and/or sweeping arrangements; provided that (i) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Parent or the applicable Subsidiary in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Board and (ii) such deposit account is not intended by the Parent or any Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;
(j) Liens arising in connection with Securitization Transactions;
(k) Liens on property of any Foreign Subsidiary securing Debt of such Foreign Subsidiary and/or any other Foreign Subsidiary that is permitted under Section 6.05;
(l) any Lien existing on property (and the proceeds thereof) existing at the time of its acquisition (by merger or otherwise) or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, in each case after the date hereof (other than any Lien on the equity interests of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary); provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary; and (ii) the Debt or other obligation secured thereby is not prohibited by Section 6.05;
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(m) Liens arising out of the conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(n) Liens solely on cash earnest money deposits made by the Parent or any Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
(o) Liens securing reimbursement obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business for trade letters of credit or banker’s acceptances, which Liens encumber only goods, or documents of title covering goods, that are purchased in transactions for which such letters of credit or banker’s acceptances are issued;
(p) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in favor of customs or revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;
(q) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including, in the case of licenses and sublicenses, of intellectual property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Parent or any Subsidiary and do not secure any Debt;
(r) Liens of a collecting bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the ordinary course of collection;
(s) options, put and call arrangements, rights of first refusal and similar rights relating to investments in joint ventures, partnerships and other similar investments not prohibited by this Agreement;
(t) rights of first refusal, put, call and similar rights arising in connection with repurchase agreements that are not prohibited by this Agreement;
(u) any Lien arising under any Loan Document;
(v) any Lien on an asset arising out of an agreement to dispose of such asset, to the extent such disposition is not prohibited by this Agreement and such Lien does not secure any other obligation;
(w) any extension, renewal or substitution of or for any Lien described in clause (a) or (l) above, in each case (A) to the extent that the amount of the Debt or other obligation secured by the applicable Lien shall not exceed the amount of the Debt or other obligation existing immediately prior to such extension, renewal or substitution and (B) so long as the scope of the property subject to such Lien is not increased;
(x) Liens relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Parent or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
(y) receipt of progress payments and advances from customers in the ordinary course of business to the extent the same create Liens on the related inventory and proceeds thereof;
(z) Liens on assets pledged in respect of defeased or discharged indebtedness;
(aa) any Lien on any asset securing Debt incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing an amount not to exceed all or any part of the cost of acquiring, constructing, repairing, replacing or improving such asset, provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 270 days after (A) the acquisition of such asset or (B) the later of (x) the completion of such construction, repair, replacement or improvement of such asset and (y) the date of commencement of the commercial operation of the asset constructed, repaired, replaced or improved, as applicable; and
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(bb) in addition to Liens permitted by clauses (a) through (aa) above, any other Lien, to the extent that the outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby, expressed as a Dollar Amount, at the time of creation thereof, in the aggregate with the outstanding principal amount of all other Debt and other obligations then secured pursuant to this clause (bb), does not exceed the greater of (i) $375,000,000 and (ii) 7.5% of the Parent’s Consolidated Total Assets as shown on the then most recent consolidated financial statements of the Parent delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01 (or, prior to such initial delivery pursuant to Section 5.01, Section 3.04).
Any lien permitted above under this Section 6.03 on any property may extend to identifiable proceeds of such property.
Section 6.04 Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets; Acquisitions.(a) No Loan Party will merge or consolidate with any other non-affiliated Person or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the creation of any Lien permitted under Section 6.03) of all or substantially all of its assets as an entirety to any other non-affiliated Person unless:
(i) in the case of a merger or consolidation, the Person surviving such transaction is the applicable Loan Party; and
(ii) immediately after giving effect to any such action, no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(b) The Parent will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, make any Acquisition other than Permitted Acquisitions.
Section 6.05 Subsidiary Debt. The Parent will not permit any Material Subsidiary (other than any Primary Borrower) to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt except:
(a) Debt arising under Securitization Transactions in an aggregate amount outstanding not exceeding $250,000,000 at any time;
(b) Debt existing on the Effective Date and identified on Schedule 6.05 and any refinancing, extension or renewal thereof or of any Debt under this clause (b), in each case, to the extent the principal amount thereof is not increased (including extensions, renewals or replacements of guarantees in respect of such Debt as so refinanced, extended or renewed);
(c) (i) Debt of a Subsidiary owed to the Parent or another Subsidiary; and (ii) Guarantees by a Subsidiary of Debt of the Parent or another Subsidiary to the extent this Agreement does not prohibit the Parent’s or such other Subsidiary’s incurrence of such Debt;
(d) Debt incurred as an account party in respect of any trade letter of credit;
(e) deferred compensation owed to employees incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(f) to the extent constituting Debt, obligations with respect to deferred compensation, retiree healthcare medical benefits or other similar employment arrangements incurred in connection with acquisitions or dispositions permitted under this Agreement;
(g) to the extent constituting Debt, obligations incurred in respect of cash management services, netting services, overdraft protection and similar arrangements and hedging transactions with a term not exceeding two years, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
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(h) Debt constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other reimbursement-type obligations relating to regarding workers’ compensation claims incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(i) obligations in respect of performance and surety, stay, customs, appeal and performance bonds, performance and completion guarantees and similar instruments or obligations in respect of letters of credit in respect thereof, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(j) Debt that has maturities and other terms, and is subordinated to the Obligations in a manner, satisfactory to the Required Lenders;
(k) Debt arising under finance leases in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 outstanding at any time;
(l) Debt of Affiliate Borrowers arising under the Loan Documents;
(m) Debt of any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, lease or improvement of any fixed or capital assets and any Debt assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and amendments, modifications, extensions, refinancings, renewals and replacements of any such Debt; provided that (i) such Debt is initially incurred prior to or within 270 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction, repair, replacement, lease or improvement and (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Debt permitted by this clause (m) shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding; and
(n) other Debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $325,000,000 and (ii) 7% of the Parent’s Consolidated Total Assets as shown on the then most recent consolidated financial statements of the Parent delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01 (or, prior to such initial delivery pursuant to Section 5.01, Section 3.04), outstanding at any time.
Section 6.06 OFAC and Anti-Corruption Laws.
