UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Introductory Note
As previously announced, on February 4, 2026, SiTime Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“SiTime” or the “Company”), entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) with Renesas Electronics America Inc., a California corporation (“Renesas”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to acquire, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement, all of Renesas’s right, title and interest in, to and under certain assets related to the timing business of Renesas Electronics Corporation (the “Business”).
On July 1, 2026 (the “Closing Date”), the Company and Renesas completed the acquisition (the “Acquisition”) in accordance with the Asset Purchase Agreement, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1,500,000,000 in cash (the “Purchase Price”) and 3,558,691 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Shares”), subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement. The Purchase Price was funded through cash on hand, and SiTime purchased the Business through the acquisition of certain assets related to the Business from Renesas and certain affiliates of Renesas.
| Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
The disclosure set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
Credit Agreement
On June 30, 2026 (the “Effective Date”), the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among the Company as borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Lenders.
The Credit Agreement provides for a senior secured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 (the “Revolving Credit Facility”; and any loans thereunder, the “Revolving Loans”), including a $10,000,000 sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit. In addition, the Company has the right at any time and from time to time to incur one or more additional revolving commitments and/or incremental term loans up to an unlimited amount, subject to certain customary conditions precedent and other requirements, including compliance with a specified leverage ratio. The Lenders are not obligated to provide any such additional commitments or loans. The proceeds of the Revolving Loans may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. As of the Effective Date, there are no outstanding loans under the Credit Agreement.
The maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility is the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date, subject to a springing maturity that is 91 days prior to the earliest scheduled maturity date of any Inside Date Convertible Debt (as defined in the Credit Agreement, including the Company’s 0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2031) if the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Inside Date Convertible Debt exceeds the greater of $270,000,000 and 75% of Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) at such time, unless either (i) the Company’s liquidity (which includes amounts available under the Revolving Credit Facility and the consolidated unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries) at such time is greater than 125% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Inside Date Convertible Debt or (ii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) does not exceed 2.50 to 1.00 for the then most recently completed four fiscal quarters.
Revolving Loans may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed, until their maturity date under the Credit Agreement, and may be prepaid by the Company without premium or penalty (subject to customary breakage costs). The Revolving Loans bear interest, at the Company’s option, at a rate equal to either (i) term SOFR, plus an applicable margin ranging
from 1.75% to 2.50% per annum based on the Total Net Leverage Ratio, or (ii) a base rate equal to the highest of (w) 1.00%, (x) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (y) the prime rate and (z) term SOFR for an interest period of one month plus 1.00%, plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.75% to 1.50% per annum based on the Total Net Leverage Ratio. Undrawn commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility are subject to a commitment fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.40% per annum based on the Total Net Leverage Ratio on the average daily unused portion of such commitment that is available to the Company. The applicable margin for and certain other terms of any additional revolving commitments or incremental term loans will be determined prior to the incurrence of such commitments or loans.
The Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants. The negative covenants include restrictions on liens, investments, indebtedness, fundamental changes, restricted payments, transactions with affiliates, prepayments of subordinated debt and other matters, all subject to certain exceptions. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains financial covenants that require the Company to maintain (i) a maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio of (x) 4.50:1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending on September 30, 2026, (y) 4.00:1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending on December 31, 2026 and March 31, 2027, and (z) 3.50:1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending on June 30, 2027 and each fiscal quarter thereafter, and (ii) a minimum Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of 3.00:1.00, in each case, tested at the end of each fiscal quarter. The Total Net Leverage Ratio covenant is subject to a 0.50:1.00 step-up for four fiscal quarters following any Material Acquisition (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
The obligations under the Credit Agreement and, at the Company’s election, any secured hedging obligations and cash management obligations owing to a Lender (or an affiliate of a Lender), are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. In addition, such obligations will be required to be guaranteed by, and secured by substantially all of the assets of, any future material domestic subsidiaries of the Company.
The Credit Agreement includes customary events of default that include, among other things: non-payment of principal, interest or fees; inaccuracy of representations and warranties; violation of certain covenants; cross default to certain other indebtedness; bankruptcy and insolvency events; material judgments; change of control; certain material ERISA events; and invalidity of loan documents, subject to thresholds and cure periods as set forth in the Credit Agreement. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, the Lenders may terminate their commitments and accelerate any outstanding obligations under the Credit Agreement and may exercise certain other rights and remedies provided for under the Credit Agreement, the other loan documents and applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, acceleration will be automatic in the case of bankruptcy and insolvency events of default involving the Company. Under certain circumstances, a default interest rate will apply to all obligations during the existence of an event of default under the Credit Agreement at a per annum rate equal to 2.00% above the otherwise applicable interest rate.
A copy of the Credit Agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Agreement.
Private Placement and Registration Rights Agreement
In addition, on the Closing Date, the Company and Renesas entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) in connection with the Acquisition, pursuant to which the Company agreed to file a registration statement (or a prospectus supplement to an effective shelf registration statement) (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as promptly as reasonably practicable following the written request of Renesas for purposes of registering the resale of the Shares, and to keep the Registration Statement effective until the date that all Shares covered by the Registration Statement (i) have been resold or (ii) may be resold without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144. The Registration Rights Agreement also entitles Renesas to require the Company to effect underwritten offerings of the Shares from time to time, subject to a limit of three underwritten offerings during any 18-month period. Resales of the Shares by Renesas are also subject to volume and other limitations set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. Additionally, the Registration Rights Agreement provides that upon receipt of notice, the Company will appoint Hidetoshi Shibata, the current Chief Executive Officer of Renesas Electronics Corporation, to the Board of Directors of the Company as a Class I director.
The Shares were issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to the exemption for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D of the Securities Act and in reliance on similar exemptions under applicable state laws. The Shares are being offered without any general solicitation by the Company or its representatives. The Shares will not initially be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the SEC or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.
A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Transition Services Agreement
On the Closing Date, the Company and Renesas entered into a Transition Services Agreement (the “Transition Services Agreement”) pursuant to which, following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement, each of the Company and Renesas has agreed to provide or cause to be provided to the other certain transitional services for specified periods following the Closing Date in connection with the Company’s operation of the Business and Renesas’s operation of its remaining business. The Transition Services Agreement includes customary provisions regarding service fees, reimbursement of expenses, invoicing and payment, the standard of care applicable to the performance of services, intellectual property ownership and licensing, confidentiality, indemnification, limitation of liability, and termination, as well as a cap on the Company’s aggregate fees and out-of-pocket costs (other than amounts payable under purchase orders).
A copy of the Transition Services Agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Transition Services Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Transition Services Agreement.
| Item 2.01 | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
The disclosure set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.
A copy of the Asset Purchase Agreement was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on February 4, 2026, and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Asset Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Asset Purchase Agreement.
| Item 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The disclosure set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K regarding the Revolving Credit Facility is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
| Item 3.02 | Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities. |
The disclosure set forth in the Introductory Note and Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K regarding the private placement of the Shares is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 3.02.
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On June 29, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Company, upon the recommendation of its Compensation and Talent Committee, adopted a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”), effective July 1, 2026, which provides directors and a select group of employees of the Company (including all of the named executive officers) with the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of base pay, bonus, commissions, and certain other cash or equity-based compensation on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan. The Plan also allows the Company to make discretionary contributions to participant accounts that may be subject to one or more vesting schedules. Distributions of participant accounts will be made following a participant’s separation of service, death, unforeseeable emergency, or as of a future payment date, all generally as elected by the participant.
A copy of the form of Plan is attached as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan.
| Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On July 1, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the completion of the Acquisition. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(a) Financial statements of business acquired.
The Company will provide the financial statements required to be filed by Item 9.01(a) of Form 8-K by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than the 71st day after the required filing date for this Current Report on Form 8-K.
(b) Pro forma financial information.
The Company will provide the pro forma financial statements required to be filed by Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than the 71st day after the required filing date for this Current Report on Form 8-K.
(d) Exhibits.
| * | Pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC, certain schedules and attachments to this exhibit have been omitted because they do not contain information material to an investment or voting decision and that information is not otherwise disclosed in the exhibit. |
| ** | The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1 furnished thereunder, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of such section. The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report, including the exhibits furnished thereunder, shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, regardless of any incorporation by reference language in any such filing. The disclosure in Item 7.01 of this Current Report will not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information in such item in this Current Report that is required to be disclosed solely by Regulation FD. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| SiTime Corporation | ||||||
| Date: July 1, 2026 |
|
By: | /s/ Vincent P. Pangrazio | |||
| Vincent P. Pangrazio | ||||||
| Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | ||||||
Exhibit 10.1
Deal CUSIP: 82983LAA0
Revolving Credit Commitment CUSIP: 82983LAB8
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 30, 2026
among
SITIME CORPORATION,
as the Borrower,
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,
AND
UBS SECURITIES LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
Table of Contents
| Page | ||||||
| ARTICLE I | ||||||
| DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS | ||||||
| Section 1.01. |
Defined Terms | 1 | ||||
| Section 1.02. |
Other Interpretive Provisions | 66 | ||||
| Section 1.03. |
Accounting Terms | 66 | ||||
| Section 1.04. |
Rounding | 68 | ||||
| Section 1.05. |
References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. | 68 | ||||
| Section 1.06. |
Times of Day | 68 | ||||
| Section 1.07. |
Timing of Payment or Performance | 68 | ||||
| Section 1.08. |
Currency Equivalents Generally | 68 | ||||
| Section 1.09. |
Certain Calculations and Tests | 69 | ||||
| Section 1.10. |
Alternative Currencies | 71 | ||||
| Section 1.11. |
Letter of Credit Amounts | 72 | ||||
| Section 1.12. |
Divisions | 72 | ||||
| Section 1.13. |
Designation of Borrowers | 72 | ||||
| Section 1.14. |
Interest Rates | 74 | ||||
| ARTICLE II | ||||||
| THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS | ||||||
| Section 2.01. |
The Loans and Commitments | 74 | ||||
| Section 2.02. |
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans | 75 | ||||
| Section 2.03. |
Letters of Credit | 78 | ||||
| Section 2.04. |
[Reserved] | 89 | ||||
| Section 2.05. |
Prepayments | 89 | ||||
| Section 2.06. |
Termination or Reduction of Commitments | 91 | ||||
| Section 2.07. |
Repayment of Loans | 91 | ||||
| Section 2.08. |
Interest | 92 | ||||
| Section 2.09. |
Fees | 92 | ||||
| Section 2.10. |
Computation of Interest and Fees | 93 | ||||
| Section 2.11. |
Evidence of Indebtedness | 93 | ||||
| Section 2.12. |
Payments Generally | 93 | ||||
| Section 2.13. |
Sharing of Payments | 96 | ||||
| Section 2.14. |
Incremental Credit Extensions | 97 | ||||
| Section 2.15. |
Extensions of Revolving Credit Commitments and Extensions of Term Loans | 101 | ||||
| Section 2.16. |
Defaulting Lenders | 104 | ||||
| ARTICLE III | ||||||
| TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY | ||||||
| Section 3.01. |
Taxes | 106 | ||||
| Section 3.02. |
Changed Circumstances; Benchmark Replacement Setting | 110 | ||||
| Section 3.03. |
Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy | 112 | ||||
| Section 3.04. |
Funding Losses | 113 | ||||
i
| Section 3.05. |
Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation | 114 | ||||
| Section 3.06. |
Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances | 115 | ||||
| Section 3.07. |
Illegality | 117 | ||||
| Section 3.08. |
Survival | 118 | ||||
| Section 3.09. |
Interest Rate Limitation | 118 | ||||
| ARTICLE IV | ||||||
| CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS | ||||||
| Section 4.01. |
Conditions to Effectiveness | 118 | ||||
| Section 4.02. |
Conditions to Subsequent Credit Extensions | 121 | ||||
| ARTICLE V | ||||||
| REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | ||||||
| Section 5.01. |
Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws | 122 | ||||
| Section 5.02. |
Authorization; No Contravention | 122 | ||||
| Section 5.03. |
Governmental Authorization; Other Consents | 122 | ||||
| Section 5.04. |
Binding Effect | 123 | ||||
| Section 5.05. |
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect | 123 | ||||
| Section 5.06. |
Litigation | 123 | ||||
| Section 5.07. |
Ownership of Property; Liens | 123 | ||||
| Section 5.08. |
Environmental Matters | 124 | ||||
| Section 5.09. |
Taxes | 124 | ||||
| Section 5.10. |
Compliance with ERISA | 125 | ||||
| Section 5.11. |
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests | 125 | ||||
| Section 5.12. |
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act | 126 | ||||
| Section 5.13. |
Disclosure | 126 | ||||
| Section 5.14. |
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. | 126 | ||||
| Section 5.15. |
Solvency | 127 | ||||
| Section 5.16. |
Collateral Documents | 127 | ||||
| Section 5.17. |
Use of Proceeds | 127 | ||||
| Section 5.18. |
Sanctions Laws and Regulations and Anti-Corruption Laws | 127 | ||||
| Section 5.19. |
No Default | 128 | ||||
| Section 5.20. |
Insurance | 128 | ||||
| Section 5.21. |
Outbound Investment Rules | 128 | ||||
| ARTICLE VI | ||||||
| AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | ||||||
| Section 6.01. |
Financial Statements | 129 | ||||
| Section 6.02. |
Certificates; Other Information | 130 | ||||
| Section 6.03. |
Notices | 131 | ||||
| Section 6.04. |
Maintenance of Existence | 132 | ||||
| Section 6.05. |
Maintenance of Properties | 132 | ||||
| Section 6.06. |
Maintenance of Insurance | 132 | ||||
| Section 6.07. |
Compliance with Laws and Regulations | 132 | ||||
| Section 6.08. |
Books and Records | 133 | ||||
| Section 6.09. |
Inspection Rights | 133 | ||||
| Section 6.10. |
Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security | 133 | ||||
ii
| Section 6.11. |
Use of Proceeds | 134 | ||||
| Section 6.12. |
Further Assurances and Post-Closing Covenants | 135 | ||||
| Section 6.13. |
Designation of Subsidiaries | 135 | ||||
| Section 6.14. |
Payment of Taxes | 136 | ||||
| Section 6.15. |
Nature of Business | 136 | ||||
| ARTICLE VII | ||||||
| NEGATIVE COVENANTS | ||||||
| Section 7.01. |
Liens | 137 | ||||
| Section 7.02. |
Investments | 141 | ||||
| Section 7.03. |
Indebtedness | 145 | ||||
| Section 7.04. |
Fundamental Changes | 149 | ||||
| Section 7.05. |
[Reserved] | 151 | ||||
| Section 7.06. |
Restricted Payments | 151 | ||||
| Section 7.07. |
Transactions with Affiliates | 153 | ||||
| Section 7.08. |
Prepayments, Etc., of Subordinated Debt | 154 | ||||
| Section 7.09. |
Fiscal Year | 155 | ||||
| Section 7.10. |
Subsidiary Distributions and Negative Pledge Clauses | 155 | ||||
| Section 7.11. |
Financial Covenants | 157 | ||||
| Section 7.12. |
Outbound Investment Rules | 158 | ||||
| ARTICLE VIII | ||||||
| EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES | ||||||
| Section 8.01. |
Events of Default | 158 | ||||
| Section 8.02. |
Remedies Upon Event of Default | 161 | ||||
| Section 8.03. |
Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries | 162 | ||||
| Section 8.04. |
Application of Funds | 162 | ||||
| ARTICLE IX | ||||||
| ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS | ||||||
| Section 9.01. |
Appointment and Authorization of Agents | 163 | ||||
| Section 9.02. |
Delegation of Duties | 164 | ||||
| Section 9.03. |
Liability of Agents | 165 | ||||
| Section 9.04. |
Reliance by Agents | 166 | ||||
| Section 9.05. |
Notice of Default | 166 | ||||
| Section 9.06. |
Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents | 167 | ||||
| Section 9.07. |
Indemnification of Agents | 167 | ||||
| Section 9.08. |
Agents in Their Individual Capacities | 168 | ||||
| Section 9.09. |
Successor Agents | 168 | ||||
| Section 9.10. |
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 169 | ||||
| Section 9.11. |
Collateral and Guaranty Matters | 171 | ||||
| Section 9.12. |
Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers | 172 | ||||
| Section 9.13. |
Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents. | 173 | ||||
| Section 9.14. |
Withholding Tax | 174 | ||||
| Section 9.15. |
Cash Management Obligations; Secured Hedge Agreements | 174 | ||||
| Section 9.16. |
Recovery of Erroneous Payments | 174 | ||||
iii
| ARTICLE X | ||||||
| MISCELLANEOUS | ||||||
| Section 10.01. |
Amendments, Etc. | 177 | ||||
| Section 10.02. |
Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies | 180 | ||||
| Section 10.03. |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies | 182 | ||||
| Section 10.04. |
Attorney Costs and Expenses | 182 | ||||
| Section 10.05. |
Indemnification by the Borrower | 183 | ||||
| Section 10.06. |
Payments Set Aside | 184 | ||||
| Section 10.07. |
Successors and Assigns | 185 | ||||
| Section 10.08. |
Confidentiality | 190 | ||||
| Section 10.09. |
Setoff | 192 | ||||
| Section 10.10. |
Counterparts | 192 | ||||
| Section 10.11. |
Integration | 192 | ||||
| Section 10.12. |
Survival of Representations and Warranties | 193 | ||||
| Section 10.13. |
Severability | 193 | ||||
| Section 10.14. |
GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION, SERVICE OF PROCESS | 193 | ||||
| Section 10.15. |
WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY | 194 | ||||
| Section 10.16. |
Binding Effect | 194 | ||||
| Section 10.17. |
Judgment Currency | 194 | ||||
| Section 10.18. |
Lender Action | 195 | ||||
| Section 10.19. |
Know-Your-Customer, Etc. | 195 | ||||
| Section 10.20. |
USA PATRIOT Act | 195 | ||||
| Section 10.21. |
Intercreditor Agreements | 196 | ||||
| Section 10.22. |
Obligations Absolute | 196 | ||||
| Section 10.23. |
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 196 | ||||
| Section 10.24. |
Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents | 198 | ||||
| Section 10.25. |
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 199 | ||||
| Section 10.26. |
Lender Representation | 199 | ||||
| Section 10.27. |
Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCs | 200 | ||||
SCHEDULES
| 2.01 | —Commitments | |
| 2.03(a) | —Existing Letters of Credit | |
| 2.10 | —Day Basis for Alternative Currencies | |
| 6.12 | —Post-Closing Covenants | |
| 10.02 | —Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices |
EXHIBITS
| Form of | ||||
| A | — | Committed Loan Notice | ||
| B | — | Note | ||
| C | — | Compliance Certificate | ||
| D | — | Assignment and Assumption | ||
| E | — | Guaranty | ||
| F-1 | — | Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement | ||
iv
| F-2 | — | Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement | ||
| G | — | Security Agreement | ||
| H | — | United States Tax Compliance Certificate | ||
v
CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of June 30, 2026, among SITIME CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“Wells Fargo”), as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, each L/C Issuer from time to time party hereto, and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”).
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
1. The Borrower has requested that the Lenders and L/C Issuers provide credit facilities for the purposes set forth herein.
2. The applicable Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend, and each L/C Issuer has indicated its willingness to issue Letters of Credit, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
Section 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“2031 Convertible Notes” means the 0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2031 issued by the Borrower pursuant to that certain Indenture as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, in each case, dated as of May 22, 2026, between the Borrower and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
“Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement” means a customary intercreditor agreement that is either (A) substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1 or F-2 hereto or (B) with changes to Exhibit F-1 or F-2 hereto as reasonably agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower which have not been objected to by the applicable Required Lenders within five (5) Business Days of having been posted (which shall be deemed acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Required Lenders).
“Accounting Changes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03(d).
“Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable.
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“Acquired Entity or Business” has the meaning specified in clause (b)(iv) of the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“Additional Borrower” means any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary organized in a Qualified Jurisdiction, in each case that becomes a Borrower after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 1.13.
“Additional Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d).
“Additional Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Administrative Agent” means, subject to Section 9.13, Wells Fargo in its capacity as administrative agent under the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent appointed in accordance with Section 9.09.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the 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, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Agent-Related Persons” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.
“Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, and the Supplemental Administrative Agents (if any).
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereof.
“Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17 hereof.
“Alternative Currency” means any Alternative L/C Currency or Alternative Revolver Currency, as applicable.
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“Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, subject to Section 1.08, for any amount, at the time of determination thereof, with respect to any amount expressed in Dollars, the equivalent of such amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion by reference to the most recent Spot Rate (as determined as of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.
“Alternative Currency Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders and $200,000,000. The Alternative Currency Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Commitments.
“Alternative L/C Currency” means each of Australian Dollars, Sterling, Canadian Dollars, Euro, and Japanese Yen and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.10.
“Alternative Revolver Currency” means each of Sterling, Euro, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, and Japanese Yen and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.10.
“Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Credit Extension under the Revolving Credit Facility:
(a) denominated in Sterling, the rate per annum equal to SONIA determined pursuant to the definition thereof; and
(b) denominated in any other Alternative Revolver Currency (to the extent such Loans denominated in such currency will bear interest at a daily rate), the daily rate per annum as designated with respect to such Alternative Revolver Currency at the time such Alternative Revolver Currency is approved by the Administrative Agent and the relevant Lenders pursuant to Section 1.10 plus the adjustment (if any) determined by the Administrative Agent and the relevant Lenders pursuant to Section 1.10;
provided that, if any Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement. Any change in an Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate shall be effective from and including the date of such change without further notice.
“Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the definition of “Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate.” All Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate Loans must be denominated in an Alternative Revolver Currency.
“Alternative Revolver Currency Loan” means an Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate Loan or an Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan, as applicable.
“Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate” means, for any Interest Period, with respect to any Credit Extension under the Revolving Credit Facility:
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(a) denominated in Euros, the rate per annum equal to the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR”), as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) on the day that is two TARGET Days preceding the first day of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;
(b) denominated in Canadian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the forward-looking term rate based on CORRA “Term CORRA”, as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) (in such case, the “Term CORRA Rate”) on the day that is two Business Days preceding the first day of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;
(c) denominated in Australian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Bank Bill Swap Reference Bid Rate (“BBSY”), as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) on the day that is two Business Days preceding the first day of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;
(d) denominated in Japanese Yen, the rate per annum equal to the Tokyo Interbank Offer Rate (“TIBOR”), as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) on the day that is two Business Days preceding the first day of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and
(e) denominated in any other Alternative Revolver Currency (to the extent such Loans denominated in such currency will bear interest at a term rate), the term rate per annum as designated with respect to such Alternative Revolver Currency at the time such Alternative Revolver Currency is approved by the Administrative Agent and the relevant Lenders pursuant to Section 1.10 plus the adjustment (if any) determined by the Administrative Agent and the relevant Lenders pursuant to Section 1.10;
provided that, if any Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the definition of “Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate.” All Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans must be denominated in an Alternative Revolver Currency.
“Applicable Authority” means (a) with respect to Term SOFR, CME or any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or CME and (b) with respect to any Alternative Currency, the applicable administrator for the Relevant Rate for such Alternative Currency or any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator.
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“Applicable Lending Office” means for any Lender, such Lender’s office, branch or affiliate designated for Term SOFR Loans, Base Rate Loans, Alternative Revolver Currency Loans, L/C Advances or Letters of Credit, as applicable, as notified to the Administrative Agent, any of which offices may be changed by such Lender.
“Applicable Percentage” means, at any time (a) with respect to any Lender with a Commitment of any Class, the percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of such Lender’s Commitment of such Class at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of all Commitments of such Class of all Lenders (provided that (i) in the case of Section 2.16 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility shall be determined by disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and (ii) if the Commitments under any Revolving Credit Facility have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages of the Lenders under such Revolving Credit Facility shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments thereunder most recently in effect) and (b) with respect to the Loans of any Class, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Outstanding Amount of the Loans of such Class and the denominator of which is the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans of such Class.
“Applicable Rate” means the following percentages per annum, based upon the Total Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):
| Pricing Level |
Total Net Leverage Ratio |
Applicable Rate for Term SOFR Loans and BBSY, CORRA, EURIBOR, SONIA and TIBOR Revolving Credit Loans |
Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans |
Revolver Commitment Fee |
||||||
| Level 1 |
> 4.00:1.00 | 2.50% | 1.50% | 0.40 | % | |||||
| Level 2 |
< 4.00:1.00 but > 3.00:1.00 |
2.25% | 1.25% | 0.35 | % | |||||
| Level 3 |
< 3.00:1.00 but > 2.00:1.00 |
2.00% | 1.00% | 0.30 | % | |||||
| Level 4 |
< 2.00:1.00 | 1.75% | 0.75% | 0.25 | % | |||||
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As of the Effective Date and prior to delivery of the Compliance Certificate for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2026, the Applicable Rate shall be based upon pricing Level 2. Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from delivery of a Compliance Certificate reflecting a change in Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be effective, in the case of a decrease in the Total Net Leverage Ratio, during the period commencing on the date of delivery of a Compliance Certificate reflecting such change in Total Net Leverage Ratio and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change of the Total Net Leverage Ratio and, in the case of an increase in the Total Net Leverage Ratio, during the period commencing on the date of delivery of a Compliance Certificate reflecting such change in Total Net Leverage Ratio and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above in this definition or elsewhere in this Agreement, if it is subsequently determined that the Total Net Leverage Ratio set forth in any Compliance Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent is inaccurate for any reason and the result thereof is that the Lenders received interest or fees for any period based on an Applicable Rate that is less than that which would have been applicable had the Total Net Leverage Ratio been accurately determined, then, for all purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Rate” for any day occurring within the period covered by such Compliance Certificate shall retroactively be deemed to be the relevant percentage as based upon the accurately determined Total Net Leverage Ratio for such period, and any shortfall in the interest or fees theretofore paid by the Borrower for the relevant period pursuant to Sections 2.09 and 2.10 as a result of the miscalculation of the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be (and shall be) due and payable under the relevant provisions of Sections 2.09 or 2.10, as applicable, at the time the interest or fees for such period were required to be paid pursuant to said Section (and shall remain due and payable until paid in full, together with all amounts owing under Section 2.09 (other than Section 2.09(b)), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as an Event of Default described in Section 8.01(f) has not occurred with respect to any Borrower, such shortfall shall be due and payable five (5) Business Days following the determination described above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Rate in respect of (i) any Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant Extension Offer; (ii) any Class of Extended Term Loans shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant Extension Offer; and (iii) any Class of Loans or Commitments established pursuant to any Incremental Amendment shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant Incremental Amendment.
“Applicable Time” means, with respect to any payments in any Alternative L/C Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative L/C Currency as may be determined by the applicable L/C Issuer to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.
“Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class and (b) with respect to any Letters of Credit, (i) the relevant L/C Issuer and (ii) the Revolving Credit Lenders.
“Approved Foreign Bank” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Cash Equivalents.”
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“Approved Fund” means, with respect to any Lender, any Fund that is administered, advised or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages such Lender.
“Assignees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(b).
“Assignment Tax” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Other Taxes”.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit D or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attorney Costs” means and includes all reasonable and documented fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external legal counsel.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.
“Audited Financial Statements” means (i) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower for the period covered in the most recent Form 10-K filed by the Borrower with the SEC prior to the Effective Date; and (ii) the related audited consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity of the Borrower for the period covered in the most recent Form 10-K filed by the Borrower with the SEC prior to the Effective Date.
“Australian Dollars” means the lawful currency of the Commonwealth of Australia.
“Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).
“Available Currency” means, (a) with respect to Letters of Credit, (x) Dollars and (y) Alternative L/C Currencies and (b) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans, (x) Dollars and (y) Alternative Revolver Currencies.
“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to any then-current Benchmark for any Currency, as applicable, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an interest period 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 Section 3.02(d).
“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
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(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).
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United State Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person or its parent entity becomes (other than via an Undisclosed Administration) the subject of a 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; 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; provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide 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 permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person or its parent entity.
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1.00%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Wells Fargo as its “prime rate,” (c) Term SOFR with an interest period of one month for such date plus 1.00% and (d) 1.00%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Wells Fargo based upon various factors including Wells Fargo’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing “prime rate” loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Wells Fargo shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, then the Base Rate shall be the greatest of clauses (a), (b) and (d) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“BBSY” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate.”
“Benchmark” means initially, with respect to any (a) Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, Dollars, the Term SOFR Screen Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Screen Rate or then-current Benchmark for Dollars, then “Benchmark” means, with respect to such Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts, the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 3.02 and (b) Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other
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amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to any Alternative Currency, the applicable Relevant Rate for Alternative Currency Loans denominated in such Currency; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the then-current Benchmark for such Currency, then “Benchmark” means, with respect to such Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts, the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 3.02.
“Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event for any then-current Benchmark, the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for such Benchmark 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 such Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Currency at such time and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if such Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than zero, such Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of any then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Available Tenor, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Currency at such time.
“Benchmark Replacement Date”: the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark for any Currency:
| (a) | in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or |
| (b) | in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative; provided that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date. |
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For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to the then-current Benchmark for any Currency, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such Benchmark:
| (a) | a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); |
| (b) | a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the central bank for the 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), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or |
| (c) | a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative. |
For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
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“Benchmark Transition Start Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark for any Currency, in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (a) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (b) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than 90 days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication).
“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any then-current Benchmark for any Currency, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to such Benchmark has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 3.02(a) and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 3.02(a).
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R § 1010.230, as amended or modified from time to time.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning specified in Section 10.27(b).
“Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Borrower Agent” has the meaning specified under Section 1.13(a)(vi) hereof.
“Borrower Investment Policy” means the Borrower Investment Policy delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date, as in effect on the Effective Date (including any changes to such Borrower Investment Policy approved by the board of directors (or appropriate equivalent) of the Borrower after the Effective Date, subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed)).
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Borrowing” means Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
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“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 of New York, and:
(a) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to an Alternative Revolver Currency Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Alternative Revolver Currency Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Alternative Revolver Currency Loan, means a TARGET Day;
(b) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to an Alternative Revolver Currency Loan denominated in (i) Sterling, means a day other than a day banks are closed for general business in London because such day is a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday under the laws of the United Kingdom and (ii) Japanese Yen, means a day other than when banks are closed for general business in Japan;
(c) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to an Alternative Revolver Currency Loan denominated in a currency other than, Euro, Sterling or Japanese Yen, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the applicable interbank market for such currency; and
(d) if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in a currency other than Euro or Sterling in respect of an Alternative Revolver Currency Loan denominated in a currency other than Euro or Sterling, or any other dealings in any currency other than Euro or Sterling to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Alternative Revolver Currency Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency.
“Canadian Dollars” means the lawful currency of Canada.
“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Capitalized Leases” means all leases that are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases or financing leases; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Capitalized Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability in accordance with GAAP; provided that all obligations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are or would be characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect immediately prior to the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (whether or not such operating lease was in effect at such time) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a Capitalized Lease) for purposes of this Agreement (other than for purposes of delivery of financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP) regardless of any change in GAAP following such date that would otherwise require such obligation to be recharacterized as a Capitalized Lease.
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“Cash Collateral” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).
“Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).
“Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:
(1) Dollars;
(2) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the foregoing the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;
(4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (7) of this definition entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;
(5) commercial paper rated at least “P-1” by Moody’s or at least “A-1” by S&P, and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof and Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s, with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(6) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least “P-2” or “A-2” from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation or acquisition thereof;
(7) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(8) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case having an Investment Grade Rating from Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
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(9) Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated within the top three ratings category by S&P or Moody’s;
(10) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary: (i) obligations of the national government of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in each case maturing within one year after the date of investment therein, (ii) certificates of deposit of, bankers acceptances of, or time deposits with, any commercial bank which is organized and existing under the laws of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least “P-1” or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Foreign Bank”), and in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition and (iii) the equivalent of demand deposit accounts which are maintained with an Approved Foreign Bank;
(11) Cash Equivalents of the types described in clauses (1) through (10) above denominated in Dollars, Euro, Brazilian Real, Sterling, Australian Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Chinese Yuan, Danish Kroner, Hong Kong Dollars, Hungarian Forint, Indian Rupee, Japanese Yen, New Zealand Dollars, Norwegian Krone, Pakistani Rupee, Singapore Dollars, South African Rand, Swedish Kroner, Swiss Francs, Turkish Lira, United Arab Emirates Dirham or any other currency (other than Dollars) that is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars or, solely to the extent held in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes, any currency in which the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries regularly conducts business;
(12) investment funds investing at least 90% of their assets in Cash Equivalents of the types described in clauses (1) through (11) above; and
(13) Investments made in accordance with the Borrower Investment Policy.
“Cash Management Bank” means any Person that is a Lender, an Agent, a Lead Arranger or an Affiliate of the foregoing that provides Cash Management Services to a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.
“Cash Management Obligations” means obligations owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Cash Management Bank in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from Cash Management Services that are designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent as “Cash Management Obligations”.
“Cash Management Services” means treasury, depository, credit or debit card, purchasing card, or cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds.
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“CFC” means any Foreign Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.
“Change of Control” means any of the following events: (a) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert, in each case, shall have acquired beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of voting stock of the Borrower (or other securities convertible into such voting stock) representing at least forty percent (40%) of the combined voting power of all voting stock of the Borrower, or (b) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert, in each case, shall have acquired by contract or otherwise, or shall have entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon consummation, will result in its or their acquisition of, control over voting stock of the Borrower (or other securities convertible into such securities) representing at least forty percent (40%) of the combined voting power of all voting stock of the Borrower.
“City Code” has the meaning specified under Section 1.09(a) hereof.
“Class” (a) when used with respect to any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments, (b) when used with respect to Commitments, refers to whether such Commitments are Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, Incremental Revolving Commitments, Refinancing Revolving Commitments or Commitments in respect of any Incremental Term Loans and (c) when used with respect to Loans or a Borrowing, refers to whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Credit Loans, loans funded in respect of any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans or Refinancing Term Loans. Incremental Term Loans that have different terms and conditions (together with the Commitments in respect thereof) shall be construed to be in different Classes.
“CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Screen Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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“Collateral” means all the “Collateral” as defined in the Collateral Documents and all other property of whatever kind and nature pledged or charged as collateral under any Collateral Document.
“Collateral Agent” means Wells Fargo, in its capacity as collateral agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor collateral agent appointed in accordance with Section 9.09.
“Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, the requirement that, in each case subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document:
(a) the Collateral Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, Section 6.10 or Section 6.12, duly executed by each Loan Party that is a party thereto;
(b) all Obligations shall have been unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”), jointly and severally, by (i) the Borrower (other than with respect to any Obligation incurred by the Borrower), (ii) each Additional Borrower (other than with respect to any Obligation incurred by such Additional Borrower) and (iii) each Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) including as of the Effective Date those that are listed on Schedule 1.01D to the Disclosure Letter (each, a “Guarantor”);
(c) the Obligations and the Guarantees shall have been secured pursuant to the Security Agreement or other applicable Collateral Documents by a first-priority security interest in (i) all the Equity Interests of each Additional Borrower and (ii) all Equity Interests (other than Excluded Equity) held directly by the Borrower, any Additional Borrower or any other Guarantor in any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Equity), in each case subject to Permitted Liens;
(d) except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the Obligations and the Guarantees shall have been secured by a perfected security interest (to the extent such security interest may be perfected by delivering and/or granting possession or control of certificated securities and instruments, filing personal property financing statements or intellectual property security agreements, or making any necessary filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office) in, substantially all tangible and intangible assets (other than any Excluded Assets) of the Borrower and each other Guarantor (including, without limitation, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, investment property, United States IP Rights, intercompany receivables, other general intangibles (including contract rights), and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents and all certificates, agreements, documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, required by the Collateral Documents, requirements of Law or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to be filed, delivered, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Collateral Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Collateral Documents and the other provisions of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording;
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(e) none of the Collateral shall be subject to any Liens other than Permitted Liens;
(f) [reserved]; and
(g) in the event any Additional Borrower or a Guarantor is added that is organized in a jurisdiction other than the U.S., such Loan Party shall grant a perfected Lien on its assets (in scope customary in such jurisdiction) to the Collateral Agent and any Loan Party that owns the Equity Interests of such Additional Borrower or Guarantor shall grant a perfected Lien over such Equity Interest to the Collateral Agent in each case, pursuant to arrangements as reasonably agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (including foreign security) and subject to customary limitations and exclusions in such jurisdiction to be reasonably agreed to between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
The foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, particular assets if and for so long as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower agree in writing that the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom.
The Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests with respect to particular assets where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that perfection cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary:
(A) other than as provided in clause (g) above, Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall only be granted under the Collateral Documents governed by the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
(B) other than as provided in clause (g) above, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall not apply to, and the definition of “Collateral” and definitions of and references to asset categories in the definition of Collateral in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents shall not include, any Excluded Property;
(C) no deposit account control agreement, securities account control agreement or other control agreements or control arrangements shall be required with respect to any deposit account, securities account or other asset specifically requiring perfection through control agreements;
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(D) other than as provided in clause (g) above, no actions in any jurisdiction other than the U.S. or that are necessary to comply with the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the U.S. shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located, titled, registered or filed outside of the U.S. or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that other than as provided in clause (g) above, there shall be no security agreements, pledge agreements, or share charge (or mortgage) agreements governed under the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the U.S.);
(E) general statutory limitations, financial assistance, corporate benefit, capital maintenance rules, fraudulent preference, “thin capitalization” rules, retention of title claims and similar principles may limit the ability of a Foreign Subsidiary to provide a Guarantee or Collateral or may require that the Guarantee or Collateral be limited by an amount or otherwise, in each case as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent;
(F) no stock certificates of Excluded Subsidiaries shall be required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent; and
(G) no landlord waivers, bailee waivers, deeds of trust, collateral access letters or estoppels shall be required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent.
“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, each of the collateral assignments, Security Agreement Supplements, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Collateral Agent and the Lenders pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, Section 6.10 or Section 6.12, the Guaranty and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien or Guarantee in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
“Commitment” means a Term Commitment, a Revolving Credit Commitment, an Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, an Incremental Revolving Commitment, a Refinancing Revolving Commitment or any combination thereof, as the context may require.
“Committed Loan Notice” means a written notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other or (c) a continuation of Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Currency pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent and agreed by the Borrower), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
“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.
“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Borrower.
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“Communication” means this Agreement, any Loan Document and any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, written statement, disclosure or authorization related to any Loan Document.
“Compensation Period” has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(c)(ii).
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
“Conforming Changes” means, with respect to the use, administration of or any conventions associated with an initial Benchmark BBSY, CORRA, SOFR, SONIA, TIBOR or any proposed rate for an Available Currency or Term SOFR, as applicable, any conforming changes to the definitions of “Base Rate”, “SOFR”, “Term CORRA”, “Term SOFR”, “BBSY”, “SONIA”, “TIBOR”, “Interest Period”, the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, 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 definition of “Business Day”, “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods and the day basis for calculating interest for an agreed currency listed on Schedule 2.10) as may be appropriate, in the reasonable 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 for such Available Currency (or, if the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such rate for such Available Currency exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines (in consultation with the Borrower) is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Document).
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, determined on a consolidated basis, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period:
(a) increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent deducted and not added back in arriving at “Consolidated Net Income” (other than in respect of clause (xi) and clause (xii) below):
(i) Consolidated Net Interest Expense; plus
(ii) provision for Taxes based on income, profits, revenues or capital, including federal, foreign and state income, franchise, excise, value added and similar Taxes and foreign withholding Taxes paid or accrued during such period (including in respect of repatriated funds) including penalties and interest related to such Taxes or arising from any Tax examinations, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus
(iii) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of capitalized software expenditures and other intangibles and amortization of short-term deferred financing fees or costs); plus
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(iv) other non-cash charges (including stock-based compensation expense and impairment charges) (provided, in each case, that if any non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) such Person may elect not to add back such non-cash charges in the current period and (B) to the extent such Person elects to add back such non-cash charges in the current period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus
(v) the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of income attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back in such period to Consolidated Net Income) excluding cash distributions in respect thereof; plus
(vi) losses or discounts on sales of receivables and related assets in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing; plus
(vii) fees and expenses and other cash charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period in connection with any acquisition (including the Rioja Acquisition), divestiture, investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance or sale of equity securities, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument or as a result of other restructuring, separation, integration and transition activities and any charges or non-recurring costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, including retention and integration costs and transaction-related compensation, earn-out obligations and indemnity payments, in each case whether or not successful and including in any event in connection with the Transactions; plus
(viii) any unusual or non-recurring charges, losses or expenses for such period and any restructuring charges, accruals or reserves, severance or retention costs, litigation costs, costs associated with new business or cost savings initiatives, costs associated with facilities closures and any other business optimization expenses; plus
(ix) any loss on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business) or loss 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, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of) and any corporate charges, overhead and similar costs previously allocated to any discontinued business but not included within discontinued operations; plus
(x) any losses for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, hedging agreements or other derivative instruments; plus
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(xi) the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating improvements and operating expense reductions (including costs to achieve such cost savings, operating improvements and operating expense reductions) related to business combinations, acquisitions, mergers, investments, divestitures, restructurings, cost savings initiatives and other similar initiatives of the Borrower that are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and projected by the Borrower reasonably and in good faith to result from actions that have been taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the reasonable and good faith determination of the Borrower) within 24 months after such business combination, acquisition, merger, investment, divestiture, restructuring, cost savings initiative or other initiative is consummated or initiated (as applicable), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions, in each case calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings, operating improvements and operating expense reductions had been realized on the first day of such period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being determined and as if such cost savings, operating improvements, and/or operating expense reductions were realized during the entirety of such period; provided, that, the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (xi) shall not exceed 30% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated after giving effect to any such add backs and all other add backs for such period); plus
(xii) adjustments (A) evidenced by or contained in a due diligence quality of earnings report made available to the Administrative Agent prepared with respect to the target of a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder by (x) a “big four” nationally recognized accounting firm or (y) any other accounting firm that shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or (B) consistent with Regulation S-X (as in effect prior to January 2021);
(b) decreased (without duplication) by the following (solely to the extent included in arriving at Consolidated Net Income):
(i) non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period); plus
(ii) the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of loss attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary added (and not deducted in such period from Consolidated Net Income); plus
(iii) any gain on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business) or income 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, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of);
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(c) increased or decreased (without duplication) by, as applicable, any adjustments resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 460 or any comparable regulation; and
(d) increased or decreased (to the extent not already included in determining Consolidated EBITDA) by any Pro Forma Adjustment;
provided that there shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired), to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired and not subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”) and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Restricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition); provided that the Borrower may, at its option, choose not to make such an adjustment with respect to any acquisition having consideration in an amount less than $100,000,000. There shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of or, closed or classified as discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold or disposed of, a “Sold Entity or Business”) and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition).
For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA with respect to any Test Period ended on or before the closing of the Rioja Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated on a combined basis giving effect to the Rioja Acquisition, and the portion of Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such acquired timing product business (the “Rioja EBITDA”) shall be calculated in good faith by the Borrower based on the financial statements of such acquired business filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K or such other applicable SEC filing, including Form 8-K filed by the Borrower on May 19, 2026 (the “Rioja Financials Filings”), as follows: (i) the “product revenue” of the timing product business for the trailing four-fiscal-quarter period, less (ii) the “total direct expenses” of the timing product business for such period, plus (iii) the “amortization of intangible assets” of the timing product business for such period, plus (iv) costs and expenses attributable to stock options and other stock-based compensation, plus (v) depreciation expense of property, plant and equipment, plus (vi) estimated net synergies totaling $5,000,000, in each case (other than clause (vi) above), as reported as a line item in (or noted in the footnotes to) the Rioja Financials Filings. For reference, based on this methodology, the Rioja EBITDA for the trailing four-fiscal-quarter period ended March 31, 2026, is $149,700,000.
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Following the Effective Date, for any Compliance Certificate delivered prior to the first full four-fiscal-quarter period ending after the Effective Date for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements fully reflecting the consolidated results of such acquired timing product business, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated on a combined basis to include the Rioja EBITDA for the portion of the relevant trailing four-fiscal-quarter period not yet reflected in the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements. For any fiscal quarter(s) falling within such trailing four-fiscal-quarter period ending after the Effective Date that are not yet reflected in the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements, the Rioja EBITDA attributable to such quarter(s) shall be determined in good faith by the Borrower based on the most recently available Rioja Financials Filings (including any quarterly filings made available on Form 8-K or such other applicable SEC filing), consistent with the methodology described above.
“Consolidated First Lien Net Indebtedness” means, on any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Net Indebtedness secured by a lien on the Collateral that is pari passu to the liens securing the Obligations.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis on the basis of GAAP; provided, however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:
(1) any net income (loss) of any Person if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that the Borrower’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents from such net income actually distributed (or, so long as such Person is not (x) a JV Entity with outstanding third party indebtedness for borrowed money or (y) an Unrestricted Subsidiary, that (as reasonably determined by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower) could have been distributed by such Person during such period to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) as a dividend or other distribution or return on investment;
(2) [reserved];
(3) any net gain (or loss) from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations and any net gain (or loss) on disposal of disposed, discontinued or abandoned operations;
(4) any net gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any asset or disposed operations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (including pursuant to any sale/leaseback transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or the board of directors of the Borrower);
(5) any extraordinary, exceptional, unusual or nonrecurring gain, loss, charge or expense (including relating to the Transaction Expenses), or any charges, expenses or reserves in respect of any restructuring, relocation, redundancy or severance expense, new product introductions or one-time compensation charges;
(6) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;
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(7) any (i) non-cash compensation charge or expense arising from any grant of stock, stock options or other equity based awards and any non-cash deemed finance charges in respect of any pension liabilities or other provisions and (ii) income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts;
(8) all deferred financing costs written off and premiums paid or other expenses incurred directly in connection with any early extinguishment of Indebtedness and any net gain (loss) from any write-off or forgiveness of Indebtedness;
(9) any unrealized gains or losses in respect of any obligations under any Swap Contracts or any ineffectiveness recognized in earnings related to hedge transactions or the fair value of changes therein recognized in earnings for derivatives that do not qualify as hedge transactions, in each case, in respect of any obligations under any Swap Contracts;
(10) any unrealized foreign currency translation gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness of any Person denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of such Person and any unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses relating to translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies;
(11) any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(12) any non-cash purchase accounting effects including, but not limited to, adjustments to inventory, property and equipment, loans and leases, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue (including deferred costs related thereto and deferred rent) in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of any consummated acquisition or investment, or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof (including any write-off of in process research and development);
(13) any impairment charge, write-down or write-off, including impairment charges, write-downs or write-offs relating to goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets, investments in debt and equity securities or as a result of a change in law or regulation;
(14) any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness or any obligations under any Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments;
(15) accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Effective Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions in accordance with GAAP;
(16) any net unrealized gains and losses resulting from Swap Contracts or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements; and
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(17) any deferred tax expense associated with tax deductions or net operating losses arising as a result of the Transaction, or the release of any valuation allowance related to such item.
In addition, to the extent not already excluded from the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall exclude (i) any expenses and charges that are reimbursed by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted hereunder (it being understood and agreed that if such Person has notified a third party of such amount to be reimbursed or indemnified and such third party has not denied its reimbursement or indemnification obligation, such amounts shall also be excluded) and (ii) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (B) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption.
“Consolidated Net Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, (a) Consolidated Total Debt less (b) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis not to exceed the greater of (x) $300,000,000 and (y) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis).
“Consolidated Net Interest Expense” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such interest expense, any losses on hedging obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purposes of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income, and gains on such hedging obligations or such derivative instruments, and bank fees and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that, in no event shall the Consolidated Net Interest Expense be less than zero.
“Consolidated Total Debt” means, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of, without duplication, Indebtedness for borrowed money and debt obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money indebtedness, (c) earnouts and other contingent acquisition consideration, in each case of this clause (c) solely to the extent past due, (d) all drawn letters of credit, to the extent such obligations are unreimbursed, (e) obligations in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests, (f) without duplication, any guarantees by the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (e) above and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clause (f) above of a partnership or joint venture that is, or would be, recourse to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that Consolidated Total Debt shall not include (x) obligations under Swap Contracts and (y) Indebtedness in respect of any Permitted Receivables Financing, Permitted Call Spread Transactions or Permitted Forward Agreements.
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“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
“Control” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Affiliate.”
“Converted Restricted Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“CORRA” means the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average administered and published by the Bank of Canada (or any successor administrator).
“Covered Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 10.27(b).
“Covered Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.27(a) hereof.
“Credit Extension” means a Borrowing or an L/C Credit Extension, as the context may require.
“Credit Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.24 hereof.
“Currencies” means Dollars and each Alternative Currency, and “Currency” means any of such Currencies.
“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).
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) with respect to any overdue principal for any Loan, the applicable interest rate for such Loan plus 2.00% per annum and (b) with respect to any other overdue amount, including overdue interest, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans plus 2.00% per annum, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
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“Default Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 10.27(b).
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans required to be funded by it, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit required to be funded by it or (iii) pay over to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any other Lender in writing that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing 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 cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any other Lender, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Administrative Agent’s, L/C Issuer’s or Lender’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event, or (e) has become the subject of a Bail-In Action. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (e) 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 the last paragraph of Section 2.16) 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, any L/C Issuer and each other Lender promptly following such determination.
“Disclosure Letter” means the disclosure letter, dated as of the Effective Date, delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, as amended or supplemented from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents.
“Disposed EBITDA” means, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or any Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any Sale Leaseback and any sale or issuance of Equity Interests) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith; provided that “Disposition” and “Dispose” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by the Borrower of any of its Equity Interests to another Person.
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“Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures (excluding maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of such Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control, fundamental change, or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control, fundamental change, or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of all Commitments and all outstanding Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicable L/C Issuer)), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of such Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part (except as a result of a change of control, fundamental change, or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control, fundamental change, or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of all Commitments and all outstanding Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicable L/C Issuer)), (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case of the foregoing clauses (a) through (d), prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Equity Interests are issued; provided that any class of Equity Interests of any Person that by its terms authorized such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Qualified Equity Interests and/or cash in lieu of fractional shares in connection therewith shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Equity Interests; provided further that if Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.
“Disqualified Lenders” means (a) such Persons that have been specified in writing to the Lead Arrangers by the Borrower on or prior to the Effective Date, (b) competitors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that have been specified in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time by the Borrower, and (c) any Affiliate of the foregoing Persons (other than in the case of clause (b) above, Affiliates that are bona fide debt funds) that are (i) identified in writing from time to time to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or (ii) clearly identifiable on the basis of such Affiliates’ name; provided that no such updates to the list shall be deemed to retroactively disqualify any parties that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in respect of the Loans from continuing to hold or vote such previously acquired assignments and participations on the terms set forth herein for Lenders that are not Disqualified Lenders (it being understood and agreed that such prohibitions with respect to Disqualified Lenders shall apply to any potential future assignments or participations to any such parties). The schedule of Disqualified Lenders shall be maintained with the Administrative Agent and may be communicated to a Lender upon request to the Administrative Agent but shall not otherwise be posted or made available to Lenders.
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“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“Dollar Equivalent” means, subject to Section 1.08, for any amount, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount and (b) if such amount is expressed in an Alternative Currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time in its sole discretion by reference to the most recent Spot Rate for such Alternative Currency (as determined as of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.
“Domestic Foreign Holding Company” means any Domestic Subsidiary that owns no material assets (directly or through one or more disregarded entities) other than capital stock (including any Indebtedness that is treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs and/or one or more Domestic Foreign Holding Companies.
“Domestic Loan Party” means any Loan Party organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“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 clause (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Effective Date” means June 30, 2026.
“Electronic Copy” has the meaning specified in Section 10.24 hereof.
“Electronic Record” and “Electronic Signature” shall have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, by 15 USC §7006, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Assignee permitted by and consented to in accordance with Section 10.07(b).
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“EMU Legislation” means the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.
“Environment” means ambient air, indoor or outdoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, surface and subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable Laws relating to pollution, protection of the Environment or to the generation, transport, storage, use, treatment, handling, disposal, Release or threat of Release of any Hazardous Materials or, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health or safety.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities) of or relating to any Loan Party or any of its respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, disposal or treatment of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure of any Person to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement to the extent liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests or units in) such Person and all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase, acquisition or exchange from such Person of any of the foregoing (including through convertible securities); provided that Equity Interests shall not include (a) any debt securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for any combination of Equity Interests and/or cash (or other securities or property following a merger event, reclassification or other change of the Equity Interests) (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Permitted Convertible Indebtedness), (b) any Permitted Call Spread Transaction or (c) any Permitted Forward Agreement.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is under common control or treated as a single employer with a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that
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a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) or in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA); (d) a determination that any Pension Plan is in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA); (e) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for, and that could reasonably be expected to result in, the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (g) with respect to a Pension Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard of Section 412 or 430 of the Code or Section 302 or 303 of ERISA, whether or not waived; (h) a failure by a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to make a required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (i) the occurrence of a nonexempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which could result in liability to a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary; (j) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate; or (k) a Foreign Benefit Event.
“Erroneous Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 9.16(a).
“Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 9.16(d).
“Escrow” means an escrow, trust, collateral or similar account or arrangement with a third- party that is not the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Affiliate thereof.
“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.
“EURIBOR” has the meaning specified in clause (a) of the definition of “Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate”.
“Euro”, “EUR” and “€” mean the lawful currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the EMU Legislation.
“Euro Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Euro as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Euro with Dollars.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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“Excluded Equity” means Equity Interests (i) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (ii) of any Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition financed with Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(v) if such Equity Interests are pledged and/or mortgaged as security for such Indebtedness and if and for so long as the terms of such Indebtedness prohibit the creation of any other Lien on such Equity Interests (and which prohibition was not created in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition), (iii) of any Foreign Subsidiary or Domestic Foreign Holding Company (in each case other than any Borrower or Guarantor and not otherwise constituting Excluded Equity) in excess of 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests (and 100% of the non-voting Equity Interests) of each such Foreign Subsidiary or Domestic Foreign Holding Company, and of any subsidiary of such Foreign Subsidiary or Domestic Foreign Holding Company, (iv) of any Subsidiary with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower have determined in their reasonable judgment and agreed in writing that the costs of providing a pledge of such Equity Interests or perfection thereof is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom, (v) of any captive insurance companies, not-for-profit Subsidiaries, special purpose entities (including any entity used to effect a Permitted Receivables Financing), (vi) of any non-Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; (vii) of any Immaterial Subsidiary of the Borrower, (viii) in any joint venture or person (other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary or a Loan Party), to the extent prohibited by the organization documents thereof, and (ix) of any Foreign Subsidiary (other than any Additional Borrower or any Guarantor) the pledge of which is prohibited by applicable Laws or which would reasonably be expected to result in a violation or breach of, or conflict with, (a) fiduciary duties of such Subsidiary’s officers, directors or managers or (b) the Organizational Documents of any such Foreign Subsidiary.
“Excluded Property” means (i) any fee-owned real property or leasehold interests in real property, (ii) (A) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title to the extent a Lien thereon cannot be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement (or analogous procedures under applicable Laws in the relevant jurisdiction in the case of jurisdictions other than the U.S.), (B) letter-of-credit rights to the extent a Lien thereon cannot be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement (or analogous procedures under applicable Laws in the relevant jurisdiction in the case of jurisdictions other than the U.S.) and (C) commercial tort claims (1) where the amount of damages claimed by the applicable Loan Party is less than $5,000,000 or (2) to the extent a Lien thereon cannot be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement (or analogous procedures under applicable Laws in the relevant jurisdiction in the case of jurisdictions other than the U.S.), (iii) assets for so long as a pledge thereof or a security interest therein is prohibited by applicable Laws, after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment clauses of the Uniform Commercial Code and applicable Laws (iv) margin stock, (v) [reserved], (vi) any lease, license or other agreements, or any property subject to any such lease, license or other agreement, in each case to the extent permitted under the Loan Documents, to the extent that a pledge thereof or grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or other agreement, or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Borrower or a Guarantor) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment clauses of the Uniform Commercial Code and applicable Laws, other than the proceeds and receivables thereof the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under applicable Laws notwithstanding such prohibition, (vii) assets for which a pledge thereof or security interest therein would result in a material adverse tax consequence as reasonably determined by the Borrower (in consultation with (but without the consent of) the Administrative Agent); provided that nothing in this clause (vii) shall limit the pledge of assets by a Foreign Subsidiary that is an Additional Borrower or a Guarantor, without the Administrative Agent’s consent, (viii) assets for which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower have determined in their reasonable judgment and agree in writing that
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the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests therein would be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, (ix) any intent-to-use trademark application in the United States prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant, attachment, or enforcement of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark application under applicable Federal law, (x) Excluded Equity, (xi) [reserved] and (xii) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters or authorizations, to the extent a security interest in any such license, franchise, charter or authorization would be prohibited or restricted thereby (including any legally effective prohibition or restriction, but excluding any prohibition or restriction that is ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction or other applicable law).
“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) each Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.01C to the Disclosure Letter, (b) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law or by any contractual obligation existing on the Effective Date (or, if later, the date such Subsidiary first becomes a Subsidiary) from guaranteeing the Obligations (and in the case of such contractual obligation, not entered into in contemplation of the acquisition of such Subsidiary) or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a Guarantee unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, (c) subject to Section 7.02(d)(iv) (together with all other Investments subject to Section 7.02(d)(iv)), any Restricted Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment permitted hereunder that, at the time of such Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment, has assumed secured Indebtedness not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment and each Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary thereof that guarantees such Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent such secured Indebtedness prohibits such Subsidiary from becoming a Guarantor (provided that each such Restricted Subsidiary shall cease to be an Excluded Subsidiary under this clause (c) if such secured Indebtedness is repaid or becomes unsecured if such Restricted Subsidiary ceases to be an obligor with respect to such secured Indebtedness or such prohibition no longer exists, as applicable), (d) any Immaterial Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary, (e) captive insurance companies, (f) not-for-profit Subsidiaries, (g) special purpose entities, (h) subject to Section 9.11, any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (i) any Domestic Foreign Holding Company, (j) any Foreign Subsidiary, (k) any Domestic Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, (l) [reserved] and (m) any other Subsidiary with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower have determined in their reasonable judgment, and agree in writing, that the cost or other consequences (including any material adverse tax consequences; provided that with respect to material adverse tax consequences the determination shall be made by the Borrower in consultation with (but without the consent of) the Administrative Agent) of providing a Guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom; in each case of this definition, unless such Subsidiary is designated by the Borrower as an Additional Borrower pursuant to Section 1.13 or as a Guarantor pursuant to the definition of “Guarantors”.
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“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal or unlawful under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest would otherwise have become effective with respect to such related Swap Obligation but for such Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant” at such time. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to any Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, by any jurisdiction (or political subdivision thereof) as a result of a present or former connection of such Agent, Lender or other recipient, as the case may be, with such jurisdiction or political subdivision (including as a result of being resident or being deemed to be resident, being organized, maintaining an Applicable Lending Office or carrying on business or being deemed to carry on business in such jurisdiction) other than any connection arising solely from any such person 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, (b) in the case of a Lender, any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of any Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect at the time such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 3.06(a)) or designates a new Applicable Lending Office, except to the extent such Lender’s assignor was entitled immediately prior to the assignment, or such Lender was entitled immediately before it designated a new Applicable Lending Office, to receive additional amounts from any Loan Party with respect to such Taxes pursuant to Section 3.01, (c) any withholding Tax resulting from a failure of such recipient to comply with Section 3.01(f) or Section 3.01(g), as applicable, (d) any withholding Tax imposed pursuant to FATCA and (e) any U.S. federal backup withholding imposed pursuant to Section 3406 of the Code.
“Existing Letters of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a)(i).
“Extended Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
“Extended Term Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
“Extension” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
“Extension Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
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“Facility” means the Revolving Credit Facility or another Class of Term Loans, as the context may require.
“FATCA” means current Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (and any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) or any current or future Treasury regulations with respect thereto or other official administrative interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above), any intergovernmental agreements and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or official practices adopted pursuant to any such intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities (and any related Law) implementing the foregoing.
“FCPA” means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended from time to time.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Wells Fargo on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent. If the Federal Funds Rate is less than zero, it shall be deemed to be zero hereunder.
“Financial Covenants” means the covenants set forth in Section 7.11.
“First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Net Indebtedness as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period.
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.
“Fixed Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09(b).
“Foreign Benefit Event” means, with respect to any Foreign Plan, (a) the existence of unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any applicable Law, or in excess of the amount that would be permitted absent a waiver from a Governmental Authority, (b) the failure to make the required contributions or payments, under any applicable Law, on or before the due date for such contributions or payments, (c) the receipt of a notice by a Governmental Authority relating to the intention to terminate such Foreign Plan or to appoint a trustee or similar official to administer such Foreign Plan, or alleging the insolvency of such Foreign Plan, (d) the incurrence of any liability by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary under applicable Law on account of the complete or partial termination of such Foreign Plan or the complete or partial withdrawal of any participating employer therein, or (e) the occurrence of any transaction that is prohibited under any applicable Law and that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any liability by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, or the imposition on any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of any fine, excise tax or penalty resulting from any noncompliance with any applicable Law.
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“Foreign Borrower” means any Additional Borrower designated by the Borrower pursuant to Section 1.13 organized under the Laws of a Qualified Jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“Foreign Plan” means any employee benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement maintained or contributed to or by, or entered into with, any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to employees outside the United States.
“Foreign Loan Party” means any Loan Party that is not a Domestic Loan Party.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fronting Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time; provided that (A) 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 Effective Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith, (B) at any time after the Effective Date, the Borrower may elect, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided herein), including as to the ability of the Borrower or the Required Lenders to make an election pursuant to clause (A) of this proviso, (C) any election made pursuant to clause (B) of this proviso, once made, shall be irrevocable, (D) any calculation or determination in this Agreement that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Borrower’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP and (E) the Borrower may only make an election pursuant to clause (B) of this proviso if it also elects to report any subsequent financial reports required to be made by the Borrower, including pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), in IFRS.
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“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state, provincial, country, territorial or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supranational bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Guarantee Obligations” means, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part) or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee Obligations” shall not include (1) endorsements for collection or deposit, (2) customary warranty obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business, or (3) customary representations, warranties, covenants or indemnities in effect on the Effective Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or Disposition of assets not prohibited under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.
“Guarantees” has the meaning specified in clause (b) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”
“Guarantors” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.” For avoidance of doubt, the Borrower in its sole discretion may cause any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to Guarantee the Obligations by causing such Restricted Subsidiary to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Guaranty Supplement (as defined in the Guaranty), and any such Restricted Subsidiary shall thereafter be a Guarantor, Loan Party and Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder for all purposes; provided that (i) if such Restricted Subsidiary is not organized in a Qualified Jurisdiction, the jurisdiction of organization of such Restricted Subsidiary shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (taking into account, if acting as Collateral Agent or entering into Loan Documents with Subsidiaries in such jurisdiction is prohibited by applicable Law or would expose the Collateral Agent, in its capacity as such, to material additional liabilities) and (ii) such Restricted Subsidiary shall have complied with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement prior to the becoming a Guarantor.
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“Guaranty” means, collectively, (a) the Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit E and (b) each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered pursuant to Section 6.10.
“Hazardous Materials” means all hazardous, toxic, explosive or radioactive substances or wastes, and all other chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Law relating to the Environment because of their hazardous, toxic, dangerous or deleterious characteristics or properties, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas and toxic mold.
“Hedge Bank” means any Person that is a Lender, an Agent, a Lead Arranger or an Affiliate of the foregoing at the time it enters into a Secured Hedge Agreement.
“Historical Financial Statements” means the Audited Financial Statements and the Unaudited Financial Statements.
“Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
“IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted in the European Union.
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that has been designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent as an “Immaterial Subsidiary” for purposes of this Agreement (and not redesignated as a Material Subsidiary as provided below), provided that (a) for purposes of this Agreement, at no time shall (i) the total assets of an Immaterial Subsidiary at the last day of the most recent Test Period equal or exceed 5% of the total consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (ii) the gross revenues for such Test Period of an Immaterial Subsidiary equal or exceed 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (b) the Borrower shall not designate any new Immaterial Subsidiary if such designation would not comply with the provisions set forth in clause (a) above or the following clause (c), and (c) if the total assets or gross revenues of all Restricted Subsidiaries so designated by the Borrower as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” (and not redesignated as “Material Subsidiaries”) shall at any time exceed (i) 15% of the total consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (ii) 15% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and as at the last day of the most recent Test Period, then the Borrower shall promptly redesignate one or more Immaterial Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries, in each case in a written notice to the Administrative Agent, such that, as a result thereof, the total assets and gross revenues of all Restricted Subsidiaries still designated as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” do not exceed such limits; and provided, further, that the Borrower may designate and re-designate a Restricted Subsidiary as an Immaterial Subsidiary at any time, subject to the terms set forth in this definition; and provided, further, that in no event shall (a) the Borrower at any time constitute an “Immaterial Subsidiary” and (b) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower be designated as an “Immaterial Subsidiary” by the Borrower if the Borrower has caused such Restricted Subsidiary to be a Guarantor in accordance with the definition of “Guarantors.”
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“Incremental Equivalent Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 7.03(t).
“Incremental Facilities” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Incremental Facility Amendment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d).
“Incremental Facility Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(e).
“Incremental Incurrence Test” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Incremental Revolving Commitments” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Incremental Revolving Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(e).
“Incremental Term Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Incurrence Based Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09(b).
“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:
(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;
(b) the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all letters of credit (including standby and commercial), banker’s acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;
(c) [reserved];
(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (i) accounts payable and accrued obligations in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earnout obligation, deferred or contingent purchase price obligation or other similar obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and has not been paid within thirty (30) days after becoming due and payable and (iii) obligations which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been set aside in accordance with GAAP);
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(e) indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (d) or clauses (f) through (h) hereof (excluding prepaid interest thereon) and indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings, in each case secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person, whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;
(f) all Attributable Indebtedness;
(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests; and
(h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of any of the Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (g) above.
For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall (A) include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation, company, or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise limited, (B) in the case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, exclude all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any rollover or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (C) exclude Indebtedness incurred in advance of, and the proceeds of which are to be applied in connection with, the consummation of a transaction solely to the extent the proceeds thereof are and continue to be held in an Escrow and are not otherwise made available to such Person. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) above shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith. Notwithstanding the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, no obligation in respect of any Swap Contract, Permitted Call Spread Transaction or Permitted Forward Agreement shall constitute Indebtedness.
“Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or in respect of any payment made by or on account of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.
“Indian Rupee” means the lawful currency of India.
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.08.
“Inside Date Convertible Debt” means any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries with a scheduled maturity date falling on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date (as such date may be extended pursuant to any Extension in accordance with the terms hereof).
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“Inside Maturity Debt” means an amount of any Indebtedness (which may include, without limitation, Incremental Equivalent Debt or Ratio Debt) incurred in reliance on an exception for Inside Maturity Debt, including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, up to an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed, at the time of incurrence thereof, $50,000,000.
“Interest Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period to (b) Consolidated Net Interest Expense for such Test Period.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with September 30, 2026, and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made, (b) as to any Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with September 30, 2026, and the Maturity Date and (c) as to any Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Term SOFR Loan or an Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall be Interest Payment Dates.
“Interest Period” means, as to each Term SOFR Loan and Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan or an Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to the availability for the interest rate applicable to the relevant currency), in each case as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:
(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day would fall in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the applicable Maturity Date.