(a) The Parent shall not, and shall ensure that none of the Borrowers or its other controlled affiliated companies will, directly or, to the Parent’s Knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of Credit Events hereunder:
(i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws;
(ii) to fund or finance any activities, business or transaction of or with any Designated Person or in any Sanctioned Country, in either case, except to the extent permitted for a Person required to comply with Sanctions or in any other manner such activities, business or transaction would violate Sanctions; or
(iii) in any other manner that will result in liability to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any applicable Sanctions or a breach by the Administrative Agent or any Lenders of any applicable Sanctions.
(b) The Parent shall not, and shall ensure that none of the Borrowers or its other controlled affiliated companies will, use funds or assets obtained directly or, to the Parent’s Knowledge, indirectly from transactions with or from (i) Designated Persons or (ii) any Sanctioned Country, in either case, in violation of Sanctions (assuming, for purposes of this covenant only, that each Affiliate Borrower were a Domestic Subsidiary for purposes of determining its compliance with Sanctions), to pay or repay any amount owing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document.
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(c) The Parent shall, and shall ensure that each Borrower and each of its other controlled affiliated companies will:
(i) conduct its business in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws in all material respects;
(ii) maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance in all material respects with Anti-Corruption Laws; and
(iii) have reasonable controls and safeguards in place designed to prevent any proceeds of any Credit Event hereunder from being used contrary to the representations and undertakings set forth herein.
The foregoing Sections 6.06(a)(ii) and 6.06(a)(iii) will not apply to any party hereto to which (i) the Blocking Law applies, if and to the extent that such representations are or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that party pursuant to, or would otherwise result in a breach and/or violation of, any provision of the Blocking Law or (ii) the UKPTIL applies, if and to the extent that such representations are or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that party pursuant to, or would otherwise result in a breach and/or violation of any provision of, the Blocking Law or the UKPTIL, as applicable.
Section 6.07 Outbound Investment Rules. The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) be or become a “covered foreign person”, as that term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, or (b) engage, directly or indirectly, in (i) a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules or (ii) any activity or transaction that would constitute a “covered activity” or a “covered transaction”, as each such term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules, if Parent were a U.S. Person.
Article VII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
If one or more of the following events (each, an “Event of Default”) shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a) any Borrower shall fail to pay within two (2) Business Days of the date due any principal of any Loan; or any Borrower shall fail to pay within five days of the date due any interest on any Loan, any fee or any other amount payable hereunder;
(b) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any applicable covenant contained in Section 5.02, Section 5.05 or any of Sections 6.01 to 6.07, inclusive;
(c) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement for 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date on which written notice thereof has been given to the Parent by the Administrative Agent at the request of any Lender or (ii) if the Parent fails to promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of such failure as required by Section 5.01(d), the date on which a Senior Financial Officer had actual knowledge of such failure;
(d) any representation, warranty, certification or statement made by any of the Loan Parties in this Agreement or in any certificate, financial statement or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made;
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(e) the Parent or any Subsidiary (i) fails to make any payment of Material Financial Obligations when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise, but after giving effect to any applicable grace or cure period); or (ii) fails to perform or observe any other condition or covenant, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, under one or more agreements or instruments relating to Material Financial Obligations, if the effect of such failure, event or condition is to cause (or require), or to permit the holder or holders of such Material Financial Obligations (or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Material Financial Obligations (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries)) to cause (or require), such Material Financial Obligations to become due and payable (or to be purchased, repurchased, defeased or Cash Collateralized) prior to the stated maturity thereof; provided that any such failure relating to a Material Financial Obligation that was the Debt of a Person acquired by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and which was assumed by the Parent or such Subsidiary as part of such acquisition shall not constitute an Event of Default or Default pursuant to this clause (e) so long as such Material Financial Obligation is repaid in full or such failure is cured within 30 days of such acquisition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the following events shall constitute an Event of Default under this clause (e) of Article VII unless such event results in the acceleration of Material Financial Obligations: (i) any secured Debt becoming due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Debt or a casualty, condemnation or similar event, (ii) any change of control offer made within 60 days after an acquisition with respect to, and effectuated pursuant to, Debt of an acquired business, (iii) any default under Debt of an acquired business if such default is cured, or such Debt is repaid, within 60 days after the acquisition of such business so long as no other creditor accelerates or commences any kind of enforcement action in respect of such Debt, (iv) mandatory prepayment requirements arising from the receipt of net cash proceeds from debt, dispositions (including casualty losses, governmental takings and other involuntary dispositions), equity issues or excess cash flow, (v) prepayments required by the terms of Debt as a result of customary provisions in respect of illegality, replacement of lenders and gross-up provisions for Taxes, increased costs, capital adequacy and other similar customary requirements and (vi) any voluntary prepayment, redemption or other satisfaction of Debt that becomes mandatory in accordance with the terms of such Debt solely as the result of the Parent or any Subsidiary delivering a prepayment, redemption or similar notice with respect to such prepayment, redemption or other satisfaction;
(f) the Parent or any Material Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, examinership, reorganization or other relief (including, in the case of any Luxembourg Person, any Luxembourg Relief) with respect to itself, its assets or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, administrator, custodian, examiner or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or shall commence or consent to a proceeding for approval of a plan of arrangement with respect to its debts or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing; or any of the shareholders of a Material Subsidiary shall take any action to initiate any of the foregoing with respect to such Material Subsidiary;
(g) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Parent or any Material Subsidiary seeking liquidation, examinership, reorganization or other relief (including, in the case of any Luxembourg Person, any Luxembourg Relief) with respect to it, its assets or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, administrator, custodian, examiner or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, or any of the Parent’s shareholders shall take any action to initiate a proceeding of the type described in clause (f) above with respect to the Parent, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or an order for relief shall be entered against the Parent or any Material Subsidiary under the federal bankruptcy laws or similar bankruptcy or insolvency laws of any other applicable jurisdiction as now or hereafter in effect; or a UK Bankruptcy Event occurs with respect to any UK Relevant Entity;
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(h) without prejudice to any other provisions of this Article VII, (i) any of the following occurs in respect of a Swiss Loan Party: the occurrence of any event or procedure in relation to a Swiss Borrower which is analogous to those listed in the clauses (a), (f) and (g) of this Article VII above including, inter alia, “hälftiger Kapitalverlust” or “Überschuldung” within the meaning of art. 725a and 725b and art. 820 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations (CO) (half of the share capital and the legal reserves not covered; over-indebtedness, i.e. liabilities not covered by the assets), duty of notifying the court due to over-indebtedness or insolvency pursuant to art. 725b and art. 820 CO, “Konkurseröffnung und Konkurs” (declaration of bankruptcy and bankruptcy), “Nachlassverfahren” (composition with creditors) including in particular “Nachlassstundung” (moratorium) and proceedings regarding “Nachlassvertrag” (composition agreements) and “Notstundung” (emergency moratorium), proceedings regarding “Fälligkeitsaufschub” (postponement of maturity), notification of the judge of a capital loss or over-indebtedness under these provisions and “Auflösung / Liquidation” (dissolution/liquidation);
(i) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate shall fail to pay when due an amount which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA; or the Parent or an ERISA Affiliate shall file a distress termination notice with the PBGC and the amount of the Unfunded Vested Liabilities under that filing could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or the PBGC shall institute judicial proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer any such Plan or Plans which have Unfunded Vested Liabilities which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or a judicial proceeding shall be instituted by a fiduciary of any such Plan or Plans to enforce Section 515 of ERISA, the aggregate amount of delinquent contributions claimed to be owed pursuant to such Section 515 in such proceeding which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and such proceeding shall not have been dismissed within 30 days;