“Investment” means, as to any Person, (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or debt or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee Obligation with respect to any obligation of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person (excluding, in the case of, clause (a) and clause (b) above, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, intercompany loans, advances, or
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Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business, or any transfer pricing, cost-plus or other similar arrangements (and any payments thereunder) that are in the ordinary course of business) or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.
The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment, or other amount received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment (provided that, (x) with respect to amounts received other than in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents, such amount shall be equal to the fair market value of such consideration (as determined by Borrower in good faith) and (y) such reduction shall not apply to Investments made pursuant to Section 7.02(u)).
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by Fitch.
“IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.14.
“ISP” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
“Japanese Yen” means the lawful currency of Japan.
“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17 hereof.
“JV Entity” means any joint venture of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary.
“Latest Maturity Date” means, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity date of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitment, Additional Revolving Credit Commitment, Incremental Revolving Commitment, Extended Term Loan, Refinancing Term Loan, or Incremental Term Loan, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state, provincial and local laws (including common laws), statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.
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“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
“L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the applicable Honor Date or refinanced as a Revolving Credit Borrowing.
“L/C Commitments” means, as to any L/C Issuer, the obligation of such L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries from time to time in an aggregate amount equal to (i) for each of the L/C Issuers specified in clause (i) of the definition thereof, the amount set forth opposite the name of each such L/C Issuer on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “L/C Commitment” and (ii) for any other L/C Issuer becoming an L/C Issuer after the Effective Date, such amount as separately agreed to in a written agreement between the Borrower and such L/C Issuer (a copy of which shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon execution), in each case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, as any such amount may be changed after the Effective Date in a written agreement between Borrower and such L/C Issuer (which such agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon execution); provided that the L/C Commitment with respect to any Person that ceases to be an L/C Issuer for any reason pursuant to the terms hereof shall be $0 (subject to the Letters of Credit of such Person remaining outstanding in accordance with the provisions hereof).
“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.
“L/C Issuer” means (i) each Person listed on Schedule 2.01 with respect to such Person’s L/C Commitment only, and (ii) any other Revolving Credit Lender (or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) that becomes an L/C Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03(j) or Section 10.07(j); provided, that in the case of the L/C Issuers in clause (i) above, (x) the commitment of any L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit shall not exceed at any time its L/C Commitment and (y) such L/C Issuers shall be the only L/C Issuers permitted to issue Letters of Credit hereunder in an Alternative L/C Currency. Each L/C Issuer may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such L/C Issuer, in which case the term “L/C Issuer” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate and for all purposes of the Loan Documents.
“L/C Obligation” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate maximum amount then available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts in respect of Letters of Credit, including all L/C Borrowings.
“LCT Election” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09(a).
“LCT Test Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09(a).
“Lead Arrangers” means, individually and collectively, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Barclays Bank Plc, UBS Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. (or any of their designated affiliates) in their capacities as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.
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“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and, as the context requires, includes an L/C Issuer, and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a “Lender.”
“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit and may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative L/C Currency, provided that no L/C Issuer has an obligation to issue trade or commercial letters of credit.
“Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the relevant L/C Issuer.
“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is five (5) Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for the Revolving Credit Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, collateral assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, deemed trust, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any Capitalized Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
“Limited Condition Transaction” means (x) any acquisition or other similar investment, including by way of merger, by the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted pursuant to this Agreement whose consummation is not conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing, (y) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of indebtedness requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, satisfaction and discharge or repayment and (z) any Restricted Payment by the Borrower and/or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted under this Agreement requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such Restricted Payment.
“Liquidity” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (i) all unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and (ii) the aggregate unused Commitments then available to be drawn by the Borrower under the Revolving Credit Facility (and/or any Incremental Revolving Commitments).
“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to a Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Credit Loan (including any loans made pursuant to any Additional Revolving Credit Commitment or loans made pursuant to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Term Loans) or an Incremental Term Loan.
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“Loan Documents” means, collectively, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Notes, (iii) each Guaranty, (iv) the Collateral Documents, (v) each Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement, and (vi) each Letter of Credit Application, in each case as amended in accordance with this Agreement.
“Loan Parties” means, collectively, (i) the Borrower and (ii) each other Guarantor.
“Master Agreement” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Swap Contract.”
“Material Acquisition” means a Permitted Acquisition or a series of related Permitted Acquisitions for which the aggregate consideration (including the maximum amount that may be payable in respect of any deferred or contingent consideration) payable (whether in cash, Equity Interests, or otherwise) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is not less than $100,000,000; provided, that for purposes of this definition, the value of any consideration other than cash shall be determined by the Borrower acting in good faith.
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their respective payment obligations under any Loan Document to which any of the Loan Parties is a party or (c) a material adverse effect on the rights and remedies of the Lenders or the Agents under any Loan Document.
“Material Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary (but including, in any case, any Restricted Subsidiary that has been designated as a Material Subsidiary as provided in, or that has been designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary in a manner that does not comply with, the definition of “Immaterial Subsidiary”).
“Maturity Date” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, Letters of Credit (and the related L/C Obligations), the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date (or, in each case, with respect to any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Term Loans, the maturity date applicable to such Additional Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof); provided, that, at any time the aggregate principal amount of all Inside Date Convertible Debt then outstanding exceeds the greater of (i) $270,000,000 and (ii) 75% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis), the “Maturity Date” shall be the date that is 91 days prior to the earliest scheduled maturity date of any Inside Date Convertible Debt then outstanding (such date, the “Springing Maturity Date”) unless, (x) from such Springing Maturity Date until all such Inside Date Convertible Debt has matured, been redeemed or repaid in full or is otherwise no longer outstanding or has been refinanced such that it matures more than 91 days after the Maturity Date, Liquidity at such time is greater than 125% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all such Inside Date Convertible Debt or (y) the Total Net Leverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, does not exceed 2.50:1.00 for the most recently ended Test Period, in either which case this proviso shall not apply and (b) with respect to any Incremental Term Loan, the maturity date applicable to such Incremental Term Loan in accordance with the terms hereof; provided that if any such day is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the Business Day immediately preceding such day.
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“Maximum Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.09.
“Minimum Extension Condition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(b).
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding six plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.
“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06(d).
“Non-Extending Lender” means any Lender that elects not to participate in an Extension pursuant to Section 2.15.
“Non-Loan Party” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall not be a “Non-Loan Party” at any time.
“Nonrenewal Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).
“Note” means a promissory note of any Borrower or Borrowers payable to any Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of such Borrower or Borrowers to such Lender resulting from the Loans made by such Lender.
“Obligations” means (x) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party or other Subsidiary arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest, fees and expenses that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, fees and expenses are allowed or allowable claims in such proceeding, (y) obligations of any Loan Party or any other Restricted Subsidiary arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement (other than any Excluded Swap Obligations) and (z) Cash Management Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and of any of their Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include (a) the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit commissions, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts, in each case, payable by any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary.
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“Organization Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation or company, the certificate or articles of incorporation or amalgamation, the memorandum and articles of association, any other constitutional documents, any certificates of change of name and/or the bylaws; (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, declaration, 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 Taxes” means all present or future stamp, registration, court or documentary, intangible, mortgage recording or similar Taxes which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, excluding, in each case, any such Tax resulting from an Assignment and Assumption or transfer or assignment to or designation of a new Applicable Lending Office or other office for receiving payments under any Loan Document (an “Assignment Tax”) but only if (a) such Assignment Tax is imposed as a result of a present or former connection of the assignor, transferor, assignee, transferee or designee with the jurisdiction imposing such Assignment Tax (other than any connection arising solely from any such person 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) and (b) such Assignment Tax does not arise as a result of an assignment (or designation of a new Applicable Lending Office) pursuant to a request by a Borrower under Section 3.06.
“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.
“Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans and Term Loans on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Credit Loans (including any refinancing of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) and Term Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any related L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes thereto as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under related Letters of Credit (including any refinancing of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under related Letters of Credit or related L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under related Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.
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“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuers, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuers, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(e).
“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(e).
“Payment Recipient” has the meaning specified in Section 9.16(a).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or has made or been obligated to make contributions at any time during the immediately preceding six plan years.
“Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02(j). For the avoidance of doubt, the Rioja Acquisition is a Permitted Acquisition.
“Permitted Call Spread Transaction” shall mean (a) any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to the Common Stock (or other securities or property following a merger event, reclassification or other change of the Common Stock) purchased by the Borrower in connection with the issuance of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness and settled in Common Stock (or such other securities or property), cash and/or a combination thereof (such amount of cash determined by reference to the price of the Common Stock or such other securities or property), and/or cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, and/or (b) any call option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to the Common Stock the Borrower (or other securities or property following a merger event, reclassification or other change of the Common Stock) sold by the Borrower substantially concurrently with any purchase by Borrower of a Permitted Call Spread Transaction described in clause (a) and settled in Common Stock (or such other securities or property), cash or a combination thereof (such amount of cash determined by reference to the price of the Common Stock or such other securities or property), and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock; provided that the terms, conditions and covenants of each such transaction described in clause (a) or clause (b) shall be such as are customary for transactions of such type (as determined by the Borrower in good faith).
“Permitted Convertible Indebtedness” means (a) the 2031 Convertible Notes and (b) unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower that is convertible into shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property following a merger event, reclassification or other change of the Common Stock), cash and/or a combination thereof (such amount of cash determined by reference to the price of the Common Stock or such other securities or property), and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock; provided that, in the case of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness described in clause (b), (x) the scheduled maturity date of such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness is not prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Facility and (y) the terms, conditions and covenants of such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness shall be such as are customary for transactions of such type (as determined by the Borrower in good faith).
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“Permitted Forward Agreement” means any contract (including, but not limited to, any accelerated share repurchase agreement, prepaid forward agreement, forward agreement or other share repurchase agreement in the form of or in substance the economic equivalent of an equity option or forward) pursuant to which, among other things, the counterparty is required to deliver to the Borrower shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property following a merger event, reclassification or other change of the Common Stock), cash in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock (or such other securities or property) or cash representing the termination value of such forward or option or a combination thereof from time to time upon settlement, exercise or early termination of such forward or option; provided that the prepayment amount to be paid by the Borrower to the counterparty in connection with such Permitted Forward Agreement will not exceed the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower from the sale of the Permitted Convertible Indebtedness issued in connection with such Permitted Forward Agreement (including, without limitation, the exercise of any over-allotment or initial purchaser’s or underwriter’s option); provided, further, that the terms, conditions and covenants of such contract are customary for contracts of such type (as determined by the Borrower in good faith).
“Permitted Liens” means any Liens permitted by Section 7.01.
“Permitted Receivables Financing” means one or more non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such non-recourse facilities) receivables purchase, factoring or other similar facilities made available to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on then-market terms (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount for all such facilities, not exceeding, at the time of incurrence thereof, the greater of (x) $180,000,000 and (y) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis).
“Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any modification (other than a release of such Person), refinancing, replacement, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon, plus amounts that would otherwise be permitted under Section 7.03 (with such amounts being deemed utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 7.03), plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, replacement, refunding, renewal or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, and as otherwise permitted under Section 7.03, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(f), such modification, refinancing, replacement, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced,
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replaced, refunded, renewed or extended (provided that the foregoing requirements of this clause (b) shall not apply to any Inside Maturity Debt and any Qualifying Bridge Facility, to customary mandatory prepayments upon asset sales, casualty events, excess cash flow, change of control or other similar event risk provisions in loan facilities or to customary change of control, fundamental change, make-whole fundamental change or other similar event risk provisions and, for the avoidance of doubt, provisions providing for settlement upon conversion of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness), (c) to the extent such Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended is secured by a Lien on the Collateral, (i) the Lien securing such Indebtedness as modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended shall not be senior in priority to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended unless otherwise permitted under any basket or exception under Section 7.01 (with such amounts constituting utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 7.01) and (ii) such Indebtedness as so modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended shall not be secured by any assets of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries that does not secure the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended, (d) to the extent such Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended is unsecured, such modification, refinancing, replacement, refunding, replacement or extension shall also be unsecured unless secured by Liens that are otherwise permitted under any basket or exception under Section 7.01 (with such amounts constituting utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 7.01) and (e) if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended is Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(c), (i) to the extent such Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, replacement, refunding, renewal or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended unless otherwise permitted by any basket or exception under Section 7.03 (with such amounts constituting utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 7.03), (ii) the terms and conditions (including, if applicable, as to collateral but excluding as to subordination, interest rate, redemption premium, conversion rates or other provisions related to any equity provisions of such Indebtedness) of any such modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed or extended Indebtedness, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Loan Parties or the Lenders than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended (other than in the case of terms (x) not materially less favorable to the Lenders than those terms and conditions hereof or (y) applying to periods after the then Latest Maturity Date or otherwise added for the benefit of the Lenders hereunder); provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower within such five (5) Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees) and (iii) such modification, refinancing, replacement, refunding, renewal or extension is incurred by a Person who is the obligor of the Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended, and no additional obligors become liable for such Indebtedness except to the extent permitted by any basket or exception under Section 7.03 (with such amounts constituting utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 7.03).
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“Permitted Sale Leaseback” means any Sale Leaseback consummated by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Effective Date; provided that any such Sale Leaseback that is not between (a) a Loan Party and another Loan Party or (b) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party must be, in each case, consummated for fair value as determined at the time of consummation in good faith by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (which such determination may take into account any retained interest or other Investment of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, and any other material economic terms of, such Sale Leaseback).
“Permitted Tax Restructuring” means any reorganizations and other activities related to tax planning and tax reorganization (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) entered into on or after the date hereof so long as such Permitted Tax Restructuring does not materially impair the security interests of the Lenders or the value of the Guarantees by the Guarantors and is otherwise not materially adverse to the Lenders and after giving effect to such Permitted Tax Restructuring, and the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise comply with Section 6.10.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established or maintained by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Post-Acquisition Period” means, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or the conversion of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Restricted Subsidiary, the period beginning on the date such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated and ending on the last day of the twenty-four (24) months immediately following the date on which such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated.
“Pro Forma Adjustment” means, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (a) the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, that is factually supportable and is expected to have a continuing impact, in each case as determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act (as in effect prior to January 2021), as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and (b) additional good faith pro forma adjustments arising out of cost savings initiatives operating improvements and operating
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expense reductions (including costs to achieve such cost savings, operating improvements and operating expense reductions) attributable to such transaction and additional costs associated with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case being given pro forma effect, that (i) have been realized and/or (ii) subject to the limitations set forth in clause (a)(xi) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA,” are supportable, quantifiable and projected by the Borrower reasonably and in good faith to result from actions that have been taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the reasonable and good faith determination of the Borrower) within the succeeding twenty-four (24) months and, in each case, including, but not limited to, (w) reduction in personnel expenses and reduction of costs related to administrative functions, (x) [reserved], (y) reductions of costs related to leased or owned properties and (z) reductions from the consolidation of operations and streamlining of corporate overhead taking into account, for purposes of determining such compliance, the historical financial statements of the Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary and the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, assuming such Permitted Acquisition or conversion, and all other Permitted Acquisitions or conversions that have been consummated during the period, and any Indebtedness or other liabilities repaid in connection therewith had been consummated and incurred or repaid at the beginning of such period (and assuming that such Indebtedness to be incurred bears interest during any portion of the applicable measurement period prior to the relevant acquisition at the interest rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination); provided, that, the aggregate amount added back pursuant to clause (a)(xi) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” shall not exceed 30% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated after giving effect to any such add backs and all other add backs for such period); provided, further, that, so long as such actions are initiated (or expected to be initiated) during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, it may be assumed that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such Test Period, or such additional costs, as applicable, will be incurred during the entirety of the Test Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any calculation of Consolidated EBITDA with respect to the Rioja EBITDA shall be determined in accordance with the last two sentences of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“Pro Forma Basis” and “Pro Forma Effect” mean, with respect to compliance with any test hereunder or calculation of any covenant (including calculations of the Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Net Income, and the Total Net Leverage Ratio) for an applicable period of measurement, that (A) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (B) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement (as of the last date in the case of a balance sheet item) in such test: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included, (b) any repayment, prepayment, discharge, conversion or cancellation of Indebtedness, and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in
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connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to clause (A) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” and give effect to events (including operating expense reductions) that are (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) (i)(x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of “Pro Forma Adjustment.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, any calculation of Consolidated EBITDA with respect to the Rioja EBITDA shall be determined in accordance with the last two paragraphs of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Purchase Agreement” means that certain Asset Purchase Agreement (together with all exhibits, schedules and annexes thereto), dated as of February 4, 2026, between the Borrower and Renesas Electronics America Inc., as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“QFC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.27(b).
“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning specified in Section 10.27 hereof.
“Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests of the Borrower that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.
“Qualifying Bridge Facility” means customary bridge loans, so long as any loans, notes, securities or other Indebtedness for which such bridge loans are exchanged, replaced or converted satisfy (or will satisfy at the time of such exchange, replacement or conversion) any otherwise applicable requirements.
“Qualified Jurisdiction” means the United States, Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec), and any other jurisdiction reasonably acceptable to each Lender providing, making or maintaining Commitments or loans to any Additional Borrower organized in such jurisdiction.
“Ratio Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 7.03(r).
“Refinancing Revolving Commitments” means Incremental Revolving Commitments that are designated by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as “Refinancing Revolving Commitments” in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date of incurrence; provided that (i) any Refinancing Revolving Commitments shall not be in a principal amount that exceeds the amount of Revolving Credit Commitments so refinanced, except to the extent a different incurrence basket pursuant to Section 7.03 is utilized plus an amount equal to any fees, expenses, commissions, underwriting discounts and premiums payable in connection with such Refinancing Revolving Commitments, (ii) to the extent applicable, an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement is entered into, (iii) any
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Refinancing Revolving Commitment does not mature prior to the maturity date of or have scheduled amortization or commitment reductions prior to the maturity date of the Revolving Credit Commitments being refinanced, (iv) such Refinancing Revolving Commitments have the same guarantors as the Revolving Credit Commitments being refinanced unless such guarantors substantially concurrently guarantee the Obligations, (v) such Refinancing Revolving Commitments are secured by the same assets as the Revolving Credit Commitments being refinanced unless such assets substantially concurrently secure the Obligations, (vi) the terms and conditions of such Refinancing Revolving Commitments (excluding pricing, fees, and optional or mandatory prepayment or redemption terms or covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date of the Loans or Commitments being refinanced) shall reflect market terms and conditions at the time of incurrence or issuance (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith) and (vii) if such Refinancing Revolving Commitments contain any financial maintenance covenants, such covenants shall be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders.
“Refinancing Term Loans” means Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Equivalent Debt that are designated by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as “Refinancing Term Loans” in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date of incurrence; provided that (i) any Refinancing Term Loans shall not be in a principal amount that exceeds the amount of Term Loans so refinanced, except to the extent a different incurrence basket pursuant to Section 7.03 is utilized plus an amount equal to any fees, expenses, commissions, underwriting discounts and premiums payable in connection with such Refinancing Term Loans, (ii) to the extent applicable, an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreements is entered into, (iii) other than with respect to any Inside Maturity Debt and any Qualifying Bridge Facility, any Refinancing Term Loans do not mature prior to the maturity date of or have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity prior to the Terms Loans being refinanced, (iv) such Refinancing Term Loans have the same guarantors as the Term Loans being refinanced unless such guarantors substantially concurrently guarantee the Obligations, (v) such Refinancing Term Loans are secured by the same assets as the Term Loans being refinanced unless such assets substantially concurrently secure the Obligations, (vi) the terms and conditions of such Refinancing Term Loans (excluding pricing, fees, and optional prepayment or mandatory prepayment or redemption terms or covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date of the Loans or Commitments being refinanced) shall reflect market terms and conditions at the time of incurrence or issuance (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith) and (vii) if such Refinancing Term Loans contain any financial maintenance covenants, such covenants shall be added for the benefit of the Term Lenders.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d).
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any Affiliate of such Person and (b) the respective directors, partners, officers, employees, agents and other representatives of such Person or any of its Affiliates.
“Release” means any release, spill, emission, discharge, deposit, disposal, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injection, migration or leaching on, into or through the Environment or into, from or through any building, structure or facility.
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“Relevant Governmental Body” means (a) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, Dollars, the Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto and (b) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, any Alternative Currency, (i) the central bank for the Currency in which such Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts are denominated, or calculated with respect to, or any central bank or other supervisor which is responsible for supervising either (A) such Benchmark Replacement or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement or (ii) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (A) the central bank for the Currency in which such Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts are denominated, or calculated with respect to, (B) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (1) such Benchmark Replacement or (2) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement, (C) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (D) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.
“Relevant Rate” means with respect to any Credit Extension denominated in (a) Dollars, Term SOFR, (b) Sterling, SONIA, (c) Euros, EURIBOR, (d) Canadian Dollar, Term CORRA Rate, (e) Australian Dollar, BBSY or (f) Japanese Yen, TIBOR, as applicable; provided that if the Relevant Rate shall be less than 0.00% per annum with respect to Revolving Credit Loans, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% per annum for purposes of this Agreement.
“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than events for which the otherwise applicable notice period has been waived by regulation or otherwise by the PBGC.
“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice and (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate outstanding amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition), (b) aggregate unused Term Commitments and (c) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the unused Term Commitment and unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
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“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or other similar officer or director of such Person and, as to any document delivered on the Effective Date, any secretary or assistant secretary of such Person and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer of the such Person so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of such Person designated in or pursuant to an agreement between such Person and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.
“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the holders of Equity Interests of the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, none of (a) any payments of cash or deliveries in shares of Equity Interests (or other securities or property following a merger event, reclassification or other change of the Equity Interests) (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) pursuant to the terms of, or otherwise in performance of its obligations under, any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (including, without limitation, making payments of interest and principal thereon, making payments due upon required repurchase thereof and/or making payments and deliveries upon conversion or settlement thereof), (b) any payments of cash or deliveries of Equity Interests (or other securities or property following a merger event, reclassification or other change of the Equity Interests) (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) in connection with any Permitted Call Spread Transaction (including in connection with the exercise and/or early termination, unwind or settlement thereof), or (c) any payments of cash or deliveries of Equity Interests in connection with any Permitted Forward Agreement (including in connection with the exercise and/or early termination, unwind or settlement thereof) shall constitute a Restricted Payment.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Revaluation Date” means, subject to Section 1.08, (a) with respect to any Revolving Credit Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) the date of the Borrowing of such Revolving Credit Loan (including any Borrowing or deemed Borrowing in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency) but only as to the amounts so borrowed on such date, (ii) each date of a continuation of such Revolving Credit Loan pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, but only as to the amounts so continued on such date, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall determine, and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, but only as to the stated amount of the Letter of Credit so issued on such date, and (ii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall determine.
“Revolver Commitment Fee” has the meaning provided in Section 2.09(a).
“Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of Revolving Credit Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans, as applicable, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
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“Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 or Section 2.03, as applicable and (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Revolving Credit Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders shall be $200,000,000 on the Effective Date, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“Revolving Credit Commitment Increase” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans held by such Revolving Credit Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) and (b) such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the L/C Obligations.
“Revolving Credit Facility” means the Revolving Credit Commitments, including any Revolving Credit Commitment Increase, each Extension of Revolving Credit Commitments, each Refinancing Revolving Commitments and the Credit Extensions made thereunder.
“Revolving Credit Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment or that holds Revolving Credit Loans at such time.
“Revolving Credit Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
“Rioja Acquisition” means, collectively, the acquisition and other transactions contemplated under the Purchase Agreement.
“Rioja EBITDA” has the meaning specified in definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.
“Sale Leaseback” means any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of any property, real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and (b) as part of such transaction, thereafter rents or leases such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold, transferred or disposed.
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“Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in Euro, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Administrative Agent to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in Euro and (c) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative L/C Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the applicable L/C Issuer to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative L/C Currency.
“Sanctions Laws and Regulations” means any sanctions or related requirements imposed by the USA PATRIOT Act, the Executive Order No. 13224 of September 23, 2001, entitled Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)), the U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701), the U.S. Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 4301 et seq.), the U.S. Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, the Iran Sanctions Act, Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 or other applicable sanctions or related Laws, all as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations (including but not limited to 31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any other law or executive order relating thereto administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Department of State, United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any European Union member state, the United Kingdom, other relevant sanctions authority in effect or enacted in the United States on or after the date of this Agreement.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract (excluding any Permitted Call Spread Transaction, Permitted Forward Agreement, and any other Swap Contract referencing the Common Stock (or other securities or property following a merger event, reclassification or other change of the Common Stock)) that is entered into by and between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Hedge Bank and designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent as a “Secured Hedge Agreement”.
“Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Net Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral as of the last day of such Test Period, to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period.
“Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuers, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, the Supplemental Administrative Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.02.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.
“Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement executed by the Loan Parties on the Effective Date substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto as supplemented by any Security Agreement Supplement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.10.
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“ Security Agreement Supplement” means a supplement to any Security Agreement as contemplated by such Security Agreement.
“SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator).
“Sold Entity or Business” has the meaning specified in clause (b)(iv) of the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (i) the fair value of the property of such Person (on a going concern basis) is greater than the total amount of debts and liabilities, contingent, subordinated or otherwise, of such Person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as they become absolute and matured and (iv) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital; provided that the amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
“SONIA” means, with respect to any applicable determination date, the Sterling Overnight Index Average Reference Rate published on the fifth Business Day preceding such date 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); provided, however, that if such determination date is not a Business Day, SONIA means such rate that applied on the first Business Day immediately prior thereto.
“Specified Communications” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(g).
“Specified Event of Default” means an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 8.01(a), 8.01(f) or 8.01(g) (in the case of Section 8.01(f) or 8.01(g), solely with respect to the Borrower).
“Specified Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in Sections 5.01(a) (solely as it relates to the Borrower), 5.01(b)(ii), 5.02(a) (solely as it relates to the entering into and performance of the Loan Documents and the incurrence of the extensions of credit thereunder), 5.02(b)(i) (solely as it relates to the entering into and performance of the Loan Documents and the incurrence of the extensions of credit thereunder), 5.04, 5.12, 5.15, 5.16) and 5.18 (limited to the use of proceeds of the Loans on the date of the applicable Borrowing).
“Specified Transaction” means any Investment, Disposition, Restricted Payment or incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (including the incurrence, repayment or establishment of any Incremental Term Loan, Incremental Revolving Commitments, Refinancing Revolving Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Term Loans) that by the terms of this Agreement requires such test to be calculated on a “Pro
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Forma Basis” or after giving “Pro Forma Effect”; provided that any increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment above the Revolving Credit Commitments in effect on the Effective Date, for purposes of this “Specified Transaction” definition, shall be deemed to be fully drawn; provided, further, that at the Borrower’s sole election, any such Specified Transaction (other than a Restricted Payment) having an aggregate value of less than $25,000,000 shall not be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis” or after giving “Pro Forma Effect”.
“Spot Rate” means, subject to Section 1.08, for a Currency, the rate provided (either by publication or otherwise provided or made available to the Administrative Agent) by Thompson Reuters Corp. (or equivalent service chosen by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) as the spot rate for the purchase of such Currency with another currency at a time selected by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the procedures generally used by the Administrative Agent for syndicated credit facilities in which it acts as administrative agent.
“Sterling”, “GBP” and “£” mean the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
“Sterling Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Sterling as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Sterling with Dollars.
“Subordinated Debt” means any Indebtedness of any Loan Party that is contractually subordinated to the Obligations (including payment, lien and remedies subordination terms, as applicable).
“Subordinated Debt Documents” means any agreement, indenture or instrument pursuant to which any Subordinated Debt is issued, in each case as amended to the extent permitted under the Loan Documents.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, company, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“Subsidiary Guarantor” means, collectively, the Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are Guarantors.
“Successor Borrower” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(d).
“Supplemental Administrative Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 9.13(a) and “Supplemental Administrative Agents” shall have the corresponding meaning.
“Supported QFC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.27 hereof.
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“Surviving Indebtedness” means (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding immediately after giving effect to this Agreement and (ii) the 2031 Convertible Notes.
“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity swaps or options, equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement; provided that any instrument described in clause (a) or (b) in respect of any Equity Interest issued by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any phantom stock or similar plan (including any stock-based compensation plan) providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, and any Permitted Call Spread Transaction or Permitted Forward Transaction, shall not constitute a Swap Contract.
“Swap Obligation” means any obligation of any Guarantor 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.
“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a) above, the amount(s) determined as the mark to market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined by the Hedge Bank (or the Borrower, if no Hedge Bank is party to such Swap Contract) in accordance with the terms thereof and in accordance with customary methods for calculating mark-to-market values under similar arrangements by the Hedge Bank (or the Borrower, if no Hedge Bank is party to such Swap Contract).
“TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007.
“TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.
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“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings (including backup withholding) or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authorities, and all liabilities (including additions to tax, penalties and interest) with respect thereto.
“Term Borrowing” means a Borrowing in respect of a Class of Term Loans.
“Term Commitments” means a commitment in respect of any Incremental Term Loans.
“Term CORRA” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate.”
“Term CORRA Rate” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate.”
“Term Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Term Loan or a Term Commitment at such time.
“Term Loans” means any Incremental Term Loan.
“Term SOFR” means:
(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date and a Benchmark Replacement Rate with respect to the Term SOFR Screen Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto; and
(b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate with a term of one month commencing that day;
provided that if the Term SOFR determined in accordance with either of the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) of this definition would otherwise be less than 0.00%, then Term SOFR shall be deemed 0.00% per annum.
“Term SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Term SOFR”.
“Term SOFR Screen Rate” means the forward-looking SOFR term rate administered by CME (or any successor administrator satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).
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“Test Period” means, at any date of determination, the most recently completed four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b).
“Threshold Amount” means $100,000,000.
“Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Net Indebtedness as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period.
“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.
“TIBOR” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate.”
“Transactions” means, collectively, as applicable, (a) this Agreement, (b) the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents to be entered into on the Effective Date and (c) the payment of Transaction Expenses earned, due and payable on the Effective Date.
“Transaction Expenses” means any fees, premiums, expenses and other transaction costs incurred by the Borrower in connection with the Transactions and the transactions contemplated in connection therewith, including to fund any original issue discount and upfront fees.
“Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan, a Term SOFR Loan or an Alternative Revolver Currency Loan.
“UCP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, 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 time of issuance).
“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to a given Benchmark Replacement, such Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for such Benchmark Replacement.
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“Unaudited Financial Statements” means (i) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower for the period covered in the most recent Form 10-Q filed by the Borrower with the SEC prior to the Effective Date; and (ii) the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity of the Borrower for the period covered in the most recent Form 10-Q filed by the Borrower with the SEC prior to the Effective Date.
“Undisclosed Administration” means in relation to a Lender or its parent company the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the law in the country where such Lender or such parent company is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment is not to be publicly disclosed.
“Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
“United States Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(f)(ii)(C).
“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
“Unrestricted Incremental Amount” means, with respect to the incurrence or issuance of Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt, an amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $360,000,000 and (y) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis), in the aggregate for all such incurrences or issuances after the Effective Date.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) each Subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule 1.01B to the Disclosure Letter, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.13 subsequent to the date hereof and (iii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Borrower at any time be an “Unrestricted Subsidiary”.
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any Business Day, except any Business Day on which any of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the New York Stock Exchange or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not open for business because such day is a legal holiday under the federal laws of the United States or the laws of the State of New York, as applicable.
“U.S. Person” means 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.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning specified in Section 10.27 hereof.
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“USA PATRIOT Act” means The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 10756 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended or modified from time to time.
“Vendor Financing Arrangement” means loans or advances from (or other financing provided by) a vendor to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, the proceeds of which are utilized solely to purchase a vendor’s inventory, products, services (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include maintenance agreements), assets (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include IP addresses) and/or capital expenditures related to a vendor.
“Voluntary Prepayment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that clause (i)(a) shall not include any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property) on account of the redemption, repurchase, conversion or settlement with respect to any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (including, without limitation, as a result of a change of control, asset sale or other fundamental change or any early conversion in accordance with the terms of such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness).
“Wells Fargo” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“WF Group” has the meaning specified in Section 10.23.
“Wholly Owned” means, with respect to a Subsidiary of a Person, a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (x) director’s qualifying shares and (y) shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by applicable Law) are owned by such Person and/or by one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Withdrawal Liability” means the liability of a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
“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.
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Section 1.02. Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
(b)
(i) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.
(ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.
(iii) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.
(iv) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.
(c) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including.”
(d) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(e) All references to “in the ordinary course of business” of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof means (i) in the ordinary course of business of, or in furtherance of an objective that is in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, (ii) customary and usual in the industry or industries of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary does business, as applicable, or (iii) generally consistent with the past or current practice of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, or any similarly situated businesses in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary does business, as applicable.
Section 1.03. Accounting Terms.
(a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Borrower’s prior audited financial statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of calculating compliance with any test contained in this agreement or determining Consolidated EBITDA, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Interest Coverage Ratio, any Specified Transactions that have occurred during the Test Period, or (except in connection with determining actual compliance (as opposed to compliance on a Pro Forma Basis) with the Financial Covenants) subsequent to such Test Period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the date of determination, shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming that all such Specified Transactions (and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the Test Period. If since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Specified Transaction that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving Pro Forma Effect thereto for such Test Period as if such Specified Transaction had occurred at the beginning of the Test Period.
(c) Where reference is made to “the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis” or similar language, such consolidation shall not include any Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than Restricted Subsidiaries.
(d) In the event that the Borrower elects to prepare its financial statements in accordance with IFRS and such election results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms (collectively, the “Accounting Changes”) in this Agreement, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into good faith negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement (including the levels applicable herein to any computation of the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio) so as to reflect equitably the Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Borrower’s financial condition shall be substantially the same after such change as if such change had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed in accordance with GAAP (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower) (it being agreed that the reconciliation between GAAP and IFRS used in such determination shall be made available to Lenders) as if such change had not occurred.
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Section 1.04. Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
Section 1.05. References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law; and (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns.
Section 1.06. Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
Section 1.07. Timing of Payment or Performance. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of “Interest Period”) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day, unless such Business Day falls after the Maturity Date, in which case such payment or performance shall be due or required on the next preceding Business Day.
Section 1.08. Currency Equivalents Generally.
(a) The Administrative Agent shall determine the Dollar Equivalent amount of each Credit Extension denominated in Alternative Currencies. Such Dollar Equivalent shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such amounts until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by the Borrower hereunder or calculating financial or negative covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any Currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent.
(b) Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Revolving Credit Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Borrowing, Revolving Credit Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.08 or any other provision of this Agreement, each L/C Issuer may compute the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum amount of each applicable Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer by reference to exchange rates determined using any reasonable method customarily employed by such L/C Issuer for such purpose.
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(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with Article VII, no Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Lien, Indebtedness or Investment is incurred, Restricted Payment is made, Subordinated Debt is prepaid or other transaction is consummated; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.08 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Lien, Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred, Restricted Payment may be made, Subordinated Debt may be prepaid or other transaction may be consummated at any time under such Sections.
(e) For purposes of determining compliance under Sections 7.02 and 7.06, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars in a manner consistent with that used in calculating net income in the Borrower’s annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be deemed to apply to the determination of any amount of Indebtedness.
Section 1.09. Certain Calculations and Tests.
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, when calculating any applicable ratio or other financial calculation or determining other compliance with this Agreement (including the determination of compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires that no Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom or accuracy of representations and warranties) in connection with a Specified Transaction undertaken in connection with the consummation of a Limited Condition Transaction, the date of determination of such ratio or other financial calculation or other applicable covenant and determination of whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom or accuracy of representations and warranties or other applicable covenant, shall, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCT Election”), be deemed to be in the case of a LCT Election, either (A) the date that the definitive agreements (or other relevant definitive documentation) for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (or irrevocable notice is given in respect of such Limited Condition Transaction) or (B) solely in connection with an acquisition to which the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “City Code”) applies, the date on which a “Rule 2.7 announcement” of a firm intention to make an offer in respect of a target company is made in compliance with the City Code or, at the election of the Borrower, any other date thereafter (any such date, the “LCT Test Date”), and if, after such ratios and other provisions are measured on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and the other Specified Transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they occurred at the beginning of the four consecutive fiscal quarter period being used to calculate such financial ratio ending prior to the LCT Test Date, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratios and
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provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, (x) if any of such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transaction, such ratios and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Transaction is permitted hereunder and (y) such ratios and other provisions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or related Specified Transactions. If the Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to any other Specified Transaction on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated, or the date that the definitive agreement for, or “Rule 2.7 announcement” in respect of, as applicable, such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, pro forma compliance with any First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Total Net Leverage Ratio, Secured Net Leverage Ratio or Interest Coverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Incurrence Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts and/or any Indebtedness resulting from borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility (and any cash proceeds thereof), which occur concurrently or substantially concurrently with the incurrence of the Incurrence Based Amounts shall, in each case, be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of the covenants described in Article VII, if any Indebtedness, Lien, Investment, Restricted Payment or repayment of Subordinated Debt (or a portion thereof) would be permitted pursuant to one or more provisions described therein, the Borrower may divide and classify such Indebtedness, Liens, Investments, Restricted Payment or repayment of Subordinated Debt (or a portion thereof) in any manner that complies with the covenants set forth in Article VII, and may later divide and reclassify any such Indebtedness, Lien, Investment, Restricted Payment or repayment of Subordinated Debt so long as the Indebtedness, Lien, Investment, Restricted Payment or repayment of Subordinated Debt (as so redivided and/or reclassified) would be permitted to be made in reliance on the applicable exception as of the date of such redivision or reclassification; provided that any such divisions, classifications, redivisions and/or reclassifications shall only be permitted within a specific type of covenant, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, across different types of covenants.
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Section 1.10. Alternative Currencies.
(a) The Borrower may from time to time request that Letters of Credit or Revolving Credit Loans be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative L/C Currency” or “Alternative Revolver Currency”, as applicable; provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars. Such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer and the Revolving Credit Lenders under the applicable tranche; provided that such approval may require, without limitation, that a condition to the issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in such additional Alternative L/C Currency or the making of a Revolving Credit Loan denominated in such additional Alternative Revolver Currency, as applicable, shall be that there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent or the relevant L/C Issuer or Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable, would make it impracticable for such L/C Credit Extension or Revolving Credit Loan, as applicable, to be denominated in the relevant Alternative L/C Currency or Alternative Revolver Currency, as applicable.
(b) Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., 20 Business Days prior to the date of the desired Credit Extension (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer or Revolving Credit Lender in their sole discretion). The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each L/C Issuer and Revolving Credit Lender under the applicable tranche in the case of any such request. Each such L/C Issuer and Revolving Credit Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., 10 Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the issuance of Letters of Credit or the making of a Revolving Credit Loan in such requested currency.
(c) Any failure by a Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to permit Alternative Revolver Currency Loans to be made or Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent and all the Revolving Credit Lenders consent to making Alternative Revolver Currency Loans in such requested currency or the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer consent to issue Letters of Credit in such requested currency, as applicable, and the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lenders or such L/C Issuers, as the case may be, reasonably determine that an appropriate interest rate is available to be used for such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Borrower and (i) the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lenders (in consultation with the Borrower) may amend the definition of “Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate” or “Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate” to the extent necessary to add the applicable rate for such currency and any applicable adjustment for such rate, (ii) to the extent the definition of “Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate” or “Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate,” as applicable, has been amended to reflect the appropriate rate for such currency, such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Revolver
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Currency hereunder for purposes of any Borrowings of Alternative Revolver Currency Loans; and if the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer consent to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Borrower, (iii) the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer may amend the definition of “Alternative L/C Currency” to the extent necessary to add the applicable rate for such currency and any applicable adjustment for such rate, and (iv) to the extent the definition of “Alternative L/C Currency” has been amended to reflect the appropriate rate for such currency, such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative L/C Currency hereunder for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances of such L/C Issuer. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.10, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Borrower.
Section 1.11. Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Application related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time. 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 any reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
Section 1.12. Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division under Delaware law (including any Delaware LLC Division 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 on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.
Section 1.13. Designation of Borrowers.
(a) The Borrower may from time to time designate one or more Additional Borrowers organized in a Qualified Jurisdiction for purposes of this Agreement by delivering to the Administrative Agent:
(i) written notice (including via email) of election to become an Additional Borrower duly executed on behalf of such Restricted Subsidiary and the Borrower at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as agreed by the Administrative Agent) prior to the proposed effectiveness of such election,
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(ii) all documentation and other information with respect to such Subsidiary required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the USA Patriot Act and a beneficial ownership certificate to the extent required under 31 C.F.R. §1010.230, no later than three (3) Business Days (or, solely with respect to Foreign Borrowers, such longer period as may be required by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to comply with this clause (ii)) prior to the date of the proposed effectiveness of such election (or such later date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent);
(iii) (A) all documents, updated schedules, instruments, certificates and agreements, and all other actions and information, then required by or in respect of such Additional Borrower by Section 6.10 or by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (without giving effect to any grace periods for delivery of such items, the updating of such information or the taking of such actions), (B) customary legal opinions, (C) a customary secretary’s certificate attaching such equivalent documents as were delivered by the original Borrower on the Effective Date or as otherwise is customary in such jurisdiction in the event of any Foreign Borrower and (D) delivery of certificates, if any, representing the pledged equity referred to therein accompanied by undated stock or comparable powers executed in blank and instruments, if any, evidencing the pledged debt indorsed in blank, if applicable;
(iv) documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent pursuant to which (i) each then-existing Borrower unconditionally guarantees the Borrowings of the Additional Borrower on terms substantially consistent with the Guarantors’ Guaranty of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder and (ii) solely to the extent such Additional Borrower is not already a Guarantor, each Additional Borrower unconditionally guarantees the Borrowings of each then- existing Borrower on terms substantially consistent with the Guarantors’ guarantee of the initial Borrower’s obligations hereunder;
(v) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower stating that, as of the date the Additional Borrower joins this Agreement as such, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(vi) a customary joinder agreement whereby the Additional Borrower becomes party hereto as a Borrower and appoints the Borrower as a “Borrower Agent” (including with respect to service of process in the case of any Foreign Borrower) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(b) After such deliveries, the appointment of the Additional Borrower shall be effective subject to the effectiveness of an amendment to this Agreement and any applicable Loan Document necessary (in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent) to give effect to the appointment of such Additional Borrower (in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), including amendments to disambiguate certain uses of the word “Borrower” and related terms hereunder and other revisions; provided that, (i) for the avoidance of doubt, so long as such appointment does not result in any material adverse tax consequence or material additional expense to any Lender (unless reimbursed hereunder) or to the Administrative Agent (unless reimbursed
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hereunder), the Administrative Agent shall not have any right to consent to the designation of any Additional Borrower that is organized in a Qualified Jurisdiction and shall not be required to approve the addition of such Additional Borrower to the extent the requirements of Section 1.13(a) have been met and (ii) upon the effectiveness of any such amendment, such Additional Borrower shall be jointly and severally obligated as a primary obligor as to the Obligations to the Administrative Agent and each of the holders of the Obligations in full when due; provided, to the extent it would be illegal or otherwise unlawful for any Lender to maintain or fund Loans to any Additional Borrower organized in a jurisdiction other than the United States that is appointed pursuant to this Section, such Lender shall have no obligation to maintain or fund such Loans hereunder.
Section 1.14. 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 benchmark rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions or other activities that affect any reference rate referred to herein, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any benchmark 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 in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any reference rate referred to herein or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any benchmark 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.
ARTICLE II
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
Section 2.01. The Loans and Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make (or cause its Applicable Lending Office to make) loans denominated in Dollars or any Alternative Revolver Currency (each such loan, a “Revolving Credit Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day after the Effective Date until the Maturity Date with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, in an aggregate principal amount (based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided that after giving effect to any such Revolving Credit Borrowing, (i) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit
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Commitment and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations denominated in Alternative Currencies, shall not exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars may be Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans. Revolving Credit Loans denominated in any Alternative Revolver Currency shall be an Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate Loan or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan, as further provided herein.
Section 2.02. Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
(a) Each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each Term Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans, as applicable, shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice, to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Committed Loan Notice. Each such Committed Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or any other form that may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), (i) in the case of a Term SOFR Loan, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing, (ii) in the case of an Alternative Revolver Currency Loan, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, four (4) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (iii) in the case of a Base Rate Loan, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day of the proposed Borrowing. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, telecopy or electronic transmission to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of (i) in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, (x) Term SOFR Loans in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, (y) Alternative Revolver Currency Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $1,000,000 of such approved foreign currency or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $500,000 of such approved foreign currency in excess thereof and (z) Base Rate Loans shall be a minimum of $500,000 (and any amount in excess thereof shall be an integral multiple of $100,000) and (ii) [reserved]. Each conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and each conversion to or continuation of Alternative Revolver Currency Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $1,000,000 of such approved foreign currency or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $500,000 of such approved foreign currency in excess thereof. Each conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be a minimum of $500,000 (and any amount in excess thereof shall be an integral multiple of $100,000). Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Revolving Credit Borrowing (and whether such Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Revolver
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Currency), a Term Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans, as applicable, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the Class, currency and principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto and (vi) the location and number of the Borrower’s accounts to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.02(b). If the Borrower fails to specify a currency in a Committed Loan Notice requesting a Borrowing, then the applicable Loans shall be made in Dollars. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or fail to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made or continued as, or converted to Term SOFR Loans with an Interest Period of one (1) month or, in the case of any Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan, an Interest Period of one (1) month. Any such automatic conversion or continuation shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans, as applicable, in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fail to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower and Lenders acknowledge and agree that any conversion or continuation of an existing Loan shall be deemed to be a continuation of that Loan with a converted interest rate methodology and not a new Loan.
(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Class of Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Appropriate Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make (or cause its Applicable Lending Office to make) the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the applicable currency not later than 1:00 p.m. (or 1:00 p.m. (London time) in the case of Loans denominated in Euro and 9:00 a.m. (London time) in the case of Loans denominated in Sterling) on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is a Credit Extension on the Effective Date, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall, on the borrowing date specified in such Committed Loan Notice, make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to any such Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans shall be applied first, to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, to the Borrower as provided above.
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(c) [Reserved].
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term SOFR Loans and Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of Term SOFR and the Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Wells Fargo’s (or any successor administrative agent’s) prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the announcement of such change.
(e) Anything in clauses (a) through (d) above to the contrary notwithstanding, after giving effect to all Revolving Credit Borrowings and Term Borrowings, all conversions of Revolving Credit Loans and Term Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Revolving Credit Loans and Term Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than twelve (12) Interest Periods in effect at any time for all Borrowings of Term SOFR Loans and Alternative Revolver Currency Loans.
(f) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing, or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of such Borrowing, that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such Applicable Percentage available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with clause (b) above, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If the Administrative Agent shall have so made funds available, then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the Administrative Agent, each of such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (a) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and (b) in the case of such Lender, the Overnight Rate plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the foregoing. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.02(f) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If the Borrower and such Lender shall both pay all or any portion of the principal amount in respect of such Borrowing or interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such Borrowing or interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
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(g) If the maturity date shall have occurred in respect of any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments at a time when another Class or Classes of Revolving Credit Commitments is or are in effect with a longer maturity date, then on the earliest occurring maturity date all then-outstanding Revolving Credit Loans shall be repaid in full on such date (and there shall be no adjustment to the participations in such Revolving Credit Loans as a result of the occurrence of such maturity date); provided, however, that if on the occurrence of such earliest maturity date (after giving effect to any repayments of Revolving Credit Loans and any reallocation of Letter of Credit participations as contemplated in Section 2.03(k)), there shall exist sufficient unutilized Extended Revolving Credit Commitments so that the respective outstanding Revolving Credit Loans could be incurred pursuant the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments which will remain in effect after the occurrence of such maturity date, then there shall be an automatic adjustment on such date of the participations in such Revolving Credit Loans and same shall be deemed to have been incurred solely pursuant to the relevant Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, and such Revolving Credit Loans shall not be so required to be repaid in full on such earliest maturity date.
(h) With respect to SOFR, Term SOFR, Daily Simple SOFR, any Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate or any Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes in consultation with the Borrower from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
Section 2.03. Letters of Credit.
(a) The Letter of Credit Commitments.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (1) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (x) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit in Dollars or in one or more Alternative L/C Currencies for the account of the Borrower (provided that any Letter of Credit may be for the benefit of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (y) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit and (2) the Revolving Credit Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided that no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if after giving effect to such L/C Credit Extension, if (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, or (y) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C
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Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit; provided, further, that each L/C Issuer shall have a Commitment herein proportionate to its Revolving Credit Commitment and no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to issue, amend or renew any Letter of Credit if (I) the Outstanding Amount of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, when aggregated with the Revolving Credit Exposure of such L/C Issuer (other than Revolving Credit Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued and made by such L/C Issuer) would exceed the L/C Issuer’s Revolving Credit Commitment or (II) the Outstanding Amount of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer would exceed its L/C Commitment. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed. It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that each of the letters of credit described in Schedule 2.03(a) (the “Existing Letters of Credit”) shall constitute a “Letter of Credit” for all purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no L/C Issuer shall be required to issue commercial or trade Letters of Credit without its consent.
(ii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:
(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or direct that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective Date (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder);
(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal, unless (i) the Required Lenders and (ii) the relevant L/C Issuer have approved such expiry date;
(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless (i) all the Revolving Credit Lenders and (ii) the relevant L/C Issuer have approved such expiry date, except to the extent such Letter of Credit is Cash Collateralized in accordance with Section 2.03(f) or otherwise backstopped pursuant to arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer;
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(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any Laws binding upon such L/C Issuer or one or more policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;
(E) the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative L/C Currency, unless otherwise agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent;
(F) such L/C Issuer does not as of the issuance date of such requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency;
(G) any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless after giving effect to the requested issuance the requirements of Section 2.16(e) have been satisfied; or
(H) (x) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus each Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, plus each Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations denominated in Alternative Currencies exceeds the Alternative Currency Sublimit.
(iii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.
(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto Renewal Letters of Credit.
(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to an L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent, along with a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Borrower, relating to such Letter of Credit) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. at least three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be; or, in each case, such later date and time as the relevant L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer: (a) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (b) the amount and currency thereof; (c) the expiry date thereof; (d) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (e) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case
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of any drawing thereunder; (f) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (g) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the relevant L/C Issuer has received written notice from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or any Loan Party, at least one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not have been satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (and, if requested, on behalf of a Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, acquire from the relevant L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.
(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an “Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the relevant L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Nonrenewal Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant L/C Issuer for any such renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit has been issued, the applicable Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided that the relevant L/C Issuer shall not permit any such renewal if (A) the relevant L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone, followed promptly in writing, or in writing) on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date from the Administrative Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable, or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied.
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(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the relevant L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.
(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall notify promptly the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative L/C Currency, the Borrower shall reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer in such Alternative L/C Currency, unless (A) the relevant L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the Borrower shall have notified the relevant L/C Issuer promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that the Borrower will reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer in Dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative L/C Currency, the relevant L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. On the Business Day immediately following the Business Day on which the Borrower shall have received notice of any payment by an L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (or, if the Borrower shall have received such notice later than 1:00 p.m. (or the Applicable Time in the case of any payment by the relevant L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative L/C Currency) on any Business Day, on the second succeeding Business Day) (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing and in the applicable currency by 1:00 p.m. (or the Applicable Time in the case of any payment by the relevant L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative L/C Currency) on such Business Day. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse such L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative L/C Currency) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Appropriate Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Appropriate Lenders, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice); provided that any drawing
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under a Letter of Credit that is not reimbursed on the date of drawing shall accrue interest from the date of drawing at the rate applicable to Revolving Credit Loans that are Base Rate Loans subject to the provisions set forth below. Any notice given by an L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
(ii) Each Revolving Credit Lender (including any such Lender acting as an L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer, in Dollars, at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar denominated payments in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the relevant L/C Issuer.
(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.
(iv) Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer.
(v) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse an L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default; or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit
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Loans (but not L/C Advances) pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
(vi) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the relevant L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(vii) If, at any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with this Section 2.03(c), the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to each Revolving Credit Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.
(viii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
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(d) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit issued by it and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Loan Party may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the relevant L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
(iv) any payment by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;
(v) any exchange, release or nonperfection of any Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from the Guaranty or any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations of any Loan Party in respect of such Letter of Credit;
(vi) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative L/C Currency to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or in the relevant currency markets generally; or
(vii) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party;
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provided that the foregoing shall not excuse any L/C Issuer from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such L/C Issuer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment) when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.
(e) Role of L/C Issuers. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of all Required Lenders; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment); or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower pursuing such rights and remedies as they may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 2.03(e); provided that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against an L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower caused by such L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer’s willful or grossly negligent failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit (in each case, as determined by the final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and no L/C Issuer shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.
(f) Cash Collateral. (i) If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or, the Required Lenders, as applicable, require in writing the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 8.02(c) or (ii) an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) or (g) occurs and is continuing, then the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to 103% of such Outstanding Amount determined as of the date of such Event of Default), and shall do so not later than 2:00 p.m. on (x) in the case of the immediately preceding clause (i), (1) the Business Day that the Borrower receive notice
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thereof, if such notice is received on such day prior to 1:00 p.m., or (2) if clause (1) above does not apply, the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receive such notice and (y) in the case of the immediately preceding clause (ii), the Business Day on which an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) or (g) occurs or, if such day is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately succeeding such day, in either case, by 1:00 p.m. on such day. For purposes hereof, “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the relevant L/C Issuer and the Revolving Credit Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances in an aggregate amount equal to 103% of the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (determined as of the date of such Event of Default), (“Cash Collateral”) pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Revolving Credit Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Revolving Credit Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in accounts satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Revolving Credit Lenders and may be invested in readily available Cash Equivalents at its sole discretion. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Secured Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the deposit accounts satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as aforesaid, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such aggregate Outstanding Amount over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent reasonably determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer. To the extent the amount of any Cash Collateral exceeds the then Outstanding Amount of such L/C Obligations plus costs incidental thereto and so long as no other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the excess shall be refunded to the Borrower. If such Event of Default is cured or waived and no other Event of Default is then occurring and continuing, the amount of any Cash Collateral and accrued interest thereon shall be refunded to the Borrower.
(g) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit issued pursuant to this Agreement equal to the product of (i) Applicable Rate for Term SOFR Loans and (ii) the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.11. Such letter of credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such letter of credit fees shall be due and payable on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
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(h) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers. The Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee (a “Fronting Fee”) with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it equal to 0.125% per annum of the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.11. Such fronting fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fees shall be due and payable on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable within ten (10) Business Days of demand and are nonrefundable.
(i) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in any Letter of Credit Application, in the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control.
(j) Addition of an L/C Issuer. A Revolving Credit Lender (or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates) may become an additional L/C Issuer hereunder pursuant to a written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lender, which such written agreement shall also provide that the commitment of such additional L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit shall not exceed at any time the amount set forth in such written agreement. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of any such additional L/C Issuer.
(k) Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. If the maturity date in respect of any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments occurs prior to the expiration of any Letter of Credit, then (i) if one or more other Classes of Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of which the maturity date shall not have occurred are then in effect, such Letters of Credit shall automatically be deemed to have been issued (including for purposes of the obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders to purchase participations therein and to make Revolving Credit Loans and payments in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.03(c)) under (and ratably participated in by Lenders pursuant to) the Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of such non-terminating Classes up to an aggregate amount not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of the unutilized Revolving Credit Commitments thereunder at such time (it being understood that no partial face amount of any Letter of Credit may be so reallocated) and (ii) to the extent not reallocated pursuant
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to the immediately preceding clause (i), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize any such Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.03(f). If, for any reason, such Cash Collateral is not provided or the reallocation does not occur, the Revolving Credit Lenders under the maturing Class shall continue to be responsible for their participating interests in the Letters of Credit. Except to the extent of reallocations of participations pursuant to clause (i) of the second preceding sentence, the occurrence of a maturity date with respect to a given Class of Revolving Credit Commitments shall have no effect upon (and shall not diminish) the percentage participations of the Revolving Credit Lenders in any Letter of Credit issued before such maturity date. Commencing with the maturity date of any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments, the sublimit for Letters of Credit shall be agreed with the Lenders under the extended Classes. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything contained herein, the commitment of any L/C Issuer to act in its capacity as such cannot be extended beyond the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility (as such Maturity Date is in effect at the Effective Date) or increased without its prior written consent.
(l) Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit and (ii) the rules of the UCP shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible to the Borrower for, and the L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the L/C Issuer required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where the L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade—International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.
(m) Letters of Credit Issued for Restricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Restricted Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Restricted Subsidiaries.
Section 2.04. [Reserved].
Section 2.05. Prepayments.
(a) Optional Prepayments. (i) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay any Borrowing of any Class in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (A) 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term SOFR Loans,
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(B) 11:00 a.m., New York City time, four (4) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Alternative Revolver Currency Loans and (C) 1:00 p.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day prior to the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans, (2) any prepayment of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding and (3) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class(es) and Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Term SOFR Loan or an Alternative Revolver Currency Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.04. Each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) shall be applied pro rata to each Class of Term Loan based upon the respective outstanding principal balances thereof and shall be applied to the installments thereof as directed by the Borrower (it being understood and agreed that if the Borrower does not so direct at the time of such prepayment, such prepayment shall be applied against the scheduled repayments, if applicable, of Term Loans of the relevant Class under Section 2.07 in direct order of maturity) and shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under this Section 2.05(a) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all of the Facilities or consummation of another transaction, which refinancing or other transaction shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.
(b) Mandatory Prepayments. If at any time, the Revolving Credit Exposure (excluding the face amount of any Letters of Credit that are Cash Collateralized or back-stopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent) exceeds the Revolving Credit Commitments or the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency exceeds the Alternative Currency Sublimit, the Borrower shall, within one (1) Business Day, upon notification of the Administrative Agent, prepay (or Cash Collateralize, in the amount required by Section 2.03(f), in the case of Letters of Credit) the other Loans and Letters of Credit then outstanding in an amount equal to such excess, as applicable; provided that nothing in this clause (b) shall reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments.
(c) Interest, Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.05 shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon in the currency in which such Loan is denominated (other than prepayments of Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans that are not made in connection with the termination or permanent reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments), together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a date prior to the last day of the Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period, as applicable, for such Loan, if applicable (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration or otherwise), any amounts owing in respect of such Loan pursuant to Section 3.04.
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Section 2.06. Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Optional. The Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the unused Commitments of any Class, or from time to time permanently reduce the unused Commitments of any Class; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent three (3) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the total Revolving Credit Exposure of such Class would exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility, such sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The amount of any such Revolving Credit Commitment reduction shall not be applied to the Alternative Currency Sublimit or the Letter of Credit Sublimit unless otherwise specified by the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may rescind or postpone any notice of termination of the Commitments if such termination would have resulted from a refinancing or consummation of another transaction, which refinancing or other transaction shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed.
(b) Mandatory. The Revolving Credit Commitments (other than any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments) shall terminate on the applicable Maturity Date. The Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the respective maturity dates applicable thereto.
(c) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or reduction of unused Commitments of any Class under this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of unused portions of the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the unused Commitments of any Class, the Commitment of each Lender of such Class shall be reduced by such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount by which such Commitments are reduced (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section 3.06). All Revolver Commitment Fees accrued until the effective date of any reduction or termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such reduction or termination.
Section 2.07. Repayment of Loans.
(a) Incremental Term Loans. In the event any applicable Incremental Term Loans or Extended Term Loans are made, such Incremental Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, as applicable, shall be repaid by the Borrower in the amounts and on the dates set forth in the definitive documentation with respect thereto and on the applicable Maturity Date thereof.
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(b) Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility the aggregate principal amount of all of its Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such date in the currency in which such Revolving Credit Loan is denominated.
Section 2.08. Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Term SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate plus the Applicable Rate; (iii) each Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate for each day within such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; and (iv) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) The Borrower shall pay interest on past due amounts under this Agreement at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand to the fullest extent permitted by and subject to applicable Laws, including in relation to any required additional agreements.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in the currency in which such Loan is denominated in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
Section 2.09. Fees. In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(g) and (h):
(a) Commitment Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee (the “Revolver Commitment Fee”) equal to the amount provided for in the definition of “Applicable Rate” per annum on the actual daily amount by which the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments exceeds the sum of (A) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans and (B) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations. The Revolver Commitment Fee shall accrue at all times from the Effective Date until the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with September 30, 2026, and on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility.
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(b) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agents such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Agent).
Section 2.10. Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to Term SOFR) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 days, or 366 days, as applicable, and actual days elapsed. All computations of interest for Alternative Currency Loans shall be made on the basis of a year as set forth on Schedule 2.10 for such Alternative Currency, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest, including Term SOFR Loans, shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed or, in the case of interest in respect of Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Alternative Revolver Currencies as to which market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such market practice. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one (1) day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Section 2.11. Evidence of Indebtedness. The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by one or more entries in the Register. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register, the Register shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to such Lender or its registered assigns, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
Section 2.12. Payments Generally.
(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and, except with respect to principal of and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Revolver Currency, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Revolving Credit Loans denominated in an Alternative
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Revolver Currency shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in such Alternative Revolver Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent on the dates specified herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may require that any payments due under this Agreement be made in the United States. If, for any reason, the Borrower is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Revolver Currency, the Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the Alternative Revolver Currency payment amount. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after (i) 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of payments in an Alternative Revolver Currency, shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.
(b) If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans, as applicable, to be made in the next succeeding calendar month or after the Maturity Date, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.
(c) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds, then:
(i) if the Borrower failed to make such payment, then the applicable Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, it being understood that nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder; and
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(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. When such Lender makes payment to the Administrative Agent (together with all accrued interest thereon), then such payment amount (excluding the amount of any interest which may have accrued and been paid in respect of such late payment) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at the interest rate applicable to such Loan. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such participation on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or purchase its participation.
(f) 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.
(g) Whenever any payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents is insufficient to pay in full all amounts due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on any date, such payment shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent and applied by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in
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the order of priority set forth in Section 8.04. If the Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the Loan Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances for which the Loan Documents do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.
Section 2.13. Sharing of Payments. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided that (x) if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon, (y) the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in L/C Obligations to any assignee or participant and (z) the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to any disproportionate payment obtained by a Lender of any Class as a result of the extension by Lenders of the maturity date or expiration date of some but not all Loans or Commitments of that Class or any amendment to the Applicable Rate (or other pricing term, including any fee, discount or premium) and/or any other amendment in respect of Loans or Commitments of Lenders that have consented to any such amendment. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.13 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.
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Section 2.14. Incremental Credit Extensions.
(a) At any time and from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may, with notice to the Administrative Agent (whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), add (1) one or more tranches of “term a” loans or “term b” loans or increase the amount of any such loans outstanding at such time (any such loans, the “Incremental Term Loans”) and/or (2) one or more increases in the Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class (a “Revolving Credit Commitment Increase”) and/or the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (an “Additional Revolving Credit Commitment” and, together with any Revolving Credit Commitment Increases, the “Incremental Revolving Commitments”; together with the Incremental Term Loans, the “Incremental Facilities”). Notwithstanding anything to contrary herein, the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Facilities (other than Refinancing Term Loans and Refinancing Revolving Commitments) (determined at the time of incurrence), together with the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Equivalent Debt, shall not exceed (i) the Unrestricted Incremental Amount, plus (ii) the amount of any voluntary prepayments, repurchases, redemptions or other retirements of the Term Loans or any other Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis with the Revolving Credit Facility (and, in the case of any revolving facility, to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction of the relevant commitment) and voluntary permanent reductions of the Revolving Credit Commitments effected after the Effective Date, but excluding (A) any prepayment with the proceeds of substantially concurrent borrowings of new Loans hereunder, (B) any reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments in connection with a substantially concurrent issuance of new revolving commitments hereunder and (C) prepayments with the proceeds of substantially concurrent incurrence of other long-term Indebtedness (other than borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and other revolving Indebtedness, in each case without a substantially concurrent permanent commitment reduction) (this clause (ii), the “Voluntary Prepayment Amount”) plus (iii) unlimited additional Incremental Facilities and Incremental Equivalent Debt so long as, after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and after giving effect to any Permitted Acquisition or permitted Investment consummated in connection therewith and all other appropriate Pro Forma Adjustments (assuming such Incremental Facilities are fully drawn but excluding the cash proceeds of any such Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt, as the case may be), the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for the most recently ended Test Period does not exceed 3.00:1.00, it being understood and agreed that Incremental Facilities may be incurred pursuant to this clause (iii) prior to utilization of the Unrestricted Incremental Amount and the Voluntary Prepayment Amount and assuming for purposes of such calculation that the full committed amount of any new Incremental Revolving Commitments and/or any Incremental Equivalent Debt constituting a revolving credit commitment then being incurred shall be treated as outstanding Indebtedness (this clause (iii), the “Incremental Incurrence Test”), and if there is availability under this Incremental Incurrence Test at the time of the incurrence or establishment of such Incremental Facilities, then the Borrower will be deemed to have elected to use such availability under the Incremental Incurrence Test first. Each Incremental Facility shall be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000 in case of Incremental Term Loans or $1,000,000 in case of Incremental Revolving Commitments, provided that such amount may be less than the
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applicable minimum amount if such amount represents all the remaining availability hereunder as set forth above. Each Incremental Facility (i) shall rank pari passu in right of payment and of security with the existing Term Loans, (ii) shall be guaranteed solely by the Guarantors that guarantee the other Obligations hereunder and (iii) will be secured solely by a Lien on the Collateral securing all of the other Obligations hereunder; provided that in the case of any Incremental Facility that is funded into Escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements, such Incremental Facility may be secured by the applicable funds and related assets held in Escrow (and the proceeds thereof) until the time of the release from Escrow of such funds.
(b) Any Incremental Term Loans (other than Refinancing Term Loans) (i) shall have interest rate margins, fees, tenor and an amortization schedule (subject to clauses (ii) and (iv) below), optional prepayment or redemption terms and other terms as determined by the Borrower and the lenders thereunder, (ii) any Incremental Term Loan shall not have a final maturity date earlier than the Maturity Date applicable to any Incremental Term Loans or the Revolving Credit Facility (but may have a springing maturity date consistent with the Revolving Credit Facility), (iii) [reserved], (iv) any Incremental Term Loan shall not have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any then-existing Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans, (v) [reserved] and (vi) except to the extent otherwise permitted by this Section 2.14, shall have substantially equivalent terms and conditions as any then-existing Incremental Term Loans or, if not on substantially equivalent terms and conditions as any then-existing Incremental Term Loans, on such terms as are either (x) not materially more restrictive to the Borrower (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), when taken as a whole, than the terms of the existing Revolving Credit Loans or any then-existing Incremental Term Loans (except for covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the final stated maturity of the Revolving Credit Loans that are outstanding on the effective date of the applicable Incremental Term Loans or which are added for the benefit of the Lenders) or (y) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, it being understood that no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent with respect to terms and conditions that are more restrictive than the Revolving Credit Facility or any then-existing Incremental Term Loans that are added for the benefit of the Lenders or to the extent that they apply to periods after the then Latest Maturity Date with respect to the Loans then outstanding; provided, that in the case of any Incremental Term Loan where no Incremental Term Loan otherwise then exists, this Agreement shall be amended to include customary provisions for the addition of such Incremental Term Loan, including but not limited to mandatory prepayment, call protection, discounted voluntary prepayment and permitted debt exchange provisions; provided, that upon establishment of any Incremental Facility, Incremental Equivalent Debt or any Ratio Debt that is in the form of term loans that are secured on a pari passu basis with the Revolving Credit Facility, this Agreement may be amended to include customary “most favored nation” pricing protections.