(j) a judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of a Dollar Amount of $100,000,000 shall be rendered against any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and such judgment or order is not within 60 days of the entry thereof bonded, discharged or stayed; provided, that any such judgment shall not be included in the calculation of the aggregate amount of judgments under this clause (j) if and for so long as (A) the amount of such judgment is covered by a valid and binding policy of insurance between the defendant and the insurer covering payment thereof and (B) such insurer, which shall be rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of, and has not disputed the claim made for payment of, the amount of such judgment;
(k) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Parent;
(l) a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent ceases to be individuals who (i) were members of such board of directors as of the Effective Date or (ii) were nominated or appointed to be members of such board by a majority of the members of such board who, at the time of such nomination or appointment, were individuals described in the foregoing clause (i) or this clause (ii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent cease to be individuals described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, it shall not constitute an Event of Default under this clause (l) of Article VII if a majority of the Parent’s board of directors (comprised of the individuals described in clauses (i) and (ii)) approves such changes; or
(m) except as otherwise expressly permitted under the Loan Documents (i) this Agreement, the Notes or any other document executed in connection herewith, at any time after its execution and delivery, ceases to be in full force and effect against any applicable Loan Party; (ii) any Loan Party or any other Person acting on behalf of any Loan Party contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any such document against any applicable Loan Party; or (iii) any Loan Party or any other Person acting on behalf of any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any such document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any such document;
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then, and in every such event (other than an
event with respect to the Parent or any Borrower described in clause (f), (g) or (h) of this Article VII),
and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may with the consent of the Required
Lenders, and shall at the request of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Company, take any or all of the following actions, at
the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, (provided,
however, that, in the case of the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Commitments, such Commitments shall not terminate prior to the
earlier of (x) the Velocity Closing Date Revolving Commitments Expiration Date and (y) the Velocity Closing Date (after
consummation of the Velocity Transactions)), (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole
(or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable),
and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and
other Obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately,
without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Loan Parties, and
(iii) require cash collateral for the LC Exposure in accordance with Section 2.06(j); and in case of any event with
respect to the Parent or any Borrower described in clause (f), (g) or (h) of this Article VII,
the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding and cash collateral for the LC
Exposure, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations accrued hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of
which are hereby waived by the Loan Parties.
Article VIII.
The Administrative Agent
Section 8.01 Authorization and Action.
(a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the entities named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Bank authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank exempts the Administrative Agent from the restrictions pursuant to Section 181 Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) and similar restrictions applicable to it pursuant to any other applicable law, in each case to the extent legally possible to such Lender and such Issuing Bank. Any Lender and any Issuing Bank which cannot grant such exemption shall notify the Administrative Agent accordingly and, upon request of the Administrative Agent, either act in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or any other Loan Document as required pursuant to this Agreement and/or such other Loan Document or grant a special power of attorney to a party acting on its behalf, in a manner that is not prohibited pursuant to Section 181 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) and/or any other applicable laws. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.
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(b) As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and each Issuing Bank; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent reasonably and in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Parent, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(c) In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. The motivations of the Administrative Agent are commercial in nature and not to invest in the general performance or operations of the Loan Parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(i) the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank or any other holder of Obligations other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;
(ii) to the extent that English law is applicable to the duties of the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 of the United Kingdom shall not apply to the duties of the Administrative Agent in relation to the trusts constituted by that Loan Document; where there are inconsistencies between the Trustee Act 1925 or the Trustee Act 2000 of the United Kingdom and the provisions of this Agreement or such Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000 of the United Kingdom, the provisions of this Agreement shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act; and
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(iii) nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.
(d) The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.
(e) None of any Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.
(f) In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, examinership, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any 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 Loan Party) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Disbursements and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, examiner, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each other holder of Obligations to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the other holders of Obligations, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.03). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.
(g) The provisions of this Article VIII are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Company’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article VIII and as otherwise provided in Section 8.01(d), none of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each party that is a holder of Obligations, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article VIII.
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Section 8.02 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.
(a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf, or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of Default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Company, a Lender or an Issuing Bank. Further, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Company), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and reasonably believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
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Section 8.03 Posting of Communications.
(a) The Company agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks by posting the Communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other similar electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent reasonably and in good faith to be its electronic transmission system and used by it for such purpose with respect to its credit facilities generally (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).
(b) Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Company acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Company hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution, other than risks arising from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of any of the foregoing parties (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment).
(c) THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM, OTHER THAN DIRECT ACTUAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of any applicable party (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment).
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(d) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.
(e) Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Company agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.
(f) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.
Section 8.04 The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitment, Loans and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, an Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, the Parent, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.
Section 8.05 Successor Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Company, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with (and, so long as no Default shall then exist, the consent of, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) the Company, to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In both cases, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Company (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.
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(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Company, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article VIII and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
Section 8.06 Acknowledgement of Lenders and Issuing Banks.