(c) Any Incremental Revolving Commitments(i) for purposes of prepayments, other than Refinancing Revolving Commitments, shall be treated substantially the same as (and in any event no more favorably than) the Revolving Credit Commitments, (ii) shall not have a final maturity date earlier than the Maturity Date applicable to the then-existing Revolving Credit Commitments (but may have a springing maturity date consistent with
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the Revolving Credit Facility), (iii) shall not have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the then-existing Revolving Credit Commitments or Incremental Revolving Commitments and (iv) except to the extent otherwise permitted by this Section 2.14, shall be on the exact same terms and conditions as the Revolving Credit Commitments or such terms as are either (x) not materially more restrictive to the Borrower (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), when taken as a whole, than the terms of the existing Revolving Credit Loans (except for covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the final stated maturity of the Revolving Credit Loans that are outstanding on the effective date of the applicable Incremental Revolving Commitments or which are added for the benefit of the Lenders) or (y) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, it being understood that no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent for terms and conditions that are more restrictive than the Revolving Credit Commitments to the extent that they apply to periods after the then Latest Maturity Date with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility or are otherwise added for the benefit of the Lenders hereunder.
(d) Each notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall set forth the amount and terms of the relevant Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Revolving Commitments. Any additional bank, financial institution, existing Lender or other Person that elects to extend Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower (any such bank, financial institution, existing Lender or other Person being called an “Additional Lender”) and, if not already a Lender, shall become a Lender under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Facility Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, such Additional Lender and, in the case of any Incremental Revolving Commitments, each L/C Issuer (solely to the extent the L/C Issuer’s consent would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Revolving Credit Commitments) (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and notified to the Administrative Agent (except as otherwise set forth below). No Incremental Facility Amendment shall require the consent of any Person other than Borrower and the Additional Lenders with respect to such Incremental Facility Amendment and, in the case of Incremental Revolving Commitments, the L/C Issuer (solely to the extent the L/C Issuer’s consent would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Revolving Credit Commitments) (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments, unless it so agrees. Commitments in respect of any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments shall become Commitments under this Agreement. An Incremental Facility Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to any Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.14; provided, consent of the Administrative Agent to any Incremental Amendment shall be required (i) in the case of any Incremental Revolving Commitments or (ii) to the extent the terms of an Incremental Amendment would directly and adversely amend or modify the rights or duties, or otherwise materially increase the administrative responsibilities, of the Administrative Agent beyond those of the type already required to perform under the Loan Documents (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Any Incremental Facility Amendment shall be pursuant to documentation to be mutually agreed among the Borrower and the Lenders providing such Incremental Facility.
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(e) The effectiveness of any Incremental Facility Amendment shall, unless otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the Additional Lenders, be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof (each, an “Incremental Facility Closing Date”) of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (it being understood that (i) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in Section 4.02 being true and correct in all material respect (except to the extent such representations and warranties are qualified with “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar terms, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date of such Credit Extension (except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties are qualified with “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar terms, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date) and all references to “such date of such Credit Extension” shall be deemed to refer to the Incremental Facility Closing Date), (ii) no Event of Default shall exist, or would result from such issuance of the Incremental Facility; provided in the case of Incremental Facilities the proceeds of which will be used to finance a Limited Condition Transaction, (1) governed by the laws of the United States, (X) the only representations and warranties that will be required to be true and correct in all material respects as of the applicable Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be the Specified Representations and (Y) no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or immediately occur as a result thereof after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and the funding of such Incremental Facility and (2) governed by laws other than the laws of the United States, only customary “certain funds” conditions for the applicable jurisdiction or as required by the terms of the documentation governing such Limited Condition Transaction will be required to be satisfied. The proceeds of any Incremental Term Loans will be used for general corporate purposes (including (without limitation) Permitted Acquisitions) and for any other purpose not prohibited hereunder. Upon each increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments under such Revolving Credit Facility pursuant to this Section 2.14, each Revolving Credit Lender immediately prior to such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assigned to each Lender providing a portion of the Incremental Revolving Commitment (each, an “Incremental Revolving Lender”) in respect of such increase, and each such Incremental Revolving Lender will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed, a portion of such Revolving Credit Lender’s participations hereunder in outstanding Letters of Credit such that, after giving effect to each such deemed assignment and assumption of participations, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding participations hereunder in Letters of Credit under such Revolving Credit Facility held by each Revolving Credit Lender (including each such Incremental Revolving Lender) under such Revolving Credit Facility will equal the percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Additionally, if any Revolving Credit Loans are outstanding under a Revolving Credit Facility at the time any Incremental Revolving Commitments are established under such Revolving Credit Facility, the Revolving Credit Lenders immediately after effectiveness
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of such Incremental Revolving Commitments shall purchase and assign at par such amounts of the Revolving Credit Loans outstanding under such Revolving Credit Facility at such time as the Administrative Agent may require such that each Revolving Credit Lender under such Revolving Credit Facility holds its Applicable Percentage of all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding under such Revolving Credit Facility immediately after giving effect to all such assignments. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) Any portion of any Incremental Facility incurred other than under the Incremental Incurrence Test may be reclassified at any time, as the Borrower may elect from time to time, as incurred under the Incremental Incurrence Test if the Borrower meets the applicable ratio under the Incremental Incurrence Test at such time on a Pro Forma Basis at any time subsequent to the incurrence of such Incremental Facility (or would have met such ratio, in which case, such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred if not elected by the Borrower).
Section 2.15. Extensions of Revolving Credit Commitments and Extensions of Term Loans.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, pursuant to one or more offers (each, an “Extension Offer”) made from time to time by the Borrower to all Lenders of any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments or any Class of Term Loans, in each case on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the applicable Class or the outstanding principal amount of Term Loans of the applicable Class, as the case may be) and on the same terms to each such Lender, the Borrower is hereby permitted to consummate from time to time transactions with individual Lenders that accept the terms contained in such Extension Offers to extend the maturity date of each such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitments of the applicable Class or Term Loans of the applicable Class, as the case may be, and otherwise modify the terms of such Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loans, as the case may be, pursuant to the terms of the relevant Extension Offer (including, without limitation, by increasing the interest rate or fees payable in respect of such Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings) or Term Loans, as the case may be, and which such extensions shall not be subject to any “no default” requirement, pro forma compliance with any leverage ratio or other financial tests or “most favored nations” provisions) (each, an “Extension”). Each group of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, in each case, as so extended, as well as any original Incremental Term Loan or the original Revolving Credit Commitments (in each case, not so extended), and any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (as defined below) shall constitute a separate Class of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments from the Class of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments from which they were extended (it being understood that an Extension may be in the form of an increase in the amount of any other then outstanding Class of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments otherwise satisfying the criteria set forth below), so long as the following terms are satisfied: (i) except as to interest rates, fees and final maturity (which shall be determined
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by the Borrower and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer), the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Revolving Credit Lender that agrees to an extension with respect to such Revolving Credit Commitment extended pursuant to an Extension (an “Extended Revolving Credit Commitment”), and the related outstandings, shall be a Revolving Credit Commitment (or related outstandings, as the case may be) with the same terms as the original Class of Revolving Credit Commitments; provided, that other terms of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments may differ from the original Class of Revolving Credit Commitments to the extent such differences do not apply until after the final stated maturity of the Revolving Credit Loans that are outstanding on the effective date of the applicable Extension; provided, further, that at no time shall there be Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder (including Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and any original Revolving Credit Commitments) which have more than three different maturity dates, (ii) if the aggregate principal amount of the class of Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of which Revolving Credit Lenders of such Class shall have accepted the relevant Extension Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class offered to be extended by the Borrower pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the Revolving Credit Loans of such Class of such Revolving Credit Lenders shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Revolving Credit Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer, (iii) all documentation in respect of such Extension shall be consistent with the foregoing and (iv) any applicable Minimum Extension Condition shall be satisfied unless waived by the Borrower. No Lender shall be obligated to extend its Revolving Credit Commitments unless it so agrees. Each group of Term Loans as so extended, as well as any original Incremental Term Loans not so extended, and any Extended Term Loans shall constitute a separate Class of Term Loans from the Class of Term Loans from which they were converted (it being understood that an Extension may be in the form of an increase in the amount of any other outstanding Class of Term Loans otherwise satisfying the criteria set forth below), so long as the following terms are satisfied: (i) except as to interest rates, fees, amortization, mandatory prepayments, prepayment premiums and final maturity (which shall be determined by the Borrower and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer), the Term Loans of any Term Lender that agrees to an extension with respect to such Term Loans extended pursuant to an Extension (an “Extended Term Loan”) shall be a Term Loan with the same terms as the original Class of Incremental Term Loans; provided, that other terms of the Extended Term Loans may differ from the original Class of Incremental Term Loans to the extent such differences do not apply until after the final stated maturity of the Term Loans that are outstanding on the effective date of the applicable Extension; provided, further, that at no time shall there be Term Loans hereunder (including Extended Term Loans and any original Incremental Term Loans) which have more than three different maturity dates, (ii) if the aggregate principal amount of the class of Term Loans in respect of which Term Lenders of such Class shall have accepted the relevant Extension Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of such Class offered to be extended by the Borrower pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the Term Loans of such Class of such Term Lenders shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Term Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer, (iii) all documentation in respect of such Extension shall be consistent with the foregoing and (iv) any applicable Minimum Extension Condition shall be satisfied unless waived by the Borrower. No Lender shall be obligated to extend its Term Loans unless it so agrees.
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(b) With respect to all Extensions consummated by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.15, (i) such Extensions shall not constitute voluntary or mandatory payments or prepayments for purposes of Section 2.05 and (ii) no Extension Offer is required to be in any minimum amount or any minimum increment, provided that the Borrower may at their election specify as a condition (a “Minimum Extension Condition”) to consummating any such Extension that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Extension Offer in the Borrower’s sole discretion and may be waived by the Borrower) of Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loans, as the case may be, of any or all applicable Classes be tendered. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.15 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and any Extended Term Loans on such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) and hereby waive the requirements of any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Sections 2.05, 2.12 and 2.13) or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.15.
(c) No consent of any Lender or the Administrative Agent shall be required to effectuate any Extension, other than (A) the consent of each Lender agreeing to such Extension with respect to one or more of its Revolving Credit Commitments (or a portion thereof) or one or more of its Term Loans (or a portion thereof) and (B) solely with respect to the Extension of any Revolving Credit Commitments, the consent of each L/C Issuer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided that any Lender that elects not to agree to such Extension (such Lender being, a “Non-Extending Lender”) may be replaced by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.06. All Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, all Extended Term Loans and all obligations in respect of each thereof shall be Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that are secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with all other applicable Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Borrower as may be necessary in order to establish new Classes in respect of Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loans, as the case may be, so extended and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in connection with the establishment of such new Classes, in each case on terms consistent with this Section 2.15.
(d) In connection with any Extension, the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days’ (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent) prior written notice thereof, and shall agree to such procedures (including, without limitation, regarding timing, rounding and other adjustments and to ensure reasonable administrative management of the credit facilities hereunder after such Extension), if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.15.
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(e) No more than two (2) Extensions may be consummated by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.15.
Section 2.16. 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) the Revolver Commitment Fee shall cease to accrue on any of the Revolving Credit Commitments of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09(a);
(b) the Commitment, Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.01); provided that (x) any waiver, amendment or modification of the type described in clause (a), (b) or (c) of the first proviso in Section 10.01 that would apply to the Revolving Credit Commitments or Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender or (y) any waiver, amendment or modification (other than as described in the foregoing clause (x) requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender) which affects such Defaulting Lender disproportionally when compared to other affected Lenders, in each case, shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender with respect to the effectiveness of such waiver, amendment or modification with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments or Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender;
(c) any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article IX or otherwise), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any L/C Issuer hereunder; third, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to any Loan Party as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Loan Party against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that, if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the relevant Loans of the relevant non- Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied in the manner set forth in this clause (c).
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(d) if any L/C Obligations exist at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i) all or any part of the L/C Obligations of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentage but only to the extent that such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures does not exceed its Revolving Credit Commitments;
(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within three (3) Business Days following notice by the Administrative Agent Cash Collateralize for the benefit of the L/C Issuer only the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.03(f) for so long as such L/C Obligations are outstanding;
(iii) if the Borrower Cash Collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(h) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations during the period such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations are Cash Collateralized;
(iv) if the L/C Obligations of the non-Defaulting Lenders are reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.09(a) and 2.03(h) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentage; and
(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations is neither reallocated nor Cash Collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the L/C Issuer or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.03(h) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Obligations shall be payable to the L/C Issuer until and to the extent that such L/C Obligations are reallocated and/or Cash Collateralized; and
(e) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the L/C Issuer shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it has received assurances satisfactory to it that non-Defaulting Lenders will cover the related exposure and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.16(d), and participating interests in any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.16(d)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).
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In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the L/C Issuer each agree that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the L/C Obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Revolving Credit Loans of the other Revolving Credit Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties and subject to Section 10.24, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
ARTICLE III
TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
Section 3.01. Taxes.
(a) All payments by the Borrower or any Guarantor to or for the account of any Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes unless required by applicable Law. If any applicable withholding agent shall be required by any applicable Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document, (i) if such Taxes are Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower or applicable Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions have been made for Indemnified Taxes (including any such deductions for Indemnified Taxes applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01), the applicable Lender (or, in the case of any amount received by an Agent for its own account, such Agent) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions for Indemnified Taxes been made, (ii) such applicable withholding agent shall make such deductions, (iii) such applicable withholding agent shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (iv) within thirty (30) days after the date of such payment by such applicable withholding agent (or, if receipts or evidence are not available within thirty (30) days, as soon as possible thereafter), such applicable withholding agent shall furnish to the Borrower and such Agent or Lender (as the case may be) the original or a facsimile copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof to the extent such a receipt is issued therefor, or other written proof of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(b) In addition, but without duplication of any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or (c), the Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, all Other Taxes.
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(c) Without duplication of any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or Section 3.01(b), the Borrower shall indemnify each Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Indemnified Taxes (including any Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction in respect of amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable or paid by such Agent and such Lender and (ii) any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Such Agent or Lender, as the case may be, will, at the Borrower’s request, provide the Borrower with a written statement thereof setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of such amounts which shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Payment under this Section 3.01(c) shall be made within ten (10) days after the date such Lender or such Agent makes a demand therefor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3.01(c), no Loan Party shall be required to indemnify any Agent or any Lender pursuant to this Section 3.01(c) for any incremental interest, penalties or expenses resulting from the failure of such Agent or Lender to notify the Loan Party of such possible indemnification claim within 180 days after such Agent or Lender receives written notice from the applicable Governmental Authority of the specific tax assessment giving rise to such indemnification claim.
(d) If any Lender or Agent determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund in respect of any Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by the Borrower or any Guarantor pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit an amount equal to such refund as soon as practicable (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower or any Guarantor under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund plus any interest included in such refund by the relevant Governmental Authority attributable thereto) to the Borrower, net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes) of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, agrees promptly to return an amount equal to such refund (plus any applicable interest, additions to tax or penalties) to such party in the event such party is required to repay such refund to the relevant Governmental Authority. Such Lender or Agent, as the case may be, shall, at the Borrower’s request, provide the Borrower with a copy of any notice of assessment or other evidence of the requirement to repay such refund received from the relevant Governmental Authority (provided that such Lender or Agent may delete any information therein that such Lender or Agent deems confidential). Nothing herein contained shall interfere with the right of a Lender or Agent to arrange its Tax affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit nor oblige any Lender or Agent to claim any Tax refund or to make available its Tax returns or disclose any information relating to its Tax affairs or any computations in respect thereof or require any Lender or Agent to do anything that would prejudice its ability to benefit from any other refunds, credits, reliefs, remissions or repayments to which it may be entitled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (d), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (d) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid.
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(e) Each Lender shall, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 3.01(a) or (c) with respect to such Lender, if requested by the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts (subject to legal and regulatory restrictions), at Borrower’s expense, to designate another Applicable Lending Office for any Loan affected by such event or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Applicable Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 3.01(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrower or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or (c).
(f) Each Lender shall, at such times as are reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with any properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Law, or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (i) certifying as to any entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction in, any withholding Tax with respect to any payments to be made to such Lender under any Loan Document, and (ii) as necessary to enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders such documentation (including any documentation specifically referenced below) expired, obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, deliver promptly to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by the applicable withholding agent) or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its ineligibility to do so. 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 subsections (i), (ii)(A) through (D), and (iii) of this Section 3.01(f)) 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.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(i) Each Lender that is a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding;
(ii) Each Lender that is not a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter when required by applicable Law or upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) whichever of the following is applicable:
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(A) two duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for benefits of treaty,
(B) two duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),
(C) in the case of a Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or 881(c) or the Code, (x) a certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit H (any such certificate a “United States Tax Compliance Certificate”), or any other documentation approved by the Administrative Agent, to the effect that such Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and that no payments under the Loan Documents are effectively connected with such Lender’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, and (y) two duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms),
(D) to the extent a Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender), Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Lender, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN or W- 8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms), United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Form W-9, Form W-8IMY (or other successor forms) or any other required information from each beneficial owner, as applicable (provided that, if the Lender is a partnership and not a participating Lender, and one or more direct or indirect partners are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Lender on behalf of such direct or indirect partner(s)), or
(E) two duly completed copies of any other documentation prescribed by applicable U.S. federal income Tax Laws (including the Treasury regulations) as a basis for claiming a complete exemption from, or a reduction in, U.S. federal withholding Tax on any payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents.
(iii) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Sections 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 applicable 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 FATCA obligations, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s FATCA obligations and to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.01(f)(iii), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.01(f), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver.
Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Loan Parties and to any successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided by such Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 3.01(f).
(g) The Administrative Agent shall provide the Borrower with two duly completed copies of, if it is a United States person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that it is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding, and, if it is not a United States person, (1) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI with respect to payments to be received by it as a beneficial owner and (2) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (together with required accompanying documentation) with respect to payments to be received by it on behalf of the Lenders, and shall update such forms periodically upon the reasonable request of the Borrower. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.01(g), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver any documentation that such Administrative Agent is not legally eligible to deliver.
(h) For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” shall, for purposes of this Section 3.01, include any L/C Issuer and “applicable Law” includes FATCA.
(i) Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments, the expiration or cancellation of all Letters of Credit, and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
Section 3.02. Changed Circumstances; Benchmark Replacement Setting.
(a) Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event with respect to any Benchmark, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace such Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement. Any such amendment with respect to a Benchmark Transition Event will become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent has posted such proposed amendment to all affected Lenders and the Borrower so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such amendment from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. No replacement of a Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this Section 3.02(a) will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date.
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(b) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(c) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (A) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (B) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower of (x) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 3.02(c) and (y) the commencement of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 3.02, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 3.02.
(d) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. 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), (A) if any then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Screen Rate, EURIBOR, TIBOR, BBSY or the Term CORRA Rate) and either (1) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (2) 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 not or will not be representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (B) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (A) above either (1) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (2) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.
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(i) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a given Benchmark, (A) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans, Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans, in each case, to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period denominated in the applicable Currency and, failing that, (I) in the case of any request for any affected Term SOFR Loans, if applicable, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (II) in the case of any request for any affected Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans, in each case, in an Alternative Currency, if applicable, then such request shall be ineffective and (B)(I) any outstanding affected Term SOFR Loans, if applicable, will be deemed to have been converted into Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period and (II) any outstanding affected Term SOFR Loans, Alternative Revolver Currency Daily Rate Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans, in each case, denominated in an Alternative Currency, at the Borrower’s election, shall either (1) be converted into Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Alternative Currency) immediately or, in the case of Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans or Term CORRA Rate Loans, at the end of the applicable Interest Period or (2) be prepaid in full immediately or, in the case of Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans or Term CORRA Loans, at the end of the applicable Interest Period; provided that, with respect to any Daily Simple SOFR Loan, if no election is made by the Borrower by the date that is three (3) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of such notice, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected clause (1) above; provided, further that, with respect to any Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan, if no election is made by the Borrower by the earlier of (x) the date that is three (3) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of such notice and (y) the last day of the current Interest Period for the applicable Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loan, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected clause (1) above. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest (except with respect to any prepayment or conversion of an Daily Simple SOFR Loan) on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.04. During a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to any Benchmark or at any time that a tenor for any then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark that is the subject of such Benchmark Unavailability Period or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of Base Rate.
Section 3.03. Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy.
(a) If any Lender determines that as a result of any Change in Law, or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Loan or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.03(a) any
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such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes indemnifiable under Section 3.01, (ii) Excluded Taxes or (iii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.03(c)), then from time to time within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.05), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction; provided that in the case of any Change in Law only applicable as a result of the proviso set forth in the definition thereof, such Lender will only be compensated for such amounts that would have otherwise been imposed under the applicable increased cost provisions and only to the extent the applicable Lender certifies that it is its general policy or practice to impose such charges on other similarly situated borrowers under comparable syndicated credit facilities.
(b) If any Lender determines that as a result of any Change in Law regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, in each case after the date hereof, or compliance by such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity requirements and such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the charge and the calculation of such reduced rate of return (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.05), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such demand.
(c) [Reserved].
(d) Subject to Section 3.05(b), failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation.
(e) If any Lender requests compensation under this Section 3.03, then such Lender will, if requested by the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to designate another Applicable Lending Office for any Loan or Letter of Credit affected by such event; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Applicable Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage; and provided further that nothing in this Section 3.03(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrower or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.03(a), (b), (c) or (d).
Section 3.04. Funding Losses. Promptly following written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, which demand shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) actually incurred by it as a result of:
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(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period, as applicable, for such Loan, if applicable (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower;
(c) any assignment of a Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.06; or
(d) any failure by the Borrower to make payment of any Revolving Credit Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency;
including any foreign exchange loss and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract.
Section 3.05. Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation.
(a) Any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III shall deliver a certificate to the Borrower setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.
(b) With respect to any Lender’s claim for compensation under Section 3.02, Section 3.03, or Section 3.04 the Borrower shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that, if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under Section 3.03, the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans from one Interest Period to another, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.05(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.
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(c) If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue any Term SOFR Loan or Alternative Revolver Currency Loan from one Interest Period to another, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans shall, to the extent denominated in Dollars, be suspended pursuant to Section 3.05(b) hereof, such Lender’s Term SOFR Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Term SOFR Loans (or, in the case of an immediate conversion required by Section 3.02, on such earlier date as required by Law) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section 3.02, Section 3.03 or Section 3.04 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:
(i) to the extent that such Lender’s Term SOFR Loans have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s Term SOFR Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and
(ii) all Loans that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Term SOFR Loans, to the extent denominated in Dollars, shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans, and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.
(d) If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.02, Section 3.03 or Section 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of such Lender’s Term SOFR Loans denominated in Dollars pursuant to this Section 3.05 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Term SOFR Loans made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted to Term SOFR Loans, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Term SOFR Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Term SOFR Loans and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective principal amount of Commitments.
Section 3.06. Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances.
(a) If at any time (i) any Lender requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.03 as a result of any condition described in such Sections and Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.01(e) or any Lender ceases to make Term SOFR Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.03, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, (iii) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender or (iv) any Lender becomes a Non-Extending Lender, then the Borrower may, on prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (or, with respect to clause (iii) and clause (iv) above, all of its rights and obligations with respect to the Class of Loans or Commitments that is the subject of
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the related consent, waiver or amendment) to one or more Eligible Assignees (provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a replacement Lender or other such Person; and provided, further, that (A) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.03 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments and (B) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender or a Non-Extending Lender, the applicable Eligible Assignees shall have agreed to the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents).
(b) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.06(a) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations, as applicable (provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption shall not render such assignment invalid and such assignment shall be recorded in the Register) and (ii) deliver Notes, if any, evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or Administrative Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitments and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations, as applicable, (B) all obligations of the Loan Parties owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loan Documents and participations so assigned shall be paid in full by the assignee Lender or the Loan Parties (as applicable) to such assigning Lender concurrently with such assignment and assumption, including any amounts owing to the assigning Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) under Section 3.04 as a consequence of such assignment and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, the assignor Lender shall deliver to the assignee Lender the appropriate Notes executed by the Borrower, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans, Commitments and participations, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time that it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (including the furnishing of a back-up standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer, or the depositing of cash collateral into a cash collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to each such outstanding Letter of Credit and the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.09.
(d) In the event that (i) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent have requested that the Lenders (A) consent to an extension of the Maturity Date of any Class of Loans as permitted by Section 2.15, (B) consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or (C) agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the agreement of all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 or all the Lenders with respect to a certain Class of the Loans and (iii) the Required Lenders have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “Non-Consenting Lender.”
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(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each party hereto agrees that any assignment pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.06 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and that the Lender making such assignment need not be a party thereto.
Section 3.07. Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to a Relevant Rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to engage in revert repurchase of U.S. Treasury securities transactions of the type included in the determination of SOFR or Term SOFR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon a Relevant Rate or SOFR or to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, any Alternative Currency in the applicable interbank market, in each case after the Effective Date, then, on written notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or maintain Alternative Revolver Currency Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars, to make or maintain Term SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans shall be, in each case, suspended, and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower shall promptly, following written demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay all Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Rate Loans, as applicable, in the affected currency or currencies or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all Term SOFR Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate), in each case, immediately, or, in the case of Term SOFR Loans and Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans, on the last day of the Interest Period therefor if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Term Rate Loans to such day, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon SOFR or Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR or Term SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, and all amounts due, if any, in connection with such prepayment or conversion under Section 3.04. Each Lender agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.
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Section 3.08. Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and any assignment of rights by or replacement of a Lender.
Section 3.09. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan or other Obligation owing under this Agreement, together with all fees, charges and other amounts that are treated as interest on such Loan or other Obligation under Applicable Law (collectively, “charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender or other Person holding such Loan or other Obligation in accordance with Applicable Law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan or other Obligation hereunder, together with all charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate. To the extent lawful, the interest and charges that would have been paid in respect of such Loan or other Obligation but were not paid as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and charges payable to such Lender or other Person in respect of other Loans or Obligations or periods shall be increased (but not above the amount collectible at the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate for each day to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender or other Person. Any amount collected by such Lender or other Person that exceeds the maximum amount collectible at the Maximum Rate shall be applied to the reduction of the principal balance of such Loan or other Obligation or refunded to the Borrower so that at no time shall the interest and charges paid or payable in respect of such Loan or other Obligation exceed the maximum amount collectible at the Maximum Rate.
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
Section 4.01. Conditions to Effectiveness. Subject to Section 6.12(b), this Agreement shall be effective upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent (or waiver thereof in accordance with Section 10.01):
(a) after giving effect to the Transactions (i) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if any such representation and warranty is already qualified by materiality) on and as of the Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if any such representation and warranty is already qualified by materiality) as of such earlier date, and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist;
(b) receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement and each other Loan Document to be executed and delivered on the Effective Date, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party and in the case of this Agreement, by each Lender;
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(ii) copies of the constitutional documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its organization, where applicable, and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Effective Date and such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its state of organization;
(iii) with respect to each Loan Party, to the extent legally required, a copy of a resolution of the board of directors, the shareholders or equivalent body of each Loan Party approving the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby;
(iv) specimen signatures for the person(s) authorized in the resolutions referred to in clause (b)(iii) above (to the extent such person will execute any Loan Document);
(v) a certificate from each Loan Party (signed by an officer or authorized signatory) certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in clauses (i) through (iii) above is correct, complete and (to the extent executed) in full force and effect and has not been amended or superseded prior to the date of this Agreement;
(c) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as of the Effective Date certifying that the conditions specified in Section 4.01(a) have been satisfied as of the Effective Date;
(d) a certificate from the chief financial officer or other financial officer of the Borrower certifying that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the Transactions, are Solvent;
(e) a legal opinion from Cooley LLP as counsel to the Loan Parties in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(f) reasonable evidence that payment of all fees and expenses earned, due and payable to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers (including all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent that are required to have been reimbursed or paid (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent)) and required to be paid under any Loan Documents shall have been made to the extent invoiced at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Date;
(g) to the extent requested in writing at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Date, a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
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(h) each document required by the Loan Documents or the Collateral and Guarantee Requirements to be filed, registered or recorded to create in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties), a perfected first-priority Lien on the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens), including:
(i) certificates and instruments representing Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) pledged to the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) pursuant to the Security Agreement, accompanied by undated stock powers or instruments of transfer executed in blank to the extent applicable,
(ii) proper financing statements in form appropriate for filing under the UCC of all jurisdictions that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the Security Agreement, covering the Collateral described in the Security Agreement,
(iii) one or more duly executed Intellectual Property Security Agreements in the form of Exhibit II to the Security Agreement for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and/or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, to the extent required by the Security Agreement,
(iv) certified copies of UCC, United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, tax and judgment lien searches, or equivalent reports or searches, each of a recent date listing all effective financing statements, lien notices or comparable documents (together with copies of such financing statements and documents) that name any Loan Party as debtor and that are filed in those state and county jurisdictions in which any Loan Party is organized or maintains its principal place of business and such other searches that are required by the Perfection Certificate or that the Administrative Agent deems necessary or appropriate, none of which encumber the Collateral covered or intended to be covered by the Collateral Documents (other than Permitted Liens),
(v) a Perfection Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit III to the Security Agreement, duly executed by each of the Loan Parties, and
(vi) evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the Security Agreement has been taken (including receipt of duly executed payoff letters, UCC-3 termination statements and intellectual property security agreement releases, if applicable);
(vii) (A) certificates of insurance of the Loan Parties evidencing liability and casualty insurance meeting the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents and (B) endorsements to insurance policies of the Loan Parties naming the Administrative Agent and its successors and assigns as additional insured (in the case of liability insurance) or lender’s loss payee (in the case of property insurance) on behalf of the holders of the Obligations and providing notice of cancellation to the Administrative Agent with respect to any such insurance coverage; and
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(i) the Administrative Agent and each Lender, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent or such Lender at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, shall have received all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act. To the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, receipt by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent or such Lender at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, of a Beneficial Ownership Certification with respect to the Borrower.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, solely with respect to the matters expressly identified on Schedule 6.12, the satisfaction by the Loan Parties of the foregoing conditions shall not be required on the Effective Date, but instead shall be required to be completed pursuant to Schedule 6.12.
Section 4.02. Conditions to Subsequent Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension after the Effective Date (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans, as applicable) is subject to the following conditions precedent (limited, in the case of Incremental Facilities which will be used to finance a Limited Condition Transaction, in the manner set forth in Section 2.14(e)):
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided, further, that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates.
(b) No Default or Event of Default shall exist, or would result from, such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom.
(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the relevant L/C Issuer shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.
Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans, as applicable) submitted by the Borrower shall (subject, in the case of a Request delivered with respect to any Incremental Facility, to Section 2.14(e)) be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the applicable conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and, if applicable, (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.
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ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Agents and the Lenders on the Effective Date and on the date of each Credit Extension (other than a conversion of Loans from one Type to another Type or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Alternative Revolver Currency Loans, as applicable) after the Effective Date:
Section 5.01. Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each other Restricted Subsidiary (a) is a Person duly incorporated, organized or formed, and validly existing and, where applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and, where applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in material compliance with all Laws (including the USA PATRIOT Act and anti-money laundering laws), orders, writs, injunctions and orders and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case referred to in clause (a) (other than with respect to any Loan Party), (b)(i), (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.02. Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, and the consummation of the Transactions, (a) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action and (b) do not and will not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or require any payment to be made under (A) any material Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (B) any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject, (iii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than under the Loan Documents) or (iv) violate any material Law; except (in the case of clauses (b)(ii) and (b)(iv) above), to the extent that such conflict, breach, contravention, payment or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.03. Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transaction, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents,
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except for (i) filings necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties, (ii) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect and (iii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.04. Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity.
Section 5.05. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) The Historical Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in each case, as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, except as otherwise disclosed to the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date, and in the case of the Historical Financial Statements, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby.
(b) Since December 31, 2025, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may be required to restate historical financial statements as the result of the implementation of changes in GAAP or IFRS, or the respective interpretation thereof, and that such restatements will not result in a Default or Event of Default under the Loan Documents.
Section 5.06. Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.06 to the Disclosure Letter, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.07. Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good and valid title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except for minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes, Permitted Liens and any Liens and privileges arising mandatorily by Law and, in each case, except where the failure to have such title or other interest would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.08. Environmental Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions, suits, notices of violation, notices of potential responsibility, disputes or proceedings by or involving any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of, or otherwise relating to, any Environmental Law;
(b) (i) there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material on any property currently owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries; and (ii) there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from any location in a manner which would reasonably be expected to give rise to any Environmental Liability of or relating to any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries;
(c) neither any Loan Party nor any of their Subsidiaries is undertaking, or has completed, either individually or together with other persons, any investigation or response action relating to any actual or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at any location, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law;
(d) all Hazardous Materials transported from any property currently or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries for off-site disposal have been disposed of in compliance with all Environmental Laws;
(e) none of the Loan Parties nor any of their Subsidiaries is subject to or has contractually or by operation of Law assumed any Environmental Liability; and
(f) the Loan Parties and each of their Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, operations and properties are and have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws.
Section 5.09. Taxes. The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary have timely filed all federal, provincial, state, municipal, foreign and other Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have timely paid all federal, provincial, state, municipal, foreign and other Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves or accruals have been provided in accordance with GAAP, and except for failures to timely make such filings or payments that would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no Tax audits, deficiencies, assessments or other claims proposed in writing with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that would, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.10. Compliance with ERISA.
(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal, state or other applicable Laws and (ii) each Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the IRS to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.