(a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) in participating as a Lender, it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of investing in the general performance or operations of the Loan Parties, or for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument such as a security (and each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing, such as a claim under the federal or state securities law), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any other Lender or other Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any other Lender or other Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Company and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.
(c)
(i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one (1) Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 8.06(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
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(ii) Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one (1) Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
(iii) The Company and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Company or any other Loan Party, except in each case, to the extent such erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Company or any other Loan Party for the purpose of satisfying an Obligation.
(iv) Each party’s obligations under this Section 8.06(c) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.
(d) The Lenders acknowledge that there may be a constant flow of information (including information which may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Loan Parties) between the Loan Parties and their Affiliates, on the one hand, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan SE and their respective Affiliates, on the other hand. Without limiting the foregoing, the Loan Parties or their Affiliates may provide information, including updates to previously provided information to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan SE and/or their respective Affiliates acting in different capacities, including as Lender, lead bank, arranger or potential securities investor, independent of such entity’s role as administrative agent hereunder. The Lenders acknowledge that neither JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan SE nor their respective Affiliates shall be under any obligation to provide any of the foregoing information to them. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any other Loan Document, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide, and shall not be liable for the failure to provide, any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the Loans, the Lenders, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates that is communicated to, obtained by, or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity, including any information obtained by the Administrative Agent in the course of communications among the Administrative Agent and any Loan Party, any Affiliate thereof or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such information may (but shall not be required to) be shared by the Administrative Agent with one or more Lenders, or any formal or informal committee or ad hoc group of such Lenders, including at the direction of a Loan Party.
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Section 8.07 Certain ERISA Matters.
(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Company or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments;
(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the 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 sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Syndication Agents, the Documentation Agents and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Company or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Syndication Agents, the Documentation Agents or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
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(c) The Administrative Agent and each Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent fees or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.
Section 8.08 Borrower Communications.
(a) The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks agree that the Borrowers may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Borrower Communications to the Administrative Agent through an electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Borrower Portal”).
(b) Although the Approved Borrower Portal and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system), each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrowers acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of the Borrowers that are added to the Approved Borrower Portal, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrowers hereby approves distribution of Borrower Communications through the Approved Borrower Portal and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.
(c) THE APPROVED BORROWER PORTAL IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED BORROWER PORTAL AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED BORROWER PORTAL AND THE BORROWER COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED BORROWER PORTAL. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE APPLICABLE PARTIES HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF THE BORROWERS’ TRANSMISSION OF BORROWER COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED BORROWER PORTAL.
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“Borrower Communications” means, collectively, any Borrowing Request, Interest Election Request, notice of prepayment, notice requesting the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit or other notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by any Borrower to the Administrative Agent through an Approved Borrower Portal.
(d) Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and each of the Borrowers agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Borrower Communications on the Approved Borrower Portal in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies
(e) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Borrowers to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.
Article IX.
Miscellaneous
Section 9.01 Notices.
(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone or other means permitted hereunder (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service or mailed by certified or registered mail, as follows:
(i) if to any Loan Party, to nVent Finance S.à r.l. (in care of nVent Management Company), 1665 Utica Avenue, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416, Attention: Randy Wacker (Telecopy No. 763-204-7951; Email Randy.Wacker@nVent.com; Telephone No. 763-204-7591), with a copy to, in the case of any notice of Default or Event of Default, nVent Finance S.à r.l. (in care of nVent Management Company), 1665 Utica Avenue, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416, Attention: Gary Corona (Telecopy No. 763-204-7951; Email Gary.Corona@nVent.com);
(ii) if to the Administrative Agent from any Borrower, to the address or addresses separately provided to the Company;
(iii) if to the Administrative Agent from the Lenders, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan SE, 131 S. Dearborn Street, Floor 04, Chicago, Illinois 60603-5506, Attention of Loan and Agency Servicing;
(iv) in the case of a notification of the DQ List, to JPMDQ_Contact@jpmorgan.com;
(v) if to an Issuing Bank, to it at the address separately provided to the Company;
(vi) if to any of the Swingling Lenders, at the address separately provided to the Company; and
(vii) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
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Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through Approved Electronic Platforms or Approved Borrower Portals, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).
(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Approved Electronic Platforms or Approved Borrower Portals (as applicable), in each case, pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the 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 email 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 email 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 email address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
Section 9.02 Waivers; Amendments.
(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
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(b) Except as provided in Section 2.25 with respect to the extension of the Maturity Date, or as provided in Section 2.20 with respect to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment or as provided in Section 2.14(b) and Section 2.14(c) or as provided in Section 9.02(e), neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders or by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (provided that an amendment, modification, waiver or consent with respect to any condition precedent, covenant, mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11.2, Event of Default or Default shall not constitute an increase in the Commitment of any Lender), (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon (other than waivers or amendments with respect to the application of a default rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.13(b)), or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (except that any amendment or modification of the financial covenants or ratios in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants or ratios in this Agreement) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (ii)), (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (other than any reduction of the amount of, or any extension of the payment date for, the mandatory prepayments required under Section 2.11.2, in each case which shall only require the approval of the Required Lenders, and it being further understood that an amendment, modification, waiver or consent with respect to any condition precedent, covenant, mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11.2, Event of Default or Default in each case shall not constitute such a postponement, reduction, waiver or excusal), (iv) change Section 2.09(d) or Section 2.18(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction of Commitments or pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, (v) change the payment waterfall provisions of Section 2.24(b) without the written consent of each Lender, (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (it being understood that, solely with the consent of the parties prescribed by Section 2.20 to be parties to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment, Incremental Term Loans may be included in the determination of Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Commitments and the Revolving Loans are included on the Effective Date) or (vii) release the Parent from its obligations under Article X (other than with respect to any Borrower ceasing to be a Borrower in accordance with this Agreement) without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Swingline Lender, as the case may be (it being understood that any change to Section 2.24 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lenders). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly and adversely affected by such amendment, waiver or other modification, and (B) as to any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification otherwise approved in accordance with this Section, it shall not be necessary to obtain the consent or approval of any Lender that, upon giving effect to such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification, would have no Commitment or outstanding Loans, so long as such Lender receives payment in full of the principal of and interest on each Loan made by, and all other amounts owing to, such Lender or accrued for the account of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents at the time such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification becomes effective.
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(c) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender directly affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Company may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, (ii) each Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by such Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender and (iii) such Non-Consenting Lender shall have received the outstanding principal amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements. Each party hereto agrees that (1) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (2) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers (x) to add one or more credit facilities (in addition to the Incremental Term Loans pursuant to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment) to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Revolving Loans, the initial Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and the Lenders.
(e) If the Administrative Agent and the Company acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then the Administrative Agent and the Company 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.
Section 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Company shall pay (i) all reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and JPMCB in its capacity as an Arranger, including the reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary counsel (and one additional local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, 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); provided that, in advance of contacting outside counsel of the Administrative Agent regarding matters concerning the administration of this Agreement in respect of which the Administrative Agent will expect to be reimbursed by the Company, the Administrative Agent will notify the Company of its intent to contact such outside counsel, (ii) all reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary counsel (and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for the Administrative Agent, one additional counsel for all the Lenders other than the Administrative Agent and additional counsel as any Lender reasonably determines are necessary to avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest or the availability of different claims or defenses, in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document at any time during a Default, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations during an Event of Default in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
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(b) The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, each Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, penalties and related reasonable and documented costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel (and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for the Indemnitees taken as a whole and additional counsel as any Indemnitee or group of Indemnitees reasonably determines are necessary to avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest or the availability of different claims or defenses (solely to the extent the Company is informed in writing of such conflict or different claim or defense in advance of hiring additional counsel), as and when incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, or the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding is brought by the Company or any other Loan Party or its or their respective equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from (a) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Indemnified Persons, (b) a dispute among the Indemnitees not arising from an act or omission of the Company or any of its Affiliates (other than a dispute involving a claim against an Indemnitee for its acts or omissions in its capacity as an arranger, bookrunner, agent or similar role in respect of the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement, except, with respect to this clause (b), to the extent such acts or omissions are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have constituted the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee in such capacity) or (c) such Indemnitee’s or any of its Related Indemnified Persons’ material breach of the Loan Documents (as determined pursuant to a claim asserted by the Company, whether as a claim, counterclaim or otherwise). This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim. For purposes of this Section 9.03(b), a “Related Indemnified Person” of an Indemnitee means (1) any controlled Affiliate of such Indemnitee, (2) the respective directors, managers, officers and employees of such Indemnitee and of its controlled Affiliates and (3) the respective agents of such Indemnitee and its controlled Affiliates, in the case of this clause (3), acting at the express instructions of such Indemnitee or such controlled Affiliate; provided that each reference to a controlled affiliate, director, manager, officer or employee in this sentence pertains to a controlled affiliate, director, manager, officer or employee involved in the arrangement, negotiation or syndication of the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement and/or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.
(c) To the extent that the Company fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Swingline Lender, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Company’s failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Company of any default in the payment thereof); 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, such Issuing Bank or such Swingline Lender, each in their capacity as such.
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(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any of the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, each Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called a “Lender-Related Person”) (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet, any Approved Electronic Platform and any Approved Borrower Portal), other than for direct or actual damages determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Lender-Related Person or (ii) on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan, any Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than 30 days after written demand therefor accompanied by a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount demanded.
Section 9.04 Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of an Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by any Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of an Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments, participations in Letters of Credit and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, it being understood that in the case of any assignment that requires the Company’s consent, without limiting any other factors that may be reasonable, it shall be reasonable for the Company to consider a proposed assignee’s right to require reimbursement for increased costs when determining whether to consent to such an assignment) of:
(A) the Company (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), provided that no consent of the Company shall be required (but notice to the Company, either prior to or promptly after such assignment, shall be required) for an assignment to (1) a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (provided further, notwithstanding the preceding clause (1), the consent of the Company shall be required if, after giving effect to such assignment, the assignee, collectively with its affiliated Lenders and affiliated Approved Funds, would, as a result of such assignment, hold more than fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate amounts of Loans and unused Commitments), or, (2) if an Event of Default under clause (a), (f), (g) or (h) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing, any assignee; and
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(B) the Administrative Agent;
(C) the Issuing Banks; provided that no consent of the Issuing Banks shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan Commitment or a Term Loan; and
(D) the Swingline Lenders; provided that no consent of the Swingline Lenders shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan Commitment or a Term Loan.
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 (in the case of Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans) or $500,000 (in the case of Term Loan Commitments and Term Loans) unless each of the Company and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Company shall be required if an Event of Default under clause (a), (f), (g) or (h) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing;
(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;
(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders;
(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Company and its Affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including federal and state securities laws;
(E) without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, no assignment shall be made to a prospective assignee that bears a relationship to the Company described in Section 108(e)(4) of the Code;
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(F) the assignee shall not be the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company; and
(G) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.04 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the consent of each Swiss Borrower shall, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, be required (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) for an assignment or participation to an assignee or Participant that is a Swiss Non-Qualifying Lender; provided, however, that such a consent shall not be required by any Swiss Borrower, if, taking into consideration the contemplated assignment or participation, the number of Lenders or Participants, as applicable, that are Swiss Non-Qualifying Lenders, does not exceed ten (10).
For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the term “Approved Fund” and “Ineligible Institution” have the following meanings:
“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Ineligible Institution” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) the Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, (d) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof or (e) a Disqualified Institution.
(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.
(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of each Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Company, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(v) Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
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(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Company, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”), other than an Ineligible Institution, in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (C) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (D) without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, no participation shall be sold to a prospective participant that bears a relationship to the Company described in Section 108(e)(4) of the Code and (E) each Participant shall be a Swiss Qualifying Lender or, if not, the prior written consent of each Swiss Borrower has been obtained (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided that no Swiss Borrower shall consent to a participation that would be in violation of the Swiss Non-Bank Rules; provided, further, that no consent of any Swiss Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) or in clause (i) of Section 9.04(a) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(j)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(c) 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 Treasury Regulations Section 5f.103-1(c) and Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(b) (or any amended or successor version). 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.
(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Company’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 unless the Company is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Company, to comply with Section 2.17(e) and (h) as though it were a Lender.
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(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(e) Disqualified Institutions.