(b) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened or contemplated claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that, either individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event that, either individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) To the extent applicable, each Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable requirements of Law and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, except to the extent that the failure so to comply would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.11. Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Effective Date, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.11 to the Disclosure Letter, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Subsidiaries of the Borrower have been validly issued, are fully paid and, in the case of Equity Interests representing corporate interests, nonassessable and, on the Effective Date, all Equity Interests owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower or any other Loan Party are owned free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Collateral Documents and (ii) those Liens permitted under Section 7.01. As of the Effective Date, Schedule 5.11 to the Disclosure Letter (a) sets forth the name and jurisdiction of organization or incorporation of each Subsidiary, (b) sets forth the ownership interest of the Borrower and any of their Subsidiaries in each of their Subsidiaries, including the percentage of such ownership and (c) identifies each Person the Equity Interests of which are required to be pledged on the Effective Date pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement. Schedule 1.01D to the Disclosure Letter sets forth each Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than Excluded Subsidiaries) as of the Effective Date.
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Section 5.12. Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) No Loan Party is engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings or drawings under any Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U or Regulation X of the FRB.
(b) None of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section 5.13. Disclosure. No report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to any Agent, any Lead Arranger or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) when taken in combination with the Borrower’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, contains when furnished any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made (giving effect to all supplements and updates thereto); provided that, with respect to projected financial information or forward-looking statements or information of a general economic or industry-specific nature, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that (i) such projections or forward-looking statements are as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (ii) no assurance can be given that any particular projections or results will be realized and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ significantly from the projected results and (iii) such differences may be material. As of the Effective Date, the information contained in any Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on or prior to the Effective Date, if applicable, is true and correct in all respects.
Section 5.14. Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. Each of the Loan Parties and the other Restricted Subsidiaries own, license or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, technology, software, know-how database rights, design rights and other intellectual property, including registrations and applications for registration thereof all rights of priority thereto, and all rights to sue for any infringement, misappropriation or violation, and all income, royalties, damages and payments due or payable, therefore (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are used or held for use in, or otherwise reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, without infringement, misappropriation or violation of the rights of any Person, except to the extent such infringement, misappropriation or violation or failure to own, license, or possess, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any such IP Rights, is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against any Loan Party or Subsidiary, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.15. Solvency. On the Effective Date after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.
Section 5.16. Collateral Documents. The Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties legal, valid and enforceable Liens on and security interests in, the Collateral described therein and to the extent intended to be created thereby, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity, and (i) when all appropriate filings or recordings are made in the appropriate offices as may be required under applicable Laws (which filings or recordings shall be made to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and any Collateral Document) and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and any Collateral Document), the Liens created by such Collateral Documents will constitute so far as possible under relevant Law fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing financing statements or upon the taking of possession or control, in each case subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens.
Section 5.17. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans, the L/C Credit Extensions shall be used in a manner consistent with the uses set forth in Section 6.11 to this Agreement.
Section 5.18. Sanctions Laws and Regulations and Anti-Corruption Laws.
(a) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, each of their employees and agents is in compliance with the Sanctions Laws and Regulations, the FCPA and other applicable anti-corruption laws. No Borrowing or use of proceeds of any Borrowing or drawing under any Letter of Credit will violate or result in the violation of any Sanctions Laws and Regulations applicable to any party hereto.
(b) None of (I) the Borrower or any other Loan Party or (II) a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, is (i) a Person (or owned 50% or more by one or more Persons or under Control of a Person) on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” or the target of the limitations or prohibitions under any Sanctions Laws and Regulations, or (ii) a Person located, organized, or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive sanctions under Sanctions Laws and Regulations (currently, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and the non-government controlled areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine).
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(c) No part of the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit will be used for any improper payments, directly or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, indirectly, to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or any other party (if applicable) in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the FCPA or any applicable similar laws, rules or regulations issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Borrower.
(d) This Section 5.18 shall not be interpreted or applied in relation to the Borrower, any other Loan Party, any directors or officers, or any Secured Party to the extent that the representations made pursuant to this Section 5.18 violate or expose such entity or any director, officer or employee thereof to any liability under any anti-boycott or blocking law, regulation or statute that is in force from time to time in the United Kingdom, European Union (and/or any of its member states) that are applicable to such entity (including EU Regulation (EC) 2271/96) and Section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Regulation (Aussenwirtschaftsverordnung, AWV) in connection with the German Foreign Trade Law (Aussenwirtschaftsgesetz).
Section 5.19. No Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Section 5.20. Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies that are not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.
Section 5.21. Outbound Investment Rules. Neither the Borrower nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is a ‘covered foreign person’ as that term is used in the Outbound Investment Rules, nor currently has any intention to become a “covered foreign person” or (ii) currently engages, or has any present intention to engage in the future, directly or indirectly, in any activity that would cause the Administrative Agent to be in violation of the Outbound Investment Rules or cause the Administrative Agent to be legally prohibited by the Outbound Investment Rules from performing under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
From and after the Effective Date and for so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation shall not have been paid in full (other than contingent indemnification obligations not yet due, Secured Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations), or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicable L/C Issuer), the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Section 6.01, Section 6.02 and Section 6.03) cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:
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Section 6.01. Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:
(a) with respect to each fiscal year of the Borrower, but in any event within the later of (i) ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower and (ii) five (5) days after the time period specified by the SEC under the Exchange Act for annual reporting (or fifteen (15) days thereafter if the Borrower timely files a Form 12b-25 (or any successor form)), its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity (or deficit) and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception (other than (x) an emphasis of matter to the extent such statement does not qualify such audit in any respect, (y) with respect to, or resulting from, the regularly scheduled maturity of the Loans hereunder or any other Indebtedness, occurring within one year from the time opinion is delivered or (z) a prospective default under the Financial Covenants or any other financial covenant)) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) beginning with the first fiscal quarter ending after the Effective Date, with respect to the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, but in any event, within the later of (i) forty-five (45) days after the end of each such fiscal quarter, and (ii) five (5) days after the time period specified by the SEC under the Exchange Act for quarterly reporting (or five (5) days thereafter if the Borrower timely files a Form 12b-25 (or any successor form)), its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity (or deficit) and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes; and
(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and (b) above (i) the related consolidating financial statements reflecting the adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements and (ii) a customary management discussion and analysis of operating results.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.01 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable consolidated financial statements of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower that, directly or indirectly, holds all of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, (B) the Borrower’s (or any direct or indirect parent thereof, as applicable) Form 10-K
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or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC or (C) following an election by the Borrower pursuant to the definition of “GAAP,” the applicable financial statements determined in accordance with IFRS; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B) above, (i) to the extent such information relates to a parent of the Borrower, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to the Borrower (or such parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion, subject to the same exceptions set forth above, shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
The Borrower represents and warrants that it, and any Subsidiary, in each case, if any, either (i) has no registered or publicly traded securities outstanding, or (ii) files its financial statements with the SEC and/or makes its financial statements available to potential holders of its 144A securities, and, accordingly, the Borrower hereby (i) authorizes the Administrative Agent to make the financial statements to be provided under Section 6.01(a) and (b) (collectively, “Borrower Materials”), along with the Loan Documents, available on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) to certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) that may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities, and (ii) agrees that at the time such financial statements are provided hereunder, they shall already have been made available to holders of its securities. The Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to post any other material to Public Lenders unless the Borrower has expressly represented and warranted to the Administrative Agent in writing that such materials do not constitute material non-public information within the meaning of the federal securities laws or that the Borrower does not have any outstanding publicly traded securities, including 144A securities.
Section 6.02. Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:
(a) no later than five (5) Business Days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;
(b) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; provided that such information shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such information has been posted on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at http:// investor.sitime.com (or any successor page) or at http://www.sec.gov;
(c) [reserved];
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(d) together with each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a), (i) a list of Subsidiaries that identifies each Subsidiary as a Material Subsidiary, Unrestricted Subsidiaries or an Immaterial Subsidiary as of the last day of the period covered by such Compliance Certificate or a confirmation that there is no change in such information since the later of the Effective Date or the date of the last such list and (ii) such other information required by the Compliance Certificate; and
(e) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request (including, without limitation, 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 (to the extent applicable)); provided that the Borrower will not be required to provide any information (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective customers or suppliers, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agents or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives) is prohibited by applicable law or (iii) the disclosure of which would waive any attorney-client privilege, or violate any confidentiality obligations owed to any third party by the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(a), (b) and (c) or Sections 6.02(b) and (e) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on EDGAR or the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency 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, upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver electronic copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering electronic copies is given by the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of electronic copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.
Section 6.03. Notices. Promptly after a Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtains actual knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:
(a) of the occurrence of any Default, which notice shall specify the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto;
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(b) of any litigation or governmental proceeding pending against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(d) of the occurrence of any event or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.04. Maintenance of Existence. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation and (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights (including IP Rights), privileges (including its good standing), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except in the case of clauses (a) (other than with respect to the Borrower) and (b), (i) to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Section 7.04.
Section 6.05. Maintenance of Properties. Except if the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted, and (b) make all necessary renewals, replacements, modifications, improvements, upgrades, extensions and additions thereof or thereto in accordance with prudent industry practice.
Section 6.06. Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons. Any such insurance (excluding business interruption insurance) maintained in the United States shall name the Collateral Agent as additional insured and loss payee, as applicable.
Section 6.07. Compliance with Laws and Regulations.
(a) Comply in all respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions, decrees and judgments applicable to it or to its business or property (including without limitation Environmental Laws and ERISA), except if the failure to comply therewith would not, individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Conduct its businesses in compliance in all respects with the Sanctions Laws and Regulations and FCPA and other applicable anti-corruption laws and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Sanctions Laws and Regulations and FCPA and other applicable anti-corruption laws.
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This Section 6.07 shall not be interpreted or applied in relation to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any Secured Party to the extent that the obligations under this Section 6.07 would violate or expose such entity or any directors, officer or employee thereof to any liability under any anti-boycott or blocking law, regulation or statute that is in force from time to time in the United Kingdom, European Union (and/or any of its member states) that are applicable to such entity (including EU Regulation (EC) 2271/96) and Section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Regulation (Aufienwirtschaftsverordnung, AWV) in connection with the German Foreign Trade Law (Aufienwirtschaftsgesetz).
Section 6.08. Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.
Section 6.09. Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, managers, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 6.09 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than one (1) time during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default; provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.09, none of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to disclose or permit the inspection or discussion of, any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Law or any binding agreement or (iii) that is subject to attorney client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product.
Section 6.10. Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security. At the Borrower’s expense, take all action necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement continues to be satisfied, including:
(a) upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Subsidiary (in each case, other than an Excluded Subsidiary) by any Loan Party, the designation in accordance with Section 6.13 of any existing direct or indirect Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary (including following designation by the Borrower of any Subsidiary as an Additional Borrower pursuant to Section 1.13 or as a Guarantor pursuant to the definition of Guarantors):
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(1) within sixty (60) days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree to in its reasonable discretion) after such formation, acquisition, designation or occurrence or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree to in its reasonable discretion:
(A) [reserved];
(B) cause each such Restricted Subsidiary (and any Loan Party that owns Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary) to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as appropriate) pledges, guarantees, assignments, Security Agreement Supplements and other security agreements and documents or joinders or supplements thereto, as reasonably requested by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (to the extent applicable, consistent with the Security Agreement and other Collateral Documents in effect on the Effective Date), in each case granting Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;
(C) if applicable, cause each such Restricted Subsidiary (and any Loan Party that owns Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary) to deliver any and all certificates representing Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) that are required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, accompanied by undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank and (if applicable) instruments evidencing the Indebtedness held by such Restricted Subsidiary and required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents, indorsed in blank to the Collateral Agent; and
(D) take and cause such Restricted Subsidiary and each direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary to take whatever action (including the recording of the filing of financing statements and delivery of stock and membership interest certificates) may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent to vest in the Collateral Agent (or in any representative of the Collateral Agent designated by it) valid and perfected Liens with the priority required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).
Section 6.11. Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of (a) the Revolving Credit Loans to finance working capital, capital expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions, the refinancing of any Indebtedness and other lawful general corporate purposes, in each case, of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) any other Credit Extensions to finance working capital, capital expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions, the refinancing of any Indebtedness and other general corporate purposes, in each case, of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, that, in no event shall the proceeds of any Credit Extension be used in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.
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Section 6.12. Further Assurances and Post-Closing Covenants.
(a) Subject to the limitations set forth herein and other Loan Documents, promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) subject to the limitations set forth in the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Collateral Document, nothing in this Agreement or any other Collateral Document shall require any Borrower or Loan Party to make any filings or take any actions to record or to perfect the Collateral Agent’s security interest in (i) any IP Rights other than UCC filings and the filing of documents effecting the recordation of security interests in the United States Copyright Office or United States Patent and Trademark Office or (ii) any non-United States IP Rights (except to the extent owned by a Foreign Loan Party);
(b) Within the time periods specified on Schedule 6.12 hereto (as each may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), complete such undertakings as are set forth on Schedule 6.12 hereto.
Section 6.13. Designation of Subsidiaries.
(a) Subject to clauses (b), (c) and (d) below, the Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Borrower) as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary. The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Borrower’s investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.
(b) The Borrower may not (x) designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or (y) designate an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case unless (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing or result therefrom and (ii) after giving pro forma effect to such designation, the Loan Parties shall, at the time of such designation, be in compliance with the Financial Covenants.
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(c) (i) The Borrower may not designate a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Restricted Subsidiary does not own, or hold an exclusive license to, any IP Rights, in each case, that is material to the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be permitted to transfer to any Unrestricted Subsidiary legal or beneficial ownership of, or an exclusive license to, any IP Rights, in each case, that is material to the business of the Borrower and its respective Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that the foregoing shall not be deemed or interpreted to restrict any exclusive licenses granted to such Unrestricted Subsidiary for a bona-fide, legitimate business purpose that is only exclusive with respect to a particular type or field (or types of fields) of usage or a certain territory or group of territories, in each case, that does not effectively result in the transfer of beneficial ownership of such IP Rights, and (iii) no Unrestricted Subsidiary may legally or beneficially own, or hold an exclusive license to, any IP Rights, in each case, that is material to the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that the foregoing shall not be deemed or interpreted to restrict any Unrestricted Subsidiary from holding any exclusive licenses granted to such Unrestricted Subsidiary for a bona-fide, legitimate business purpose that is only exclusive with respect to a particular type or field (or types of fields) of usage or a certain territory or group of territories, in each case, that does not effectively result in the transfer of beneficial ownership of such IP Rights.
(d) No Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Subsidiary of such Unrestricted Subsidiary may, at the time of such Person’s designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any time thereafter to the extent such Person is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, own any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or own or hold any Lien on, any property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than any Subsidiary of the Person to be so designated or any Unrestricted Subsidiary).
Section 6.14. Payment of Taxes. Pay and discharge, and cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or upon any properties belonging to it, in each case on a timely basis, and all lawful claims which, if unpaid, may reasonably be expected to become a lien or charge upon any properties of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Agreement; provided that neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such Tax or claim which is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or for which the failure to timely pay or discharge would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.15. Nature of Business. Engage only in material lines of business substantially similar to those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Effective Date or any business reasonably related, complementary or ancillary thereto.
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ARTICLE VII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
From and after the Effective Date and so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation shall not have been paid in full (other than contingent indemnification obligations not yet due and payable, Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Agreements or any Letter of Credit remaining outstanding (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicable L/C Issuer)), the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:
Section 7.01. Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:
(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;
(b) Liens existing on the Effective Date and, to the extent individually securing Indebtedness in excess of $10,000,000, set forth on Schedule 7.01(b) to the Disclosure Letter;
(c) Liens for Taxes, (i) which are not delinquent for a period of more than thirty (30) days or (ii) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP;
(d) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business (other than a Lien imposed under Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA) (i) which secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or if more than thirty (30) days overdue, are unfiled (or, if, filed have been discharged or stayed) and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or (ii) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP;
(e) (i) pledges, deposits or Liens arising as a matter of law in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and (ii) pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
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(f) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business to secure (i) letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments and/or (ii) the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations);
(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, covenants, conditions, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and minor title defects affecting real property which, in the aggregate, do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);
(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(f); provided that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within two hundred and seventy (270) days after the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, replacements thereof and additions and accessions to such property and the proceeds and the products thereof and customary security deposits, and (iii) with respect to Capitalized Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for additions and accessions to such assets, replacements and products thereof and customary security deposits) other than the assets subject to such Capitalized Leases; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;
(j) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses and Liens on the property covered thereby, in each case, granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;
(k) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;
(l) Liens (i) of a collection bank (including those arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code) on the items in the course of collection and (ii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;
(m) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02(j), (n), (t) or (y) to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, solely to the extent such Investment, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien and (ii) consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition;
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(n) Liens in favor of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e) (provided that, solely with respect to Indebtedness required to be Subordinated Debt under Section 7.03(e), such Lien shall be subordinated to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations to the same extent);
(o) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than by designation as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.13), in each case after the date hereof; provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than the proceeds or products thereof and other than after-acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted hereunder that require, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition), and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 7.03;
(p) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under leases or subleases entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(q) Liens, if any, arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(r) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other financial institutions not given in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
(s) Liens, if any, arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings;
(t) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;
(u) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(v) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit issued for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods;
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(w) the modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Lien permitted by clauses (b), (i) and (o) of this Section 7.01; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, and (B) proceeds and products thereof; and (ii) the renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens is permitted by Section 7.03;
(x) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located;
(y) Liens on property of a Non-Loan Party securing Indebtedness or other obligations of such Non-Loan Party;
(z) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
(aa) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(t); provided that, such Liens may be either a Lien on the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations (but may not be secured by any assets that are not Collateral) or a Lien ranking junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations and, in any such case, the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent on their behalf) shall have entered into an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement;
(bb) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(m);
(cc) other Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed, at the time of incurrence thereof, the greater of (x) $180,000,000 and (y) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis;
(dd) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;
(ee) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(v); provided that, (i) such Liens shall only secure the obligations secured on the date of the related Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment (and any additions and accessions to such property and the proceeds and the products thereof and customary security deposits) and such liens shall not extend to any other property of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is not after-acquired property (or additions and accessions to such property and the proceeds and the products thereof and customary security deposits) of the relevant acquired entities contemplated to be secured by such Indebtedness on the date of assumption thereof (and for the avoidance of doubt, no such after-acquired property shall be property of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence prior to such date of assumption) and (ii) to the extent such Liens are on the Collateral, the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent on their behalf) shall have entered into an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement;
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(ff) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(b);
(gg) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, other Liens and privileges arising mandatorily by Law;
(hh) Liens on receivables and related assets arising in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing;
(ii) other Liens solely on the Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 or other obligations not constituting Indebtedness; provided that (i) such Liens may be either a Lien that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations or a Lien ranking junior to the Lien securing the Obligations and, in any such case, the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent on their behalf) shall have entered into an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) the Secured Net Leverage Ratio for the most recently ended Test Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, is not greater than 3.00:1.00 at the time of incurrence of such Liens; provided further that, solely for purposes of determining capacity to incur Liens pursuant to this clause (ii) and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, any obligations not constituting Indebtedness or any Indebtedness that constitutes Attributable Indebtedness (including Indebtedness arising out of Permitted Sale Leasebacks), Vendor Financing Arrangements or other Indebtedness financing the acquisition construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed or capital assets and that are secured by Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be deemed Indebtedness included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt for purposes of calculating the Secured Net Leverage Ratio;
(jj) Liens on the Equity Interests of JV Entities securing financing arrangements for the benefit of the applicable JV Entity that are not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement; and
(kk) Liens securing obligations in respect of Swap Contracts permitted by Section 7.02(aa).
With respect to any secured Indebtedness that was permitted to be secured at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the accrual of interest, fees and other obligations in respect thereof, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount and the payment of interest in the form of additional secured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of a Lien for purposes of this Section 7.01.
Section 7.02. Investments. Make any Investments, except:
(a) Investments by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in assets that constituted Cash Equivalents when such Investment was made;
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(b) loans or advances to officers, directors, managers, partners and employees of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business- related travel, entertainment, relocation, customary fringe benefits and analogous ordinary business purposes, (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and (iii) for business purposes not described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not to exceed, at the time each such Investment is made, the greater of (x) $18,000,000 and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis;
(c) asset purchases (including purchases of inventory, supplies and materials) and the non-exclusive licensing of IP Rights pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(d) Investments (i) by any Loan Party in any other Loan Party, (ii) by any Non-Loan Party in any Loan Party, (iii) by any Non-Loan Party in any other Non-Loan Party and (iv) by any Loan Party in any Non-Loan Party; provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of such Investments in Non-Loan Parties pursuant to the foregoing clause (iv) shall not exceed in an aggregate amount, the greater of (x) $180,000,000 and (y) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis (excluding any Investments received in respect of, or consisting of, (x) the transfer or contribution of Equity Interests in or Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary to any other Foreign Subsidiary and (y) intercompany Investments made and liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with cash management, Tax and/or accounting operations of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries);
(e) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Investments consisting of Liens, Indebtedness, fundamental changes and Restricted Payments (other than, in each case, by reference to this Section 7.02(f)) permitted under Section 7.01, Section 7.03, Section 7.04 and Section 7.06, respectively;
(g) Investments existing on the Effective Date, and, to the extent any such Investment is in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000, set forth on Schedule 7.02(g) to the Disclosure Letter, and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension of any such Investments; provided that the amount of any Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02(g) is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Effective Date except (x) pursuant to the terms of such Investment as of the Effective Date (including in respect of any unused commitment), plus any accrued but unpaid interest and premium payable thereon and fees and expenses associated therewith, or (y) as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02;
(h) [reserved];
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(i) promissory notes and other noncash consideration received in connection with Dispositions;
(j) the purchase or other acquisition of property and/or assets or businesses of any Person or of assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or division of such Person, or Equity Interests in a Person that, upon the consummation thereof, will be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (including as a result of a merger or consolidation) (or, in the case of a purchase of property and/or assets, that such property and/or assets will be owned by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof) (each, a “Permitted Acquisition”) and together with any Investments in Restricted Subsidiaries necessary to consummate a transaction otherwise permitted by this clause (j); provided that (i) except in the case of a Limited Condition Transaction (in which case, compliance with this clause (i) shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09(a)), immediately before and immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) after giving effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, the Borrower shall be in compliance with the covenant in Section 6.15 and (iii) subject to Section 7.02(d)(iv) (together with all other Investments subject to Section 7.02(d)(iv)), to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (A) the property, assets and businesses acquired in such purchase or other acquisition shall become Collateral and (B) any such newly created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) shall become Guarantors, in each case in accordance with Section 6.10;
(k) Investments in connection with the Transactions;
(l) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;
(m) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;
(n) Investments made with (a) proceeds received by or made to the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof and contributed by such parent to the Borrower) from any capital contributions or issuance of Qualified Equity Interests (or issuance of debt securities by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof), (b) proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the sale, transfer or other disposition of its ownership interest in any JV Entity or Unrestricted Subsidiary, and/or (c) the proceeds of any cash dividends and/or other cash distributions received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any JV Entity or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in each case, following the Effective Date and, in each case, other than any such amounts that have been utilized to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06(g) or to make payments pursuant to Section 7.08(a)(iv);
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(o) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;
(p) loans and advances to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower in lieu of, and not in excess of the amount of (after giving effect to any other such loans or advances or Restricted Payments in respect thereof), Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to such direct or indirect parent in accordance with Section 7.06; provided that any such loan or advance shall reduce the amount of such applicable Restricted Payment thereafter permitted under Section 7.06 by a corresponding amount (if such applicable provision of Section 7.06 contains a maximum amount);
(q) Investments held by a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Effective Date or of a corporation or company merged into the Borrower or merged or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.04 after the Effective Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such permitted acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such permitted acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;
(r) Guarantee Obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of leases (other than Capitalized Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(s) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with Qualified Equity Interests;
(t) other Investments in an aggregate amount, as valued at cost at the time each such Investment is made and including all related commitments for future Investments, not exceeding the greater of (x) $180,000,000 and (y) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis;
(u) Investments in JV Entities and Unrestricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount, as valued at cost at the time each such Investment is made and including all related commitments for future Investments, not exceeding the greater of (x) $72,000,000 and (y) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis; provided, that in no event shall any Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary be made in reliance on any other basket in this Agreement other than this clause (u), without any reclassification or redesignation of such basket and no availability under any other basket herein shall be reallocated to this clause (u);
(v) Investments in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing;
(w) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy or insolvency of either the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
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(x) Investments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary entered into prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”; provided that such Investments were not incurred in contemplation of such redesignation;
(y) other Investments; provided that, at the time of such Investment, (x) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y) the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the most recently ended Test Period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, is not greater than the Total Net Leverage Ratio that is 0.25:1.00 lower than the Total Net Leverage Ratio required under Section 7.11(a) at such time (giving effect to any Leverage Increase Period thereunder);
(z) Investments made in connection with a Permitted Tax Restructuring; and
(aa) Investments in respect of the Borrower’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ entry into (including any payments of premiums in connection therewith), performance of obligations under and the settlement or early unwind (whether according to their terms or otherwise) of any Swap Contract, any Permitted Call Spread Transaction or any Permitted Forward Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall make any Investment consisting of IP Rights that are material to the business of the Borrower and its respective Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, any such IP Rights, to any Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that the foregoing shall not be deemed or interpreted to restrict any exclusive licenses granted to such Unrestricted Subsidiary for a bona-fide, legitimate business purpose that is only exclusive with respect to a particular type or field (or types of fields) of usage or a certain territory or group of territories, in each case, that does not effectively result in the transfer of beneficial ownership of such IP Rights.
Section 7.03. Indebtedness. Create, incur or assume any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents;
(b) Indebtedness incurred or which may be deemed to exist pursuant to any Guarantees, performance, statutory or similar obligations (including in connection with workers’ compensation) or obligations in respect of letters of credit, surety bonds, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto incurred in the ordinary course of business, or pursuant to any appeal obligation, appeal bond or letter of credit in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);
(c) (i) Surviving Indebtedness, that, to the extent individually in a principal amount exceeding $10,000,000, is listed on Schedule 7.03(c) to the Disclosure Letter and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing;
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(d) Guarantee Obligations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder (except that Non-Loan Parties may not, by virtue of this Section 7.03(d), guarantee Indebtedness that such Non-Loan Parties could not otherwise incur under this Section 7.03); provided that, if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to the Obligations, such Guarantee Obligation shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness;
(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary to the extent constituting an Investment permitted by Section 7.02; provided that all such Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Person that is not a Loan Party shall be subject to the subordination terms set forth in Section 3.02 of the Guaranty;
(f) (i) Attributable Indebtedness (including Indebtedness arising out of Permitted Sale Leasebacks), Vendor Financing Arrangements and other Indebtedness financing the acquisition construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed or capital assets in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed, at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, the greater of (x) $180,000,000 and (y) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing of any Indebtedness set forth in the immediately preceding clause (i);
(g) [reserved];
(h) [reserved];
(i) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(j) any Indebtedness to current or former officers, directors, partners, managers, consultants and employees, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) permitted by Section 7.06(f);
(k) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Transactions, a Permitted Acquisition, any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder or any Disposition, in each case to the extent constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price adjustments (including earn-outs) or other similar adjustments;
(l) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with the Transactions and Permitted Acquisitions or any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder;
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(m) Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of corporate credit cards, services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case incurred in the ordinary course;
(n) Indebtedness consisting of (a) the financing of insurance premiums or (b) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(o) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, including in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims;
(p) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(q) Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit in a principal amount not to exceed the face amount of such Letter of Credit;
(r) (i) other Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an unlimited amount, so long as, at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (A) in the case of any such Indebtedness that is secured by a lien on Collateral on a pari passu or junior priority basis, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis but excluding the cash proceeds therefrom) as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period is not greater than 3.00:1.00 and (B) in the case of any such Indebtedness that is unsecured, compliance with the Financial Covenants (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis but excluding the cash proceeds therefrom) as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period (without giving effect to any Leverage Increase Period unless such Indebtedness is incurred to finance the Material Acquisition which permitted such Leverage Increase Period); provided that, with respect to all Indebtedness of this clause (r), (1) such Indebtedness shall not mature prior to the date that is ninety one (91) days after the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Loans or any then-existing Term Loans (but may have a springing maturity date consistent with the Revolving Credit Facility) or have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity less than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any then-existing Term Loans or the Revolving Credit Loans, plus ninety one (91) days (provided that the foregoing requirements of this clause (1) shall not apply to (i) any Inside Maturity Debt and (ii) any Qualifying Bridge Facility), (2) such Indebtedness shall not have mandatory prepayment, redemption or offer to purchase events more onerous than those applicable to any then-existing Term Loans (provided that the foregoing requirements of this clause (2) shall not apply to (i) any Inside Maturity Debt, (ii) any Qualifying Bridge Facility and (iii) any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness), (3) the other terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing and optional prepayment or redemption
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terms) reflect market terms and conditions at the time of incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith), (4) such Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on Collateral on a pari passu or junior priority basis shall be subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement and (5) if such Indebtedness is secured, (x) no Restricted Subsidiary is a borrower or guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness unless such Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor which shall have previously or substantially concurrently guaranteed the Obligations and (y) such Indebtedness is only secured by assets constituting Collateral;
(s) [reserved];
(t) (i) Indebtedness (in the form of senior secured, senior unsecured, senior subordinated, or subordinated notes or loans) incurred by the Borrower in an unlimited amount, so long as, at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (A) in the case of any such Indebtedness that is secured by a lien on Collateral on a pari passu or junior priority basis, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis but excluding the cash proceeds therefrom) as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period is not greater than 3.00:1.00 and (B) in the case of any such Indebtedness that is unsecured, compliance with the Financial Covenants (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis but excluding the cash proceeds therefrom) as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period (without giving effect to any Leverage Increase Period unless such Indebtedness is incurred to finance the Material Acquisition which permitted such Leverage Increase Period); provided that (I) upon the effectiveness of such Indebtedness, except in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction (in which case no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and the funding of such Indebtedness), no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or shall result therefrom, (II) such Indebtedness shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Facility (if such Indebtedness is incurred in lieu of Revolving Credit Commitments) or any then-existing Term Loans (if such Indebtedness is incurred in lieu of Incremental Term Loans), as applicable (provided that the foregoing requirements of this clause (II) shall not apply to (i) any Inside Maturity Debt and (ii) any Qualifying Bridge Facility), (III) as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness shall not be shorter than that of any then-existing Term Loans or the Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable (provided that the foregoing requirements of this clause (III) shall not apply to (i) any Inside Maturity Debt and (ii) any Qualifying Bridge Facility), (IV) if such Indebtedness is secured, (x) no Restricted Subsidiary is a borrower or guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness unless such Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor which shall have previously or substantially concurrently guaranteed the Obligations and (y) such Indebtedness is only secured by assets constituting Collateral and (V) the other terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing, optional prepayment or redemption terms) reflect market terms on the date of incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith), (such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (t) being referred to as “Incremental Equivalent Debt”) and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness incurred under the foregoing clause (t)(i);
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(u) additional Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed, at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, the greater of (x) $180,000,000 and (y) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis;
(v) Indebtedness assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment not prohibited hereunder and not created in contemplation thereof, so long as, if such Indebtedness is secured, any Liens securing such Indebtedness only secure those obligations that existed on the date such Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment and such Liens do not extend to any other property of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(w) [reserved];
(x) Indebtedness with respect to any Permitted Receivables Financing;
(y) [reserved];
(z) [reserved];
(aa) any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (other than the 2031 Convertible Notes) so long as substantially all of the net cash proceeds thereof are applied to repay or repurchase 2031 Convertible Notes and
(bb) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (x) above.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (bb) above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on the exception in clause (a) of this Section 7.03.
The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 7.03.
Section 7.04. Fundamental Changes. Merge, amalgamate, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to or in favor of any Person, except that:
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(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate (i) with the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving person), (ii) with any one or more other Subsidiaries (provided that (x) a Restricted Subsidiary and, if involved in such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, the Borrower, shall be a continuing or surviving person, as applicable, and (y) when any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party is merging or amalgamating with another Subsidiary, a Loan Party shall be a continuing or surviving Person, as applicable, or the resulting entity shall succeed as a matter of law to all of the Obligations of such Loan Party (including, without limitation, as a Borrower, as applicable)) and (iii) in order to consummate a Permitted Tax Restructuring;
(b) (i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, (ii) (A) any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) may liquidate, dissolve or wind up, or (B) any Restricted Subsidiary may change its legal form, in each case, if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (iii) the Borrower may change their legal form if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and the Administrative Agent reasonably determines it is not disadvantageous to the Lenders;
(c) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Loan Party, then either (i) the transferee must be a Loan Party or (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Section 7.02 and Section 7.03, respectively;
(d) so long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, any Borrower may merge or amalgamate with any other Person (1) in a transaction in which such Borrower is the continuing or surviving entity of such transaction or (2) in a transaction in which such other Person is the surviving or continuing entity of such transaction (such person, the “Successor Borrower”); provided that, in the case of this clause (2), (i) such Successor Borrower is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) such Successor Borrower shall assume the Obligations of such Borrower under the Loan Documents; (iii) each Guarantor shall have confirmed that its Guaranty shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents; (iv) each Guarantor shall have by a supplement to the Security Agreement and other applicable Collateral Documents confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents; (v) [reserved]; (vi) such Borrower shall have delivered information reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent (or any Lender through the Administrative Agent) reasonably required by regulatory authorities under “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act and, to the extent required by 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230, a certification of the Borrower regarding beneficial ownership; and (vii) such Borrower shall have delivered of an officer’s certificate certifying the compliance with the foregoing; and
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(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Restricted Subsidiary, which together with each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied or will comply with the requirements of Section 6.10 within the time periods specified thereby.
Section 7.05. [Reserved].
Section 7.06. Restricted Payments. Declare or make any Restricted Payment, except:
(a) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and to other Restricted Subsidiaries (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, to the Borrower and any other Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests);
(b) (i) the Borrower may (or may make Restricted Payments to permit any direct or indirect parent thereof to) redeem in whole or in part any of its Equity Interests for another class of its (or such parent’s) Equity Interests or rights to acquire its Equity Interests or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests, provided that any terms and provisions material to the interests of the Lenders, when taken as a whole, contained in such other class of Equity Interests are at least as advantageous to the Lenders as those contained in such other class of Equity Interests are at least as advantageous to the Lenders as those contained in the Equity Interests redeemed thereby and (ii) the Borrower may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests (to the extent not utilized in connection with any other transactions permitted pursuant to Section 7.02, Section 7.03, Section 7.06 or Section 7.08);
(c) Restricted Payments made on or after the Effective Date in connection with the Transactions, including the fees and expenses associated therewith;
(d) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Section 7.02, Section 7.04 or Section 7.07, in each case, other than by reference to this Section 7.06(d);
(e) (i) repurchases of Equity Interests in the ordinary course of business in the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any Restricted Subsidiary deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants and (ii) payments made or expected to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar Taxes payable or expected to be payable by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, consultant or independent contractor of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (or their respective Affiliates, management investment vehicles, estates, descendants, family members, spouses and former spouses and any trusts, limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships or other entities for the benefit of, or controlled by, any of the foregoing) in connection with the exercise of stock options or the grant, vesting or delivery of Equity Interests (including, without limitation, restricted stock units) of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower);
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(f) [reserved];
(g) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments with (a) proceeds received by or made to the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof and contributed by such parent to the Borrower) from any capital contributions or issuance of Qualified Equity Interests (or issuance of debt securities by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof), (b) proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the sale, transfer or other disposition of its ownership interest in any JV Entity or Unrestricted Subsidiary, and/or (c) the proceeds of any cash dividends and/or other cash distributions received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any JV Entity or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in each case, following the Effective Date and, in each case, other than any such amounts that have been utilized to make Investments pursuant to Section 7.02(n) or to make payments pursuant to Section 7.08(a)(iv) (provided that (x) at the time of any such prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance and other payment, no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and (y) on a Pro Forma Basis the Borrower would be able to incur $1.00 pursuant to Section 7.03(r)(i));
(h) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may pay any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement (it being understood that a distribution pursuant to this Section 7.06(h) shall be deemed to have utilized capacity under such other provision of this Agreement);
(i) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may (a) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof, or any Permitted Acquisition and (b) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;
(j) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may make additional Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed, at the time of such Restricted Payment, the greater of (x) $126,000,000 and (y) 35% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis;
(k) so long as no Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may repurchase Equity Interests pursuant to any stock repurchase or similar agreement (including any accelerated share repurchase or other structured share repurchase agreement) approved by the board of directors (or appropriate equivalent committee thereof) of the Borrower; provided, that the aggregate amount of such payments shall not exceed the greater of (x) $54,000,000 and (y) 15% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in any fiscal year (with unused amounts in any fiscal year being carried over to the immediately succeeding fiscal year); and
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(l) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may make additional Restricted Payments; provided that, at the time of such Restricted Payment, (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio of the Borrower as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than 3.00:1.00.
Section 7.07. Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower with a fair market value in excess of $50,000,000 for any individual transaction, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than:
(a) transactions between or among (i) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction and (ii) Restricted Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction;
(b) transactions on terms not less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate;
(c) (i) the Transactions and the payment of fees and expenses related to the Transactions;
(d) the issuance of Equity Interests to any officer, director, manager, employee or consultant of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower in connection with the Transaction;
(e) the issuance of Qualified Equity Interests to any Person;
(f) equity issuances, repurchases, redemptions, retirements or other acquisitions or retirements of Equity Interests by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 7.06;
(g) loans and other transactions by and among the Borrower and/or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent permitted under this Article VII;
(h) employment and severance arrangements between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock-based compensation plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements;
(i) [reserved];
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(j) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, officers, employees and consultants of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(k) transactions pursuant to agreements in existence on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 7.07 to the Disclosure Letter, or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect;
(l) dividends and other Restricted Payments permitted under Section 7.06;
(m) [reserved];
(n) transactions entered into by an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the redesignation of any such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”; provided that such transactions were not entered into in contemplation of such redesignation;
(o) Dispositions for cash or Cash Equivalents (other than in connection with the capitalization of any special purpose entity used to effect any such Permitted Receivables Financing) of accounts receivable in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing; and
(p) transactions in connection with Permitted Tax Restructurings.
Section 7.08. Prepayments, Etc., of Subordinated Debt.
(a) Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to one year before the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner any Subordinated Debt (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled interest, AHYDO payments and mandatory prepayments under any such Subordinated Debt Documents shall not be prohibited by this clause), except for (i) the refinancing thereof with, or the exchange thereof for, of any Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a Permitted Refinancing), (ii) the conversion thereof to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares in connection therewith, (iii) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments thereof prior to their scheduled maturity in an aggregate amount not to exceed, at the time of such prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances or other payments, the greater of (x) $126,000,000 and (y) 35% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, (iv) payments made with (a) proceeds received by or made to the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof and contributed by such parent to the Borrower) from any capital contributions or issuance of Qualified Equity Interests (or issuance of debt securities by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof), (b) proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the sale, transfer or other
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disposition of its ownership interest in any JV Entity or Unrestricted Subsidiary, and/or (c) the proceeds of any cash dividends and/or other cash distributions received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any JV Entity or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in each case, following the Effective Date and, in each case, other than any such amounts that have been utilized to make Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06(g) or Investments pursuant to Section 7.02(n) (provided that (x) at the time of any such prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance and other payment, no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and (y) on a Pro Forma Basis the Borrower would be able to incur $1.00 pursuant to Section 7.03(r)(i)), (v) payments expressly permitted pursuant to the applicable subordination agreement or intercreditor agreement to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and (vi) other prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments thereof prior to their scheduled maturity (provided that, at the time of such prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances or other payments, (x) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) the Total Net Leverage Ratio of the Borrower as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than the Total Net Leverage Ratio that is 0.50:1.00 lower than the Total Net Leverage Ratio required under Section 7.11(a) (without giving effect to any Leverage Increase Period thereunder)).
(b) Amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders any term or condition of any Subordinated Debt Documents without the consent of the Required Lenders (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) or as otherwise expressly permitted pursuant to the applicable subordination agreement or intercreditor agreement to which the Administrative Agent is a party.
Section 7.09. Fiscal Year. Change its fiscal year; provided, that, upon at least 5 Business Days’ prior written notice (or such shorter notice as is agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be permitted to change its fiscal year to any other fiscal year, and, in connection therewith, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall make, and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to make, any adjustments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year.
Section 7.10. Subsidiary Distributions and Negative Pledge Clauses. Enter into any agreement, instrument, deed or lease which prohibits or limits (A) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or (B) the granting of Liens by the Borrower or any Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral Documents (any restriction described in clause (A) or (B), a “Burdensome Restriction”); provided that the foregoing shall not apply to:
(a) restrictions and conditions imposed by (A) any Laws or (B) any Loan Document;
(b) restrictions and conditions existing on the Effective Date or to any extension, renewal, amendment, modification or replacement thereof, except to the extent any such extension, renewal, amendment, modification or replacement expands the scope of any such restriction or condition;
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(c) customary restrictions and conditions arising in connection with any Disposition or contained in any asset purchase agreement, stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar acquisition agreement to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party pending consummation of the transaction contemplated thereby;
(d) customary provisions in leases, licenses and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof;
(e) restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to the extent such restriction applies only to the property securing such Indebtedness;
(f) any restrictions or conditions set forth in any agreement in effect at any time any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (but not any modification or amendment expanding the scope of any such restriction or condition), provided that such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and the restriction or condition set forth in such agreement does not apply to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary;
(g) any restrictions or conditions in any Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 or by the definitions of “Refinancing Term Loans” and “Refinancing Revolving Commitments” hereof to the extent such restrictions or conditions are no more restrictive than the restrictions and conditions in the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, or, in the case of Subordinated Debt, are market terms at the time of issuance (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) or, in the case of Indebtedness of any Non-Loan Party, are imposed solely on such Non-Loan Party and its Subsidiaries;
(h) any restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(i) customary provisions in shareholders agreements, joint venture agreements, organizational documents or similar binding agreements relating to any JV Entity or non-Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary and other similar agreements applicable to JV Entities and non-Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries permitted under Section 7.02 and applicable solely to such JV Entity or non-Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary and the Equity Interests issued thereby;
(j) customary restrictions in leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements and other similar contracts otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate only to the assets subject thereto (including any proceeds and books and records thereof);
(k) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(l) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions could not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligation;
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(m) restrictions of the type referred to in clause (A) of the definition of “Burdensome Restriction” imposed by any agreement governing Indebtedness entered into on or after the Effective Date and permitted under Section 7.03 that are, taken as a whole, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary than customary market terms for Indebtedness of such type, so long as the Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such restrictions will not adversely affect in any material respect its obligation or ability to make any payments required hereunder; and
(n) any Burdensome Restriction imposed by any amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing of or similar arrangement to a contract, instrument or obligation referred to in clauses (a) through (m) above; provided, that such Burdensome Restriction is, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive (taken as a whole) than the Burdensome Restriction contained in the applicable contract, instrument or obligation prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement, refinancing or similar arrangement.
Section 7.11. Financial Covenants.
(a) Maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio. Permit the Total Net Leverage Ratio (i) as of the end of the Test Period ending on September 30, 2026, to be greater than 4.50:1.00 calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, (ii) as of the end of the Test Period ending on December 31, 2026 and the Test Period ending on March 31, 2027, to be greater than 4.00:1.00 and (iii) as of the end of the Test Period ending on June 30, 2027 and each Test Period ending thereafter, to be greater than 3.50:1.00 calculated on a Pro Forma Basis; provided, that, upon the consummation of a Material Acquisition, for each of the four fiscal quarters of the Borrower immediately following the consummation of such Material Acquisition (including the fiscal quarter of the Borrower in which such Material Acquisition was consummated), the ratio that is applicable at such time as set forth above shall be increased by 0.50:1.00 (such period, the “Leverage Increase Period”); provided, further, that, (i) for at least two fiscal quarters of the Borrower immediately following each Leverage Increase Period, the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of such fiscal quarters shall not be greater than the ratio that is applicable at such time as set forth above (for the avoidance of doubt, without giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso) prior to giving effect to another Leverage Increase Period and (ii) after the consummation of a Material Acquisition, each Leverage Increase Period shall only apply with respect to the following (and not for any other purpose): (A) the calculation of the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.11(a); (B) the calculation required by Section 2.14(a)(iii) for the purpose of determining the permissibility of the incurrence of any Incremental Facility (including any Incremental Equivalent Debt), the proceeds of which will be used to finance all or a portion of the consideration for the Material Acquisition triggering such Leverage Increase Period (it being understood and agreed that (1) if such Material
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Acquisition is a Limited Condition Transaction, such calculation may be made as of the LCT Test Date with respect to such Limited Condition Transaction and (2) the Leverage Increase Period shall only apply for purposes of the calculation referenced in this clause (B) and not for any other purpose, unless and until such Material Acquisition is consummated (after which time the Leverage Increase Period shall only apply for the purposes otherwise set forth in this proviso)); (C) the calculation required by Section 7.02(y) for the purpose of determining the permissibility of the making of the Investments as specified therein; (D) the calculation required by Section 7.06(l) for the purpose of determining the permissibility of the making of any Restricted Payments as specified therein; and (E) the calculation required in Section 7.03(r)(i) for the purpose of determining the permissibility of the incurrence of any Indebtedness the proceeds of which will be used to finance all or a portion of the consideration for the Material Acquisition triggering such Leverage Increase Period (it being understood and agreed that (1) if such Material Acquisition is a Limited Condition Acquisition, such calculation may be made as of the LCT Test Date with respect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and (2) the Leverage Increase Period shall only apply for purposes of the calculation referenced in this clause (E) and not for any other purpose, unless and until such Material Acquisition is consummated (after which time the Leverage Increase Period shall only apply for the purposes otherwise set forth in this proviso)).
(b) Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any Test Period, commencing with the Test Period ending on September 30, 2026, to be less than 3.00:1.00 calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.
Section 7.12. Outbound Investment Rules. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to (i) become a “covered foreign person”, as that term is defined in the Outbound Investment Rules in place as of the date of this Agreement or (ii) engage, directly or indirectly, in any activity that would cause the Administrative Agent to be in violation of the Outbound Investment Rules or cause the Administrative Agent to be legally prohibited by the Outbound Investment Rules from performing under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Section 8.01. Events of Default. Any of the following events referred to in any of clauses (a) through (m) inclusive of this Section 8.01 shall constitute an “Event of Default”:
(a) Non-Payment. Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any other amount payable hereunder or with respect to any other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a) or Section 6.04 (solely with respect to the Borrower) or Article VII; provided that an Event of Default arising from a failure to comply with Section 6.03(a) shall be deemed to be no longer continuing automatically upon and simultaneously with the underlying Default ceasing to be continuing so long as the Borrower has provided notice to the Administrative Agent promptly after a Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge of such underlying Default; or
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(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made and such incorrect or misleading representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact, if capable of being cured, remains so incorrect or misleading for thirty (30) days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or
(e) Cross-Default. The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder) having an aggregate principal amount exceeding the Threshold Amount, or (ii) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness, or any other event occurs (other than any event requiring prepayment pursuant to customary asset sale events, insurance and condemnation proceeds events, change of control offers events and excess cash flow and indebtedness sweeps), the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, all such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem all such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that this clause (ii) shall not apply to (A) secured Indebtedness that becomes due (or requires an offer to purchase) as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness and (B) any repurchase, prepayment, defeasance, redemption, conversion or settlement with respect to any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, including the 2031 Convertible Notes or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, or satisfaction of any condition, or the occurrence of any event, giving rise to or permitting the foregoing, pursuant to its terms unless such repurchase, prepayment, defeasance, redemption, conversion or settlement results from a default thereunder or an event of the type that constitutes an Event of Default or (C) any early payment requirement or unwinding or termination with respect to any Swap Contract, Permitted Call Spread Transaction or Permitted Forward Agreement or satisfaction of any condition giving rise to or permitting the foregoing, in accordance with the terms thereof where neither the
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Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is the “defaulting party” (or substantially equivalent term but not merely the or an “affected party”) under the terms of such swap or hedging agreement, Permitted Call Spread Transaction or Permitted Forward Agreement; provided, further, that (x) such failure or breach is unremedied and is not waived by the required holders of such Indebtedness and (y) for the avoidance of doubt, any event or condition set forth under this paragraph (e) shall not, until the expiration of any applicable grace period or the delivery of notice by the applicable holder or holders of such Indebtedness, constitute a Default or an Event of Default for purposes of this Agreement; or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Except with respect to any dissolution or liquidation of a Restricted Subsidiary expressly permitted by Section 7.04, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy; or
(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance or contractual indemnity) and such judgment or order shall not have been satisfied, paid, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or
(i) Invalidity of Collateral Documents. Any material provision of any Collateral Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04) or solely as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or Lender if the ability to take such action is within the sole control of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, or the satisfaction in full of all the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not yet due, Secured Hedge Agreements, Cash Management Obligations, and Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicable L/C
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Issuer), ceases to be in full force and effect or ceases to create a valid and perfected lien, with the priority set forth in the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, on a material portion of the Collateral covered thereby; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Collateral Document; or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Collateral Document (other than as a result of repayment in full of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not yet due, Secured Hedge Agreements, Cash Management Obligations, and Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicable L/C Issuer) and termination of the Aggregate Commitments), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any Collateral Document; or
(j) Invalidity of Guarantees. Any Guarantee, after its execution and delivery, provided by the Borrower or any other Guarantor that is a Material Subsidiary, or any material provision thereof, ceases to be in full force and effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof) or any Loan Party denies or disaffirms in writing any such Guarantor’s material obligations under its Guarantee (other than as a result of repayment in full of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not yet due, Secured Hedge Agreements, Cash Management Obligations, and Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicable L/C Issuer) and terminations of the Commitments); or
(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or
(l) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) a Loan Party, any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its Withdrawal Liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, after its execution and delivery, or any material provision thereof, ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms thereof) or any Loan Party denies or disaffirms in writing the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any material provision of any Loan Document or denies in writing that it has any further liability (other than in accordance with the terms thereof).
Section 8.02. Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
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(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;
(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to 103% of the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and
(d) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law;
provided that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Borrower, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
Section 8.03. Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries. Solely for the purpose of determining whether a Default has occurred under clause (f) or (g) of Section 8.01, any reference in any such clause to any Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed not to include any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Borrower) that is an Immaterial Subsidiary or at such time could, upon designation by the Borrower, becomes an Immaterial Subsidiary affected by any event or circumstances referred to in any such clause unless the Consolidated EBITDA of such Subsidiary, in each case, as of the end of the most recently-ended Test Period on or prior to such event or circumstance, together with the Consolidated EBITDA of all other Subsidiaries affected by such event or circumstance referred to in such clause, in each case, as of the end of the most recently-ended Test Period on or prior to such event or circumstance, shall exceed 5% of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently-ended Test Period on or prior to such event or circumstance.
Section 8.04. Application of Funds. If the circumstances described in Section 2.12(g) have occurred, or after the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), including in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent, subject to any applicable intercreditor agreement entered into by the Agents pursuant to this Agreement that is then in effect, in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, Cash Management Obligations, and obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements, but including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to each Agent in its capacity as such;
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Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest Cash Management Obligations, and obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest (including, but not limited to, post-petition interest), ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit;
Fifth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, Unreimbursed Amounts, face amounts of the L/C Borrowings, Swap Termination Value under Secured Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fifth held by them;
Sixth, to the payment of all other Obligations of the Loan Parties that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above and, if no Obligations remain outstanding, to the Borrower.
ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS
Section 9.01. Appointment and Authorization of Agents.
(a) Each Lender and L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the
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Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.
(b) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each such L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agents in this Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the applications and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Article IX and in the definition of “Agent-Related Persons” included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender, L/C Issuer (if applicable) and a potential Hedge Bank or Cash Management Bank) hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of (and to hold any security interest, charge or other Lien created by the Collateral Documents for and on behalf of or on trust for) such Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” (and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX (including Section 9.07, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to execute any and all documents (including releases) with respect to the Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto, as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Documents and the Collateral Documents and acknowledge and agree that any such action by any Agent shall bind the Lenders.
Section 9.02. Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents or of exercising any rights and remedies thereunder) by or through Affiliates, agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact, such sub-agents as shall be deemed necessary by the Administrative Agent, and shall be entitled to advice of counsel, both internal and external, and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or sub-agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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Section 9.03. Liability of Agents. No Agent-Related Person or Lead Arranger shall (a) be liable to any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby, including their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent or Lead Arranger (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), (b) have any duty or responsibility to disclose or be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender or any L/C Issuer, any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Affiliates, that is communicated to, obtained or in the possession of, the Agent, Lead Arranger or any of their related parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, (c) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any Lead Arranger or the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Collateral Documents, the value or sufficiency of any Collateral or the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder, or (d) 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 Lenders; further, without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (d), no Agent-Related Person or Lead Arranger shall (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Lender or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Lender. No Agent-Related Person or Lead Arranger shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof. No Agent or Lead Arranger shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that an Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that, the Administrative Agent 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; provided further that such Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its judgment or the judgment of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting
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Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law. No Agent or Lead Arranger shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein.
Section 9.04. Reliance by Agents.
(a) Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, request, consent, certificate, instrument, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by such Agent and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.
(b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.
Section 9.05. Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. Subject to the other provisions of this Article IX, the Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to any Event of Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article VIII; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.
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Section 9.06. Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents. Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person or Lead Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Agent or Lead Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person or Lead Arranger to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons or Lead Arrangers have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender and L/C Issuer represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent that (a) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (b) it is engaged in the making, acquiring, purchasing or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party to as a Lender for the purpose of making, acquiring, purchasing and/or holding the commercial loans set forth herein as may be applicable to it, and not for the purpose of investing in the general performance or operations of the Borrower and/or any Loan Party, or for the purpose of making, acquiring, purchasing or holding any other type of financial instrument such as security. Each Lender also acknowledges and agrees that it will not assert any claim under federal or state securities law or otherwise in contravention of this Section 9.06. Each Lender represents to each Agent and Lead Arranger that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person or Lead Arranger and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of an investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person or Lead Arranger and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by any Agent herein, none of the Agents or Lead Arrangers shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person or Lead Arranger.
Section 9.07. Indemnification of Agents. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it in its capacity as an Agent-Related Person; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Loan Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 9.07. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.07 applies whether any such
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investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower, provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect the Borrower’s continuing reimbursement obligations with respect thereto, if any. The undertaking in this Section 9.07 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent.
Section 9.08. Agents in Their Individual Capacities. Wells Fargo and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire Equity Interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with each of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates as though Wells Fargo were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Wells Fargo or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any Affiliate of a Loan Party (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, Wells Fargo shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Wells Fargo in its individual capacity.
Section 9.09. Successor Agents. The Administrative Agent may resign as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which appointment of a successor agent shall require the consent of the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) or (g) (which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If, at the time that the Administrative Agent’s resignation is effective, it is acting as an L/C Issuer, such resignation shall also operate to effectuate its resignation as L/C Issuer, and it shall automatically be relieved of any further obligation to issue Letters of Credit. If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower, a successor agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and the term “Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor administrative agent and/or supplemental administrative agent, as the case may be (and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, as described in this Section 9.09 and/or supplemental agent, as described in Section 9.02), and the retiring Administrative Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,
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the provisions of this Article IX and Section 10.04 and Section 10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following the retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Collateral Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such amendments or supplements to other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order to (a) continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents or (b) otherwise ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement is satisfied, the Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall, to the extent not previously discharged, be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents.
Section 9.10. Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Section 2.09 and Section 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and
(c) any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Administrative Agent under Section 2.09 and Section 10.04.
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The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, (b) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased (or in the Equity Interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (ii) to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in clauses (a) through (g) of Section 10.01), (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to assign the relevant Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle pro rata by the Lenders, as a result of which each of the Lenders shall be deemed to have received a pro rata portion of any Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by such an acquisition vehicle on account of the assignment of the Obligations to be credit bid, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (iv) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of debt credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Lenders pro rata and the Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of the Obligations that had been assigned to the acquisition vehicle shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.
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.
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Section 9.11. Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Lenders irrevocably agree:
(a) that any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document shall be automatically released (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (x) Obligations in respect of any Secured Hedge Agreements not yet due and payable, (y) Cash Management Obligations not yet due and payable and (z) contingent indemnification obligations and other contingent obligations not yet accrued and payable) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicable L/C Issuer), (ii) at the time the property subject to such Lien is transferred as part of or in connection with any transfer permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document to any Person other than any other Loan Party, (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, (iv) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Guarantor, upon release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty pursuant to clause (c) or (d) below or (v) if the property subject to such Lien becomes Excluded Property;
(b) that the Administrative Agent is authorized and directed to release or subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Sections 7.01(i) and (o);
(c) if any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than a Borrower) ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary, in each case, as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder (as certified in writing delivered to the Administrative Agent by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower), (x) such Subsidiary shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Guaranty and (y) any Liens granted by such Subsidiary or Liens on the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary (to the extent such Equity Interests have become Excluded Property or are being transferred to a Person that is not a Loan Party) shall be automatically released; provided that if such Subsidiary Guarantor becomes an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of clause (h) of the definition thereof, such Person shall only be released under this Guaranty to the extent that at the time such Guarantor ceases to be a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary (i) (x) such Guarantor ceased to be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary as a result of a joint venture or other strategic transaction permitted hereunder; provided that the purpose of such transaction was for a bona fide business purpose (for the avoidance of doubt, it being understood and agreed that a bona fide business purpose is not to evade the Guarantee required hereunder), (y) after giving pro forma effect to such release and the consummation of the transaction that causes such Person to be an Excluded Subsidiary, the Borrower is deemed to have made a new Investment in such Person (as if such Person were then newly acquired) equal to the fair market value of the net assets of such Person attributable to the Equity Interests in such Person that are owned by the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and (z) the transaction by which such Guarantor ceases to be a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary was consummated on an arm’s-length basis with an unaffiliated third-party or (ii) after giving effect to the transaction, the Guarantor being released from its Guarantee Obligations is no longer a direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower;
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(d) an Additional Borrower (other than the Borrower) ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder (as certified in writing delivered to the Administrative Agent by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower), upon written request of the Borrower, such Additional Borrower shall cease to be an Additional Borrower under this Agreement and any Liens granted by such Additional Borrower shall be released; provided that the Borrower shall have expressly assumed all obligations of such Additional Borrower under this Agreement.
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.11; provided that a failure to obtain such confirmation will not prevent any release otherwise permitted. In each case as specified in this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent will promptly (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent to), at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release or subordination of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents, or to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.11. Prior to releasing or subordinating its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty or any Borrower as a Borrower pursuant to this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to receive a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower stating that such actions are permitted under this Agreement. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be liable for any such release undertaken in reliance upon any such certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Lenders or to any other Person to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by any Loan Party or is cared for, protected or insured or that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent herein or pursuant hereto have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to exercise or to continue exercising at all or in any manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity any of the rights, authorities and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent in this Section 9.11 or in any of the Collateral Documents.
Section 9.12. Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers. None of the Lenders, the Agents, the Lead Arrangers or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “joint lead arranger and bookrunner”, “co-arranger”, “global coordinator”, “co-syndication agent” or “co-documentation agent” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.
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Section 9.13. Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents.
(a) It is the purpose of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that there shall be no violation of any Law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking corporations or associations to transact business as agent or trustee in such jurisdiction. It is recognized that in case of litigation under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and in particular in case of the enforcement of any of the Loan Documents, or in case the Administrative Agent deems that by reason of any present or future Law of any jurisdiction it may not exercise any of the rights, powers or remedies granted herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or take any other action which may be desirable or necessary in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion as a separate trustee, co-trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, administrative sub-agent or administrative co-agent (any such additional individual or institution being referred to herein individually as a “Supplemental Administrative Agent” and, collectively, as “Supplemental Administrative Agents”).
(b) In the event that the Administrative Agent appoints a Supplemental Administrative Agent with respect to any Collateral, (i) each and every right, power, privilege or duty expressed or intended by this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to be exercised by or vested in or conveyed to the Administrative Agent with respect to such Collateral shall be exercisable by and vest in such Supplemental Administrative Agent to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to enable such Supplemental Administrative Agent to exercise such rights, powers and privileges with respect to such Collateral and to perform such duties with respect to such Collateral, and every covenant and obligation contained in the Loan Documents and necessary to the exercise or performance thereof by such Supplemental Administrative Agent shall run to and be enforceable by either the Administrative Agent or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, and (ii) the provisions of this Article IX and of Section 10.04 and Section 10.05 that refer to the Administrative Agent shall inure to the benefit of such Supplemental Administrative Agent and all references therein to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be references to the Administrative Agent and/or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, as the context may require.
(c) Should any instrument in writing from any Loan Party be required by any Supplemental Administrative Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent. In case any Supplemental Administrative Agent, or a successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Supplemental Administrative Agent, to the extent permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Administrative Agent.
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Section 9.14. Withholding Tax. To the extent required by any applicable Law, the Administrative Agent may deduct or withhold from any payment to any Lender under any Loan Document an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any other Governmental Authority asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including because the appropriate form was not delivered or was not properly executed or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax ineffective), such Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or otherwise, and shall make payable in respect thereof within ten (10) days after demand therefore including any penalties, additions to Tax or interest and together with all expenses (including legal expenses, allocated internal costs and out-of-pocket expenses) incurred, whether or not such Tax was 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 this Agreement or any other Loan Document or from any other sources against any amount due the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.14. The agreements in this Section 9.14 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of this Agreement and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, (1) the term “Lender” shall, for purposes of this Section 9.14, include any L/C Issuer and “applicable Law” includes FATCA and (2) this Section 9.14 shall not limit or expand the obligations of the Borrower or any Guarantor under Section 3.01 or any other provision of this Agreement.
Section 9.15. Cash Management Obligations; Secured Hedge Agreements. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or in any Guarantee or other Collateral Document, no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 8.04, any Guarantee or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Guarantee or other Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender or an Agent and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Cash Management Obligations or Obligations arising under Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank.
Section 9.16. Recovery of Erroneous Payments.
(a) If the Administrative Agent (x) notifies a Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party (any such Lender, L/C Issuer, Secured Party or other recipient (and each of their respective successors and assigns), a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (whether or not after receipt of any notice under immediately succeeding clause (b)) that any funds (as set forth in such notice from the Administrative Agent) received by such Payment Recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously or mistakenly transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient
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(whether or not known to such Lender, L/C Issuer, Secured Party or other Payment Recipient on its behalf) (any such funds, whether transmitted or received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise, individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”) and (y) demands in writing the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent pending its return or repayment as contemplated below in this Section 9.16 and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and such Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party shall (or, with respect to any Payment Recipient who received such funds on its behalf, shall cause such Payment Recipient to) promptly, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days 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 Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in Same Day Funds (in the currency so received), 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 Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds 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 from time to time in effect. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Payment Recipient under this clause (a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(b) Without limiting immediately preceding clause (a), each Lender, L/C Issuer, Secured Party or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party (and each of their respective successors and assigns), agrees that if it receives a payment, prepayment or repayment (whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise) 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 this Agreement or in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates), or (z) that such Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party, or other such recipient, otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part), then in each such case:
(i) it acknowledges and agrees that (A) in the case of immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), an error and mistake shall be presumed to have been made (absent written confirmation from the Administrative Agent to the contrary) or (B) an error and mistake has been made (in the case of immediately preceding clause (z)), in each case, with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment; and
(ii) such Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party shall (and shall cause any other recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf to) promptly (and, in all events, within one (1) Business Day of its knowledge of the occurrence of any of the circumstances described in immediately preceding clauses (x), (y) and (z)) notify the Administrative Agent of its receipt of such payment, prepayment or repayment, the details thereof (in reasonable detail) and that it is so notifying the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.16(b).
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For the avoidance of doubt, the failure to deliver a notice to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.16 shall not have any effect on a Payment Recipient’s obligations pursuant to Section 9.16(a) or on whether or not an Erroneous Payment has been made.
(c) Each Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party under any Loan Document with respect to any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts, against any amount that the Administrative Agent has demanded to be returned under immediately preceding clause (a).
(d) The parties hereto agree that (x) irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent may be equitably subrogated, in the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered from any Payment Recipient that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights and interests of such Payment Recipient (and, in the case of any Payment Recipient who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party, to the rights and interests of such Lender, L/C Issuer or Secured Party, as the case may be) under the Loan Documents with respect to such amount (the “Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights”) and (y) an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party; provided that this Section 9.16 shall not be interpreted to increase (or accelerate the due date for), or have the effect of increasing (or accelerating the due date for), the Obligations of the Borrower relative to the amount (and/or timing for payment) of the Obligations that would have been payable had such Erroneous Payment not been made by the Administrative Agent; provided, further, that for the avoidance of doubt, immediately preceding clauses (x) and (y) shall not apply to the extent any 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, or on behalf of (including through the exercise of remedies under any Loan Document), the Borrower for the purpose of making a payment on the Obligations.
(e) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Payment Recipient shall assert any right or claim to an Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, and is deemed to waive, 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 Erroneous Payment received, including, without limitation, any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.
Each party’s obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 9.16 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender or L/C Issuer, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.
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ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.01. Amendments, Etc. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, acknowledged by the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or the waiver of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);
(b) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce the amount of, any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(c) reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, it being understood that any change to the definition of “First Lien Net Leverage Ratio”, “Secured Net Leverage Ratio”, “Total Net Leverage Ratio” or “Interest Coverage Ratio” or in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;
(d) change (i) any provision of this Section 10.01 or (ii) any provision of Section 2.13 or Section 8.04 that would alter the pro rata sharing or the order of payments, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(e) release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each; provided that any transaction permitted under Section 7.04 shall not be subject to this clause (e) to the extent such transaction does not result in the release of all or substantially all of the Collateral;
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(f) release all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantees in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender; provided that any transaction permitted under Section 7.04 shall not be subject to this clause (f) to the extent such transaction does not result in the release of all or substantially all of the Guarantees;
(g) change the definition of “Required Lenders” or amend any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;
(h) (i) contractually subordinate, or have the effect of subordinating, any Obligations in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or Guarantors or (ii) contractually subordinate, or have the effect of subordinating, the Liens securing the Obligations on all or substantially all of the Collateral to Liens on all or substantially all of the Collateral securing other Indebtedness (such senior indebtedness, “Senior Indebtedness”), without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, unless each such Lender that is directly and adversely affected thereby has been offered a bona fide opportunity to fund or otherwise provide its pro rata share of the Senior Indebtedness on the same terms and conditions as offered to all other providers (or their Affiliates) of the Senior Indebtedness (it being understood that this clause (h) shall not (A) restrict an amendment to increase the maximum permitted amount of Indebtedness (x) incurred under Section 7.03(f) and (y) secured by liens under Section 7.01(i) as in effect on the Effective Date or (B) apply to the incurrence of debtor-in-possession financing (or similar financing arrangements in insolvency proceedings in non-U.S. jurisdictions) approved by the applicable bankruptcy court); or
(i) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01 without the written consent of each Lender.
and provided, further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, change any provision of Section 1.10 or affect the rights or duties of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it, (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iii) [reserved] and (iv) (A) any amendment or waiver that by its terms affects the rights or duties of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of a particular Class (but not the Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any other Class) will require only the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders and (B) in determining whether the requisite percentage of Lenders have consented to any amendment, modification, waiver or other action, any Defaulting Lenders shall be deemed to have voted in the same proportion as those Lenders who are not Defaulting Lenders, except with respect to (x) any amendment, waiver or other action which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender and (y) any amendment, waiver or other action that by its terms adversely affects any Defaulting Lender in its capacity as a Lender in a manner that differs in any material respect from other affected Lenders, in which case the consent of such Defaulting Lender, as applicable, shall be required. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, and the Borrower and the
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Administrative Agent (a) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the 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 Credit Loans, the Incremental Term Loans, if any, and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 10.01, any guarantees, collateral security documents and related documents executed by Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended, supplemented and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any Lender if such amendment, supplement or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to add parallel debt provisions, (iii) to cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects or (iv) to cause such guarantee, collateral security document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Furthermore, with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower (without the need to obtain any consent of any Lender), any Loan Document may be amended to cure ambiguities, inconsistencies, omissions, mistakes or defects (which determination by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive).