(i) No assignment or participation shall be made to any Person that was a Disqualified Institution as of the date (the “Trade Date”) on which the assigning Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign or grant a participation in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless the Company has consented to such assignment or participation in writing in its sole and absolute discretion, in which case such Person will not be considered a Disqualified Institution for the purpose of such assignment or participation). For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any assignee or Participant that becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date (including as a result of the delivery of a notice pursuant to, and/or the expiration of the notice period referred to in, the definition of “Disqualified Institution”), (x) such assignee or Participant shall not retroactively be disqualified from being a Lender or Participant and (y) the execution by the Company of an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignee will not by itself result in such assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Institution. Any assignment or participation in violation of this clause (e)(i) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this clause (e) shall apply.
(ii) If any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Institution without the Company’s prior written consent in violation of clause (i) above, or if any Person becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date, the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, require such Disqualified Institution to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 9.04), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Institutions to whom an assignment or participation is made in violation of clause (i) above (A) will not have the right to (x) receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Company, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders (or any of them) and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Institution will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Institutions consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any plan of reorganization, each Disqualified Institution party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such plan of reorganization, (2) if such Disqualified Institution does vote on such plan of reorganization notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other applicable laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such plan of reorganization in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other applicable laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).
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(iv) The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Company hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, to (A) post the list of Disqualified Institutions provided by the Company and any updates thereto from time to time (collectively, the “DQ List”) on an Approved Electronic Platform, including that portion of such Approved Electronic Platform that is designated for “public side” Lenders and/or (B) provide the DQ List to each Lender or potential Lender requesting the same.
(v) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, by any other Person to any Disqualified Institution.
Section 9.05 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.
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Section 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 9.01), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf, or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it (it being understood and agreed that the Administrative Agent accepts, consents to and approves of transmission through electronic means of any Electronic Signature that is a reproduction of an image of an actual executed signature page); provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Company or any other Loan Party without further verification thereof (other than any Electronic Signature actually known by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, to be unauthorized or otherwise invalid) and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic Signature and (b) each Loan Party shall be entitled to rely on the Electronic Signatures of the Administrative Agent and each Lender purportedly given by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, without further verification thereof (other than any Electronic Signature actually known by such Loan Party to be unauthorized or otherwise invalid) and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic Signatures and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be followed, as soon as reasonably practicable, by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Loan Parties hereby (i) agree that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Loan Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf, or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (ii) agree that the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (iii) waive any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (iv) waive any claim against any Indemnitee for any Liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf, or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Company and/or any other Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature, other than any Liabilities (x) determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Lender-Related Person or (y) that result from a claim brought by any Loan Party and/or any Subsidiary thereof against any Lender-Related Person for material breach in bad faith of this Section 9.06 if such Loan Party or such Subsidiary has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction in its favor on such claim.
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Section 9.07 Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 9.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Bank, and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, but excluding deposits held in a trustee, fiduciary, agency or similar capacity or otherwise for the benefit of a third party) at any time held, and other obligations at any time owing, by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of any 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 such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, Issuing Bank or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations of such Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.24 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and Issuing Bank 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.
Section 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(b) Each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, notwithstanding the governing law provisions of any applicable Loan Document, any claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the consummation or administration of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
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(c) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to only the jurisdiction of (i) the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan) and (ii) any U.S. federal or Illinois state court sitting in Chicago, Illinois, and in each case 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 the transactions relating hereto or thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such Federal (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall (i) affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction, (ii) waive any statutory, regulatory, common law, or other rule, doctrine, legal restriction, provision or the like providing for the treatment of bank branches, bank agencies, or other bank offices as if they were separate juridical entities for certain purposes, including Uniform Commercial Code Sections 4-106, 4-A-105(1)(b), and 5-116(b), UCP 600 Article 3 and ISP98 Rule 2.02, and URDG 758 Article 3(a), (iii) affect which courts have or do not have personal jurisdiction over the issuing bank or beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any advising bank, nominated bank or assignee of proceeds thereunder or proper venue with respect to any litigation arising out of or relating to such Letter of Credit with, or affecting the rights of, any Person not a party to this Agreement, whether or not such Letter of Credit contains its own jurisdiction submission clause, or (iv) in respect of any Loan Party incorporated in Luxembourg only, any courts having jurisdiction where the head office, central administration, centre of main interest, place of effective management, domicile and/or establishment of that Loan Party is situated or where any asset of that Loan Party is situated.
(d) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (c) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(e) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. The Parent, the Company, HSHI and each Affiliate Borrower irrevocably designates and appoints the Service of Process Agent, as its authorized agent, to accept and acknowledge on its behalf, service of any and all process which may be served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 9.09(b) in any federal or New York State court sitting in New York City. HSHI hereby represents, warrants and confirms that HSHI has agreed to accept such appointment. Subject to the terms and conditions of Section 5.10, said designation and appointment shall be irrevocable by the Parent, the Company and HSHI, and such designation shall also be irrevocable by each such Affiliate Borrower until all Loans, all reimbursement obligations, interest thereon and all other amounts payable by such Affiliate Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall have been paid in full in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof and such Affiliate Borrower shall have been terminated as a Borrower hereunder pursuant to Section 2.23. The Parent, the Company, HSHI and each Affiliate Borrower hereby consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 9.09(b) in any federal or New York State court sitting in New York City by service of process upon the Service of Process Agent as provided in this Section 9.09(d); provided that, to the extent lawful and possible, notice of said service upon such agent shall be mailed by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Service of Process Agent, and to the Parent, the Company, HSHI and each such Affiliate Borrower at its address set forth in the Affiliate Borrowing Agreement to which it is a party or to any other address of which the Company or such Affiliate Borrower, as applicable, shall have given written notice to the Administrative Agent (with a copy thereof to the Service of Process Agent). The Parent, the Company, HSHI and each Affiliate Borrower irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all claim of error by reason of any such service in such manner and agrees that such service shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Parent, the Company, HSHI or such Affiliate Borrower, as applicable, in any such suit, action or proceeding and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid and personal service upon and personal delivery to the Parent, the Company, HSHI or such Affiliate Borrower, as applicable. To the extent the Parent, the Company, HSHI or any Affiliate Borrower has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether from service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of a judgment, execution or otherwise), the Parent, the Company, HSHI and each Affiliate Borrower hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under the Loan Documents. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
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Section 9.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
Section 9.11 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
Section 9.12 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential to the same extent as if they were parties hereto), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required (i) by applicable laws or regulations or (ii) by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (it being understood that the DQ List may be disclosed to any assignee or Participant, or prospective assignee or Participant, in reliance on and subject to the terms of this clause (f)(i)) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap, derivative or insurance transaction relating to any Borrower and its obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to (A) any rating agency in connection with rating the Company or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein or (B) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein, (h) with the written consent of the Company or (i) to the extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (B) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Lender, as applicable, reasonably believes is not prohibited from disclosing such information to such party in violation of a duty of confidentiality to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. In the event of disclosure pursuant to clause (c)(ii) above, the applicable disclosing Person shall, (x) to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, as promptly as practicable notify the Company in writing of such required disclosure, (y) so furnish only that portion of the Information which such disclosing Person reasonably determines (which may be in reliance on the advice of legal counsel) it is legally required to disclose and (z) use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any such Information so disclosed is accorded confidential treatment. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information which is received from or on behalf of the Company relating to the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or their respective business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information but in no event less than a reasonable degree of care.
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For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 9.12 shall prohibit any Person from voluntarily disclosing or providing any Information within the scope of this confidentiality provision to any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization (any such entity, a “Regulatory Authority”) to the extent that any such prohibition on disclosure set forth in this Section 9.12 shall be prohibited by the laws or regulations applicable to such Regulatory Authority.
EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE COMPANY AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW AND AGREES TO UPDATE SUCH CREDIT CONTACT BY NOTICE TO THE COMPANY AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FROM TIME TO TIME AS NECESSARY TO CAUSE THE FOREGOING REPRESENTATION TO BE TRUE AT ALL TIMES.
Section 9.13 USA PATRIOT Act; Beneficial Ownership Regulation. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”) and the requirements of the Beneficial Ownership Regulation hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name, address and tax identification number of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Section 9.14 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the applicable Overnight Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
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Section 9.15 No Fiduciary Duty, etc.
(a) Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that no Credit Party will have any obligations except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and each Credit Party is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to such Loan Party with respect to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated herein and therein and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, such Loan Party or any other person. Each Loan Party agrees that it will not assert any claim against any Credit Party based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by such Credit Party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Additionally, each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that no Credit Party is advising such Loan Party as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the credit facilities evidenced hereby. Each Loan Party shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Loan Documents, and the Credit Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to any Loan Party with respect thereto.
(b) Each Loan Party further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party, together with its Affiliates, in addition to providing or participating in commercial lending facilities such as that provided hereunder, is a full service securities or banking firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities as well as providing investment banking and other financial services. In the ordinary course of business, any Credit Party may provide investment banking and other financial services to, and/or acquire, hold or sell, for its own accounts and the accounts of customers, equity, debt and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and other companies with which such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries may have commercial or other relationships. With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Credit Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.
(c) In addition, each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party and its Affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other companies in respect of which such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise. No Credit Party will use Information obtained from the Loan Party by virtue of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or its other relationships with the Loan Party in connection with the performance by such Credit Party of services for other companies, and no Credit Party will furnish any such Information to other companies. Each Loan Party also acknowledges that no Credit Party has any obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, or to furnish to such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, confidential information obtained from other companies.
Section 9.16 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
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(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.
To the extent not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, each Lender shall notify the Company and the Administrative Agent if it has become the subject of a Bail-In Action (or any case or other proceeding in which a Bail-In Action may occur).
Section 9.17 Confirmation of Lender’s Status as Swiss Qualifying Lender. Each Lender represents and warrants to the Loan Parties that, on the date of this Agreement (or, if later, the date such Lender becomes a party hereto), unless notified in writing to the Company and the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date (or such later date), it is a Swiss Qualifying Lender and has not entered into a participation arrangement with respect to this Agreement with any Person that is a Swiss Non-Qualifying Lender. Any Person that shall become a successor, assign or Participant with respect to any Lender pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that it is a Swiss Qualifying Lender and has not entered into a participation arrangement with respect to this Agreement with any Person that is a Swiss Non-Qualifying Lender or, if not, such Person accounts as one single creditor for purposes of the Swiss Non-Bank Rules. Each Lender shall promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent if for any reason it ceases to be a Swiss Qualifying Lender and/or it enters into a participation arrangement with respect to this Agreement with any Person that is a Swiss Non-Qualifying Lender.
Section 9.18 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Hedging Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
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Article X.
Parent Guarantee
In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrowers hereunder or to any of the Parent’s Subsidiaries under Hedging Agreements and Banking Services Agreements, and for other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged) the Parent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the payment when and as due, subject to the notice provisions contained in this Article X, of the Obligations and the Specified Ancillary Obligations (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The Parent further agrees that the due and punctual payment of such Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of any such Guaranteed Obligation. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, (i) the Guaranteed Obligations shall in no event be broader than the performance of the related Obligations or Specified Ancillary Obligations in accordance with their terms and (ii) nothing contained in this Article X shall affect or otherwise impair any rights (including rights of setoff or counterclaim) that the applicable Borrower or Subsidiary may have against any holder of Guaranteed Obligation under the applicable Hedging Agreement and/or Banking Services Agreement, as applicable, by reason of any action or failure to act of such holder thereunder (including, without limitation, any breach or default of such holder under the related Hedging Agreement or Banking Services Agreement).
The Parent waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any Subsidiary of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and also waives, other than as set forth in this Article X, notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The obligations of the Parent under this Article X shall not be affected by: (a) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against any Subsidiary under the provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or release from, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any other agreement (other than to the extent provided for in any express, written release, amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any of this Article X made in accordance with Section 9.02); (d) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (e) the failure of the Administrative Agent (or any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates)) to take any steps to perfect and maintain any security interest in, or to preserve any rights to, any security or collateral for the Guaranteed Obligations, if any; (f) any change in the corporate, partnership or other existence, structure or ownership of any Subsidiary or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (g) the enforceability or validity of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any Subsidiary or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, for any reason related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any provision of applicable law, decree, order or regulation of any jurisdiction purporting to prohibit the payment by such Subsidiary or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise affecting any term of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (h) any other act, omission or delay to do any other act which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Parent or otherwise operate as a discharge of a guarantor as a matter of law or equity or which would impair or eliminate any right of the Parent to subrogation.
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The Parent further agrees that its agreement hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in favor of any Subsidiary or any other Person.
The obligations of the Parent hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise.
The Parent further agrees that its obligations hereunder shall constitute a continuing and irrevocable guarantee of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Guaranteed Obligation (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or is or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) upon the insolvency, examinership, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Subsidiary or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a holder of Guaranteed Obligations in its discretion).
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) may have at law or in equity against the Parent by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any Subsidiary to pay any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Parent hereby promises to and will, promptly but in any event within two (2) Business Days following receipt of written demand by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates), forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in cash an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the Guaranteed Obligations then due, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Parent further agrees that if payment in respect of any Guaranteed Obligation shall be due in a currency other than Dollars and/or at a place of payment other than New York, Chicago or any other Foreign Currency Payment Office and if, by reason of any Change in Law, disruption of currency or foreign exchange markets, war or civil disturbance or other similar event, payment of such Guaranteed Obligation in such currency or at such place of payment shall be impossible or, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates), disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of such Lender’s Affiliates) in any material respect, then, at the election of the Administrative Agent, the Parent shall make payment of such Guaranteed Obligation in Dollars (based upon the Dollar Amount of such Guaranteed Obligation on the date of payment) and/or in New York, Chicago or such other Foreign Currency Payment Office as is designated by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and, as a separate and independent obligation, shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender (and such Lender’s Affiliates), as applicable, against any losses or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that it shall sustain as a result of such alternative payment.
Upon payment by the Parent of any sums as provided above, all rights of the Parent against any Subsidiary arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Guaranteed Obligations owed by such Subsidiary.
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Nothing shall discharge or satisfy the liability of the Parent hereunder except the full performance and payment in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations.
Article XI.
PRIMARY BORROWERS CROSS-GUARANTEE
In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit to the other Primary Borrowers hereunder or to any of such other Primary Borrower’s Subsidiaries under Hedging Agreements and Banking Services Agreements, and for other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged) each Primary Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the payment when and as due, subject to the notice provisions contained in this Article XI, of the Obligations of the other Primary Borrowers under this Agreement and the Specified Primary Borrower Ancillary Obligations (collectively, the “Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations”). Each Primary Borrower further agrees that the due and punctual payment of such Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of any such Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligation. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, (i) the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations shall in no event be broader than the performance of the related Obligations or Specified Primary Borrower Ancillary Obligations in accordance with their terms and (ii) nothing contained in this Article XI shall affect or otherwise impair any rights (including rights of setoff or counterclaim) that the applicable Primary Borrower or Subsidiary thereof may have against any holder of Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligation under the applicable Hedging Agreement and/or Banking Services Agreement, as applicable, by reason of any action or failure to act of such holder thereunder (including, without limitation, any breach or default of such holder under the related Hedging Agreement or Banking Services Agreement).
Each Primary Borrower waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any Primary Borrower or Subsidiary thereof of any of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations, and also waives, other than as set forth in this Article XI, notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The obligations of each Primary Borrower under this Article XI shall not be affected by: (a) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against any Primary Borrower or Subsidiary thereof under the provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or release from, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any other agreement (other than to the extent provided for in any express, written release, amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any of this Article XI made in accordance with Section 9.02); (d) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations; (e) the failure of the Administrative Agent (or any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates)) to take any steps to perfect and maintain any security interest in, or to preserve any rights to, any security or collateral for the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations, if any; (f) any change in the corporate, partnership or other existence, structure or ownership of any Primary Borrower or Subsidiary thereof or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations; (g) the enforceability or validity of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral securing the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any Primary Borrower or Subsidiary thereof or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations, for any reason related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Hedging Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any provision of applicable law, decree, order or regulation of any jurisdiction purporting to prohibit the payment by such Primary Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations, of any of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations or otherwise affecting any term of any of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations; or (h) any other act, omission or delay to do any other act which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Primary Borrower or otherwise operate as a discharge of a guarantor as a matter of law or equity or which would impair or eliminate any right of such Primary Borrower or Subsidiary thereof to subrogation.
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Each Primary Borrower further agrees that its agreement hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in favor of any Primary Borrower or any other Person.
The obligations of each Primary Borrower hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations or otherwise.
Each Primary Borrower further agrees that its obligations hereunder shall constitute a continuing and irrevocable guarantee of all Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligation (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or is or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) upon the insolvency, examinership, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Primary Borrower or Subsidiary thereof or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a holder of Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations in its discretion).
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) may have at law or in equity against any Primary Borrower by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any other Primary Borrower or Subsidiary thereof to pay any Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Primary Borrower hereby promises to and will, promptly but in any event within two (2) Business Days following receipt of written demand by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates), forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in cash an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations then due, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Each Primary Borrower further agrees that if payment in respect of any Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligation shall be due in a currency other than Dollars and/or at a place of payment other than New York, Chicago or any other Foreign Currency Payment Office and if, by reason of any Change in Law, disruption of currency or foreign exchange markets, war or civil disturbance or other similar event, payment of such Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligation in such currency or at such place of payment shall be impossible or, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of its Affiliates), disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or any of such Lender’s Affiliates) in any material respect, then, at the election of the Administrative Agent, such Primary Borrower shall make payment of such Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligation in Dollars (based upon the Dollar Amount of such Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligation on the date of payment) and/or in New York, Chicago or such other Foreign Currency Payment Office as is designated by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and, as a separate and independent obligation, shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender (and such Lender’s Affiliates), as applicable, against any losses or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that it shall sustain as a result of such alternative payment.
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Upon payment by any Primary Borrower of any sums as provided above, all rights of such Primary Borrower against any Primary Borrower or Subsidiary thereof arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations owed by such Primary Borrower or Subsidiary thereof.
Nothing shall discharge or satisfy the liability of any Primary Borrower hereunder except the full performance and payment in cash of the Guaranteed Primary Borrower Obligations.
No Primary Borrower may be released from its obligations under this Article XI without the written consent of each Lender; provided that HSHI shall be released from its obligations under this Article XI upon HSHI ceasing to be a Borrower under this Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 2.23.
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