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.01 to the contrary, (a) technical and conforming modifications to the Loan Documents may be made with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to the extent necessary (i) to integrate any Incremental Facilities, Refinancing Revolving Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Term Loans, (ii) to integrate or make administrative modifications with respect to borrowings and issuances of Letters of Credit, (iii) to integrate and terms or conditions from any Incremental Facility Amendment that are more restrictive than this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.14(d) and (iv) to make any amendments permitted by Section 1.03 and to give effect to any election to adopt IFRS and (b) without the consent of any Lender or L/C Issuer, the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent or any collateral agent may (in their respective sole discretion, or shall, to the extent required by any Loan Document) enter into (x) any amendment, modification or waiver of any Loan Document, or enter into any new agreement or instrument, to effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Collateral or additional property to become Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties or as required by local law to give effect to, or protect any security interest for benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property or so that the security interests therein comply with applicable law or this Agreement or in each case to otherwise enhance the rights or benefits of any Lender under any Loan Document or (y) any Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof, in each case with the holders of Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to be secured by the Collateral. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Borrower may, without the consent of any Lenders, upon delivery to the Administrative Agent (i) increase the interest rates (including any interest rate margins or interest rate floors), fees and other amounts payable to any Class or Classes of Lenders hereunder, (ii) add, increase, expand and/or extend the call protection provisions and any “most favored nation” provisions benefiting any Class or Classes of Lenders hereunder and/or (iii) with the consent of the Administrative Agent, modify any other provision hereunder or under any other Loan Document in a manner, as determined by the Administrative
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Agent in its sole discretion, more favorable to the then-existing Lenders or Class or Classes of Lenders; provided that the Administrative Agent will have at least five Business Days (or such shorter period to which the Administrative Agent may consent in its reasonable discretion) after written notice from the Borrower to provide such consent and may, in its sole discretion, provide written notice to the Lenders regarding any such proposed amendment.
Section 10.02. Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.
(a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to any Borrower, the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer.
All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four (4) Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of Section 10.02(b)), when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person during the person’s normal business hours. In no event shall a voice mail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including email and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in their discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
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Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) [Reserved].
(d) Change of Address, Etc. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and any L/C Issuer may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agents from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.
(e) Reliance by Agents and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify each Agent-Related Person and each L/C Issuer and Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct. All telephonic notices to the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
(f) Notice to other Loan Parties. The Borrower agrees that notices to be given to any other Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be given to the Borrower in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.02 with the same effect as if given to such other Loan Party in accordance with the terms hereunder or thereunder.
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(g) Communications. Each Loan Party hereby agrees that it will provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any such communication (unless otherwise approved in writing by the Administrative Agent) that (i) relates to a request for a new, or a conversion of an existing, Borrowing or other extension of credit (including any election of an interest rate or interest period relating thereto), (ii) relates to the payment of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor, (iii) [reserved], (iv) provides notice of any Default under this Agreement or (v) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any borrowing or other extension of credit hereunder (all such non excluded communications, collectively, the “Specified Communications”), by transmitting the Specified Communications in an electronic/soft medium in a format reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent at such e-mail address(es) provided to the Borrower from time to time or in such other form, including hard copy delivery thereof, as the Administrative Agent shall require. In addition, each Loan Party agrees to continue to provide the Specified Communications to the Administrative Agent in the manner specified in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in such other form, including hard copy delivery thereof, as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. Nothing in this Section 10.02 shall prejudice the right of the Agents, any Lender or any Loan Party to give any notice or other communication pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any other manner specified in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or as any such Agent shall require.
Section 10.03. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.
Section 10.04. Attorney Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees (a) if the Effective Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers for all reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses associated with the syndication of the Loans and Commitments and the preparation, execution and delivery, administration, amendment, modification, waiver and/or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), including all Attorney Costs of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (and any other counsel retained with the Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)) and one local and foreign counsel in each relevant jurisdiction, and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the L/C Issuer and each Lender for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all costs and expenses incurred in connection with any workout or restructuring in respect of the Loans, all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, and including all Attorney Costs of one counsel for
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all such Persons (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, where such Person affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Person)). The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording and title insurance charges and fees related thereto, and other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid within ten (10) Business Days of receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail. If any Loan Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Loan Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.
Section 10.05. Indemnification by the Borrower. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent- Related Person, each Lender, each L/C Issuer, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates and their and their Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, and other representatives (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims, and reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable Attorney Costs of one counsel for all Indemnitees and, if necessary, one firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnitee)) and settlement costs of any such Indemnitee arising out of or relating to any claim or any litigation or other proceeding (regardless of whether such Indemnitee is a party thereto and whether or not such proceedings are brought by any Borrower, its equity holders, its Affiliates, creditors or any other third person) that relates to the Transaction, including the financing contemplated hereby, of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment, Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an L/C Issuer 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), or (c) any actual or alleged presence or Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under or from any property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to any Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or (d) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) (all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulted from (x) the
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gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any of its controlled Affiliates or controlling Persons or any of the partners, officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors or members of any of the foregoing, in each case who are involved in or aware of the Transaction (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision), (y) a material breach of the Loan Documents by such Indemnitee or one of its Affiliates of its funding obligations under this Agreement (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision) or (z) disputes solely between and among such Indemnitees to the extent such disputes do not arise from any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates (other than with respect to a claim against an Indemnitee acting in its capacity as an Agent or Lead Arranger or similar role under the Loan Documents unless such claim arose from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision)). No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor shall any Indemnitee or any Loan Party have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Effective Date); provided that the foregoing shall not limit any Loan Party’s indemnification obligations hereunder. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, its directors, managers, partners, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents is consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor; provided, however, if the Borrower has reimbursed any Indemnitee for any legal or other expenses in connection with any Indemnified Liabilities and there is a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that the Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification or contribution with respect to such Indemnified Liabilities pursuant to the express terms of this Section 10.05, then the Indemnitee shall promptly refund such expenses paid by the Borrower to the Indemnitee. The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.05 shall not apply to Taxes other than Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, etc., with respect to a non-Tax claim.
Section 10.06. Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent or any Lender, or any 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 such 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 of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect.
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Section 10.07. 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 as otherwise provided herein (including without limitation as permitted under Section 7.04), neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(e) or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(g) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.07(e) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) 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 assignees (“Assignees”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.07(b), participations in L/C Obligations) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:
(A) the Borrower; provided that, (I) no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment (1) to any other Lender, any Affiliate of a Lender or any Approved Fund or (2) if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to any Assignee, and (II) the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment of any Loan or Commitment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof;
(B) the Administrative Agent; and
(C) in the case of any assignment of any of the Revolving Credit Facility, each L/C Issuer.
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
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(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 any Revolving Credit Commitment or $1,000,000 in the case of any Term Loan or Term Commitment, in each case, unless the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that (1) no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;
(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption;
(C) (1) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and any documentation required by Section 3.01(f) and (2) the Assignee shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer”, and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act;
(D) the Assignee shall not be a natural person or a Disqualified Lender (and such Assignee shall be required to represent that it is not a Disqualified Lender or an Affiliate of a Disqualified Lender that would constitute a Disqualified Lender but for the fact that it is not readily identifiable as such on the basis of its name); provided that whether a prospective assignee is a Disqualified Lender may be communicated to a Lender upon request but the list of Disqualified Lenders shall not be posted or otherwise distributed to the Lenders, prospective Lenders and prospective assignees; provided, further, that it is agreed that the Borrower may withhold its consent to an assignment to any person that is known by it to be an Affiliate of a Disqualified Lender (regardless of whether it is readily identifiable as an Affiliate by virtue of its name (other than, in the case of Disqualified Lenders under clause (ii) of the definition thereof, such Affiliates that are bona fide debt funds));
(E) the Assignee shall not be a Defaulting Lender;
(F) [reserved];
(G) [reserved];
(H) [reserved];
(I) [reserved];
(J) [reserved]; and
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(K) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Loans or Commitments are assigned or participated (x) to a Disqualified Lenders or (y) without complying with the Borrower consent or notice requirements of this Section 10.07, then: (I) the Borrower may require such Person to assign its rights and obligations to one or more Eligible Assignees at a price equal to the lesser of (X) the current trading price of the Loans, (Y) par and (Z) the amount such Person paid to acquire such Loans or Commitments, in each case, without premium, penalty, prepayment fee or breakage (which assignment shall not be subject to any processing and recordation fee) and if such Person does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such assignment within three (3) Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption to such Person, then such Person shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on its part, (II) no such Person shall receive any information or reporting provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (III) for purposes of voting, any Loans or Commitments held by such person shall be deemed not to be outstanding, and such person shall have no voting or consent rights with respect to “Required Lenders” or Class votes or consents, (IV) for purposes of any matter requiring the vote or consent of each Lender affected by any amendment or waiver, such Person shall be deemed to have voted or consented to approve such amendment or waiver if a majority of the affected Class (giving effect to clause (III) above) so approves, and (V) such Person shall not be entitled to any expense reimbursement or indemnification rights under any Loan Documents (including Sections 10.04 and 10.05) and the Borrower expressly reserves all rights against such person under contract, tort or any other theory and shall be treated in all other respects as a Defaulting Lender; it being understood and agreed that the foregoing provisions shall not apply to any assignee of a Disqualified Lender that becomes a Lender so long as such assignee is not a Disqualified Lender or an Affiliate thereof.
This paragraph (b) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis.
(c) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.07(d) and receipt by the Administrative Agent from the parties to each assignment of a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (provided that (x) the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment and (y) such processing and recordation fee shall not be payable in the case of assignments by any Affiliate of the Lead Arrangers), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01,
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3.03, 3.04, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note (if any), the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause (c) 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 Section 10.07(e). For greater certainty, any assignment by a Lender pursuant to this Section 10.07 shall not in any way constitute or be deemed to constitute a novation, discharge, recession, extinguishment or substitution of the existing Indebtedness and any Indebtedness so assigned shall continue to be the same obligation and not a new obligations.
(d) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, 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 Commitments of, and principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of the Loans, L/C Obligations (specifying the Unreimbursed Amounts), L/C Borrowings and amounts due under Section 2.03, owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agents 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 (including, without limitation, electronically) by the Borrower, any Agent and any Lender (with respect to its own interests only), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(e) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or, so long as whether a prospective participant is a Disqualified Lender may be communicated to a Lender upon request, a Disqualified Lender) (each, a “Participant”) 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 (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Agents and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. 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 the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in Section 10.01(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) that directly affects such Participant. Subject to Section 10.07(f), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.03 and 3.04 (through the applicable Lender), subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections (including Section 3.01(f)) and Sections 3.05 and 3.06, to
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the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (provided that any documentation required to be provided under Section 3.01(f) shall be provided solely to the participating Lender). To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant shall be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Any Lender that sells participations shall maintain a register on which it enters the name and the address of each Participant and the principal amounts and related interest amounts of each Participant’s participation interest in the Commitments and/or Loans (or other rights or obligations) held by it (the “Participant Register”). 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 interest as the owner thereof for all purposes notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. In maintaining the Participant Register, such Lender shall be acting as the non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower solely for this purpose and undertakes no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Borrower (without limitation, in no event shall such Lender be a fiduciary of the Borrower for any purpose). No Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of a Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, or its other obligations under this Agreement) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) and proposed Section 1.163-5(b) of the United States Treasury Regulations or, if different, under Sections 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.03 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 and such consent explicitly acknowledges such participant’s right to receive greater payment or except to the extent such entitlement to a greater payment results from a Change in Law after such Participant became a Participant.
(g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(h) [Reserved].
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(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (1) any Lender may in accordance with applicable Law create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it and (2) any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities; provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.
(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any L/C Issuer may, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer; provided that on or prior to the expiration of such 30-day period with respect to such resignation, the relevant L/C Issuer shall have identified, in consultation with the Borrower, a successor L/C Issuer willing to accept its appointment as successor L/C Issuer, as applicable. In the event of any such resignation of an L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders willing to accept such appointment a successor L/C Issuer hereunder; provided that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the relevant L/C Issuer. If an L/C Issuer resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)).
(k) [Reserved].
(l) No Agent-Related Person shall 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 Lenders; further, without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause, no Agent-Related Person shall (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Lender or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Lender.
Section 10.08. Confidentiality. Each of the Agents and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information and to not disclose such information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ partners, directors, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors, representatives, professionals and other experts or agents, including accountants, legal counsel, independent auditors and other advisors, in each case, who need to know such information in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any Lender or pledgee, to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(g) in which case the Agent or Lenders, as applicable, agree, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform the Borrower promptly thereof prior to disclosure; (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process (in which case the Agent or Lender, as applicable, agrees to the extent not prohibited by applicable
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law, rule or regulation, to inform the Borrower promptly thereof); (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Borrower), to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(i), counterparty to a Swap Contract, Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement; (f) with the written consent of the Borrower; (g) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; (h) to any Governmental Authority or examiner regulating any Lender in which case the Agent or Lenders, as applicable, agree, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform the Borrower promptly thereof prior to disclosure; (i) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to the Loan Parties received by it from such Lender); (j) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder; (k) to the extent that such Information is received by such Lender, Agents or any of its Affiliates or Agent-Related Persons from a third party that is not, to such Lender’s knowledge, subject to any contractual or fiduciary confidentiality obligations owing to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates; (l) to the extent that such Information is independently developed by such Lender or any of its Affiliates, (m) to the extent consisting of customary disclosure regarding portfolio holdings in any public filing by such Lender or (n) upon the request or demand of any Governmental Authority or other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Agent or Lenders, as applicable, (in which case the Agent or Lenders, as applicable, agree (except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority and any disclosures required in the ordinary course by Law or regulation), to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform the Borrower promptly thereof prior to disclosure). In addition, the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender and its respective affiliates, at their respective sole expense, and without any prior approval by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, to include the Borrower’s name and logo in tombstones, customary transaction announcements, case studies, and training materials. The foregoing authorization shall remain in effect until the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such authorization is revoked. For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party or its Affiliates or its Affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors or agents, relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their business, other than any such information that is available to any Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis 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 prior to disclosure by any Loan Party other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08, including, without limitation, information delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement prevents an individual from communicating directly with any regulator or law enforcement authority about a possible violation of law or regulation.
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Section 10.09. Setoff. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Agent and its Affiliates, each Lender and its Affiliates and each L/C Issuer and its Affiliates is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such notice being waived by the Borrower (on their own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness (in any currency) at any time owing by, such Agent and its Affiliates, such Lender and its Affiliates or such L/C Issuer and its Affiliates, as the case may be, to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries against any and all Obligations owing to such Agent and its Affiliates, such Lender and its Affiliates or such L/C Issuer and its Affiliates hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent, such Lender, such L/C Issuer or such Affiliate shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, none of each Agent and its Affiliates, each Lender and its Affiliates and each L/C Issuer and its Affiliates shall have a right to set off and apply any deposits held or other Indebtedness owing by such Agent or its Affiliates, such Lender or its Affiliates or such L/C Issuer or its Affiliates, as the case may be, to or for the credit or the account of any Subsidiary of a Loan Party that is a Foreign Subsidiary or a Domestic Foreign Holding Company. Each Lender and L/C Issuer agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set off and application made by such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of each Agent, each Lender and each L/C Issuer under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Agent, such Lender and such L/C Issuer may have.
Section 10.10. Counterparts. This Agreement and each other Loan Document may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by facsimile or other electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission.
Section 10.11. Integration. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.
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Section 10.12. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by each Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (other than contingent indemnification obligations not yet due, Secured Hedge Agreements, Cash Management Obligations, and Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or back-stopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicable L/C Issuer). The provisions of Sections 10.14 and 10.15 shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.
Section 10.13. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 10.14. GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION, SERVICE OF PROCESS.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED THEREIN).
(b) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH, ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN (PROVIDED THAT IF NONE OF SUCH COURTS CAN AND WILL EXERCISE SUCH JURISDICTION, SUCH EXCLUSIVITY SHALL NOT APPLY), AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. THE BORROWER, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO.
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NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COLLATERAL AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION (I) FOR PURPOSES OF ENFORCING A JUDGMENT, (II) IN CONNECTION WITH EXERCISING REMEDIES AGAINST THE COLLATERAL IN A JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH COLLATERAL IS LOCATED, (III) IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PENDING BANKRUPTCY, INSOLVENCY OR SIMILAR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION OR (IV) TO THE EXTENT THE COURTS REFERRED TO IN THE PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH DO NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER SUCH LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) OR THE PARTIES OR PROPERTY SUBJECT THERETO.
Section 10.15. WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 10.15 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 10.16. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender and L/C Issuer that each such Lender and L/C Issuer has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, each Agent, the L/C Issuer and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.04.
Section 10.17. 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
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obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders 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 of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent 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 from the Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or the Person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent in such currency, the Administrative Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable Law).
Section 10.18. Lender Action. Each Lender agrees that it shall not take or institute any actions or proceedings, judicial or otherwise, for any right or remedy against any Loan Party or any other obligor under any of the Loan Documents or the Secured Hedge Agreements (including the exercise of any right of setoff, rights on account of any banker’s lien or similar claim or other rights of self-help), or institute any actions or proceedings, or otherwise commence any remedial procedures, with respect to any Collateral or any other property of any such Loan Party, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. The provisions of this Section 10.18 are for the sole benefit of the Lenders and shall not afford any right to, or constitute a defense available to, any Loan Party.
Section 10.19. Know-Your-Customer, Etc.. Each Lender shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act.
Section 10.20. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act and the requirements of the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name, address and tax identification number of such Loan Party and other information regarding such Loan Party that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act and the requirements of the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and is effective as to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.
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Section 10.21. Intercreditor Agreements.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document: (i) the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent in favor of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Loan Documents and the exercise of any right related to any Collateral shall be subject, in each case, to the terms of any Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, (ii) in the event of any conflict between the express terms and provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, on the one hand, and an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement, on the other hand, the terms and provisions of any such Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement, shall control, and (iii) each Lender (and, by its acceptance of the benefits of any Collateral Document, each other Secured Party) hereunder authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to execute any Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement from time to time on behalf of such Lender, and such Lender agrees to be bound by the terms thereof.
(b) Each Lender (and, by its acceptance of the benefits of any Collateral Document, each other Secured Party) hereunder authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent, as Collateral Agent and on behalf of such Lender or other Secured Party, to enter into one or more Acceptable Intercreditor Agreements from time to time and agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions thereof.
Section 10.22. Obligations Absolute. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, all obligations of the Loan Parties hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:
(a) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation or the like of any Loan Party;
(b) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto against any Loan Party;
(c) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(d) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any other Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to any departure from any guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations;
(e) any exercise or non-exercise, or any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect hereof or any Loan Document; or
(f) any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Loan Parties.
Section 10.23. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agree, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand,
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and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Lead Arrangers each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, nor any Lender or Lead Arrangers has any obligation to the Borrower or any of 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, each Lender and each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lead Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Lead Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
The parties hereto acknowledges that the Administrative Agent, together with its respective affiliated companies (collectively, the “WF Group”), is a member of a global financial services firm engaged in the securities, investment management, credit services businesses and individual wealth management businesses involving, without limitation, the provision of securities underwriting, hedging, trading, brokerage activities, foreign exchange, commodities and derivatives trading, as well as providing investment banking, financing and financial advisory services. As a result, members of the WF Group and their respective Related Parties may also at any time (i) invest on a principal basis or manage funds that invest on a principal basis, in the loans or debt or equity securities of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties or any other company that may be involved in any of the transactions contemplated herein, or in any currency, commodity or instrument that may be involved in any of the transactions contemplated herein, or in any related derivative instrument, (ii) carry out ordinary course investment and wealth management or brokerage activities for the Borrower, the other Loan Parties or any other company (or their respective Related Parties) that may be involved in any of the transactions contemplated herein, and (iii) perform various investment banking, commercial banking and financial advisory services for other clients and customers who may have conflicting interests with respect to the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Related Parties. The parties hereto therefore acknowledge that (i) in the course of such activities and relationships, one or more members of the WF Group, other than the Administrative Agent performing its duties and responsibilities expressly set forth in this Agreement, may acquire information about the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, their respective Related Parties or other entities and persons which may be the subject of any transaction contemplated hereunder, and (ii) any such member of the WF Group are doing do in their respective capacities (including, without limitation, as investment manager, hedge counterparty, financial advisor, Lender or Arranger), which are separate from and independent of the function and duties of the Administrative Agent. The Lenders party hereto further acknowledge that no other member of the WF Group (or the Administrative Agent to the extent it receives any such information from another member of the WF Group) shall have any obligation to disclose (or any liability for failing to disclose) such information, or the fact that any of them are in possession of such information, to any Lender or to use such information on behalf of any of them.
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Section 10.24. Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. 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, the L/C Issuer and each Lender (collectively, each a “Credit Party”) agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered. Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and electronic counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Administrative Agent and each of the Credit Parties may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (“Electronic Copy”), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document. All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Administrative Agent nor the L/C Issuer is under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent and/or the L/C Issuer has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Credit Parties shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party and/or any Credit Party without further verification and regardless of the appearance or form of such Electronic Signature, and (b) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Credit Party, any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart.
Neither the Administrative Agent nor the L/C Issuer shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s or the L/C Issuer’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means). The Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer 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 or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
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Each of the Loan Parties and each Credit 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 or such other Loan Document, and (ii) any claim against the Administrative Agent, each Credit Party and each Related Party for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Credit 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 10.25. 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, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(i) the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(ii) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(iii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(b) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.
Section 10.26. Lender Representation.
(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 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 Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement,
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(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, and the conditions of such exemption have been satisfied, with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, 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 Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b) In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
Section 10.27. Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit
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Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
(b) As used in this Section 10.27, the following terms have the following meanings:
“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| BORROWER: | ||
| SITIME CORPORATION, | ||
| a Delaware corporation | ||
| By: | /s/ Elizabeth A. Howe | |
| Name: | Elizabeth A. Howe | |
| Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
| WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
| as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and a Revolving Credit Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Greg Cohn | |
| Name: | Greg Cohn | |
| Title: | Executive Director | |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
| GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, | ||
| as a Revolving Credit Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Starr | |
| Name: | Dan Starr | |
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
| BARCLAYS BANK PLC, | ||
| as a Revolving Credit Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Sean Duggan | |
| Name: | Sean Duggan | |
| Title: | Director | |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
| UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, | ||
| as a Revolving Credit Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Blake Caruso | |
| Name: | Blake Caruso | |
| Title: | Director | |
| By: | /s/ Andrea Moore | |
| Name: | Andrea Moore | |
| Title: | Associate Director | |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
| MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., | ||
| as a Revolving Credit Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Fred Gonfiantini | |
| Name: | Fred Gonfiantini | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
Schedule 2.01
Commitments
| Revolving Credit Lender |
Revolving Credit Commitment | Percentage Total | ||||||
| Wells Fargo Bank, National Association |
$ | 90,000,000.00 | 45.00 | % | ||||
| Goldman Sachs Bank USA |
$ | 34,000,000.00 | 17.00 | % | ||||
| Barclays Bank PLC |
$ | 28,000,000.00 | 14.00 | % | ||||
| UBS AG, Stamford Branch |
$ | 28,000,000.00 | 14.00 | % | ||||
| Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. |
$ | 20,000,000.00 | 10.00 | % | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total |
$ | 200,000,000.00 | 100.00 | % | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| L/C Issuer |
L/C Commitment | Percentage Total | ||||||
| Wells Fargo Bank, National Association |
$ | 10,000,000 | 100.00 | % | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total |
$ | 10,000,000 | 100.00 | % | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Exhibit 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 1, 2026, is entered into by and among SiTime Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”) and Renesas Electronics America Inc., a California corporation (“Seller”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS:
A. On February 4, 2026, Purchaser and Seller entered into that certain Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which Seller agreed to sell and assign, and to cause the other Divesting Entities to sell and assign, to Purchaser, and Purchaser has agreed to purchase and assume from the Divesting Entities, the Transferred Assets and Assumed Liabilities.
B. Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Asset Purchase Agreement, as consideration for the Transferred Assets, Purchaser will pay or cause to be paid and issue or cause to be issued to Seller, as applicable, the Cash Consideration and the Stock Consideration, which Purchaser has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Securities Act”) as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Purchaser and Seller hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “Appointment Notice” means a written notice requesting the appointment of the Renesas CEO Director to the Board of Directors of Purchaser that is delivered to Purchaser by Hidetoshi Shibata, the current Chief Executive Officer of Renesas Electronics Corporation (the “Renesas CEO”) after the Closing Date; provided that such notice must be delivered to Purchaser on or prior to September 30, 2026 or such later date as mutually agreed to by the parties hereto.
(b) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(c) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or any other entity or organization.
(d) “Prospectus” means (i) the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act relating to the terms of the offering or any portion of the Registrable Securities.
(e) “Register,” “Registered,” and “Registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more registration statements of Purchaser in compliance with the Securities Act and providing for offering securities on a continuous basis, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement(s) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
(f) “Registrable Securities” means the shares of Purchaser Common Stock constituting the Stock Consideration. Such shares of Purchaser Common Stock shall cease to be Registrable Securities when Seller together with its “affiliates” (as determined under SEC Rule 144) may immediately sell all of Seller’s Registrable Securities under SEC Rule 144 without volume limitation, or another similar exemption under the Securities Act is available for the sale of all of Seller’s shares without limitation, during a three-month period without registration.
(g) “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such rule.
(h) “Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities and all similar fees and commissions relating to Seller’s disposition of the Registrable Securities.
(i) “Transfer” means to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, or similar disposition of Registrable Securities.
2. REGISTRATION; EFFECTIVENESS.
(a) Registration. Following the Closing Date, upon the written demand of Seller (a “Registration Demand”), Purchaser shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such Registration Demand, prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 (or, if Purchaser is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) as of the filing date, an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that shall become effective upon filing with the SEC pursuant to Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act, or a prospectus supplement to an already effective automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 of Purchaser) covering the resale of all then-outstanding Registrable Securities (or such lesser number as Seller may specify in the Registration Demand) (such registration statement, together with such prospectus supplement, if applicable, and any registration statement or prospectus supplement filed pursuant to Section 2(c)(i), each, a “Registration Statement”). Purchaser shall furnish to Seller at least two (2) Business Days prior to the filing date of the Registration Statement, a copy of the Registration Statement to review, as well as any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement and any related Prospectus, prior to its filing with the SEC. Subject to any SEC comments, any Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2(a) shall include the plan of distribution substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. Any such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Registrable Securities. The Registration Statement shall not include any shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of any other holder of securities of Purchaser without the prior written consent of Seller. Purchaser shall
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(i) use commercially reasonable efforts to address in each such document prior to being so filed with the SEC such comments as are reasonably proposed by Seller, and (ii) not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto containing information regarding Seller to which Seller reasonably objects, unless such information is required to comply with any applicable law or regulation. If not all Registrable Securities are then registered for resale under an effective Registration Statement at the time of the initial Underwritten Shelf Take-Down (as defined below), if any, and Seller delivers a Registration Demand following such initial Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, Purchaser shall not be obligated to file such Registration Statement prior to the expiration of the lock-up agreement applicable to Seller for such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down. Following the filing by Purchaser of the initial Registration Statement pursuant to a Registration Demand, Seller may not deliver an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice pursuant to Section 2(c)(i) until the date that is at least five (5) Business Days after the filing of such Registration Statement.
(b) Effectiveness. If permitted under the Securities Act, the Registration Statement shall be automatically effective upon filing; provided, that if such registration is not automatically effective, Purchaser shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) the seventy-fifth (75th) day following the filing date thereof if the SEC notifies Purchaser that it will “review” such Registration Statement and (ii) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date Purchaser is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. Purchaser shall notify Seller as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within twenty-four (24) hours, after the Registration Statement becomes or is declared effective or is supplemented and shall provide Seller with copies of any Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby. Purchaser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep any Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) continuously effective pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act and available for the resale by Seller of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby at all times until the earliest to occur of the following events: (A) the date on which Seller shall have resold all the Registrable Securities covered thereby and (B) the date on which the Registrable Securities may be resold by Seller without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144.
(c) Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs.
i. If Seller so elects in a written request delivered to Purchaser (an “Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice”), the offer and sale of Registrable Securities may be in the form of a sale, on Seller’s behalf, of Registrable Securities to an underwriter for reoffering to the public (an “Underwritten Shelf Take-Down”) and Purchaser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file (x) if a Registration Statement covering Registrable Securities is then on file with the SEC, any necessary Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement to enable the resale of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down or (y) if no Registration Statement covering Registrable Securities is then on file with the SEC, a Registration Statement covering only the Registrable Securities to be sold in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down (on a form contemplated by Section 2(a)), as soon as practicable and in any event, within (A) if the applicable Registration Statement is on Form S-3, five (5) days, and (B) if the applicable Registration Statement is on Form S-1, fifteen (15) days, in each case after the receipt of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice, unless a longer period is agreed to by Seller.
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ii. Seller shall indicate in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice (A) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities expected to be offered and sold in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, (B) the expected plan of distribution of such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, and (C) whether it intends for such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to involve a customary “roadshow” (including an “electronic roadshow”) or other marketing effort by the underwriters. Seller shall select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, which managing underwriter or underwriters shall be investment banking firms of nationally recognized standing and shall be reasonably acceptable to Purchaser, such acceptance to not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
iii. Notwithstanding the delivery of any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice, all determinations as to whether to complete any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be at the discretion of Seller. Seller may withdraw an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice by providing written notice to Purchaser at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement. If an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice is so withdrawn, such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall count towards the limitations set forth in Section 2(c)(iv); provided however, that if, at the time of such withdrawal, Seller shall have learned of a material adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects of Purchaser from that known to Seller at the time of the Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice and have withdrawn the Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice with reasonable promptness after learning of such information then Seller shall not count towards the limitations set forth in Section 2(c)(iv).
iv. Seller may initiate no more than three (3) Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs pursuant to this Section 2(c) during any eighteen (18) month period.
v. In connection with each Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, Purchaser will (A) to the extent reasonably requested by the lead or managing underwriters in connection with an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, send appropriate officers of Purchaser to attend any “roadshows” scheduled in connection with any such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down; (B) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form), deliver such certificates, and take such other actions as Seller shall reasonably request, in each case in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including customary indemnification and contribution to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 8; (C) cause to be delivered to the underwriters of such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down a “comfort” letter in customary form and at customary times and covering matters of the type customarily covered by such comfort letters from its independent certified public accountants; and (D) cause to be delivered to the underwriters of such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down a written and signed legal opinion or opinions in customary form from its outside or in-house legal counsel dated the closing date of the Underwritten Shelf Take-Down. All reasonable and documented out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by Purchaser in connection with Purchaser’s obligations with respect to the foregoing clauses (A) through (D), including Purchaser’s registration of any of the Registrable Securities that Seller had previously requested to be included in the Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be reimbursed by Seller.
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vi. Notwithstanding the foregoing obligations, if Purchaser furnishes to Seller requesting a Underwritten Shelf Take-Down a certificate signed by Purchaser’s chief executive officer stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors it would be materially detrimental to Purchaser to effect such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down because such action would (A) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, corporate reorganization, or other similar transaction involving Purchaser; (B) require premature disclosure of material information that Purchaser has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential; or (C) render Purchaser unable to comply with requirements under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, then Purchaser shall have the right to defer taking action with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down for a period of not more than sixty (60) days after the request of Seller is given; provided, however, that Purchaser may not invoke this right more than once in any twelve (12) month period; and provided further, that, other than in connection with a Purchaser at-the-market offering program, Purchaser shall not register any securities for its own account or that of any other stockholder during such period other than pursuant to a registration relating to the sale or grant of securities to employees of Purchaser or a subsidiary pursuant to a stock option, stock purchase, equity incentive or similar plan.
vii. If following the receipt of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice and prior to the filing of any necessary Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, Purchaser notifies Seller in writing of its intention to register any of its Common Stock under the Securities Act in connection with an underwritten public offering of such Common Stock solely for cash (a “Primary Offering”), (A) Purchaser shall, at such time, promptly give Seller notice of such Primary Offering, (B) Purchaser shall be under no obligation to proceed with the requested Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, and (C) such request shall not count towards the limitations set forth in Section 2(c)(iv). Upon the request of Seller, Purchaser shall cause to be registered and included with such Primary Offering all of the Registrable Securities that Seller had previously requested to be included in the Underwritten Shelf Take-Down. Seller and Purchaser shall mutually select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer such registration, which managing underwriter or underwriters shall be investment banking firms of nationally recognized standing. Purchaser shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 2(c)(vii) before the effective date of such registration, whether or not Seller has elected to include Registrable Securities in such registration. The expenses (other than Selling Expenses) of such registration shall be borne by Purchaser. Seller shall together with Purchaser enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter(s) selected for such underwriting; provided, however, that Seller shall not be required to make any representations, warranties or indemnities except as they relate to such Seller’s ownership of shares and authority to enter into the underwriting agreement and to such Seller’s intended method of distribution, and the liability of Seller shall be several and not joint, and limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds from the offering received by Seller.
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(d) Notification of Certain Events. Purchaser shall promptly notify Seller at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or any post-effective amendment thereto, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by Purchaser of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such notice, Purchaser agrees to, as promptly as reasonably practicable, amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such other action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto.
(e) Suspension of Sales. Seller agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from Purchaser of the existence of (i) any request by the SEC or other federal or state governmental authority for amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or any prospectus for additional information; (ii) the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or prohibiting or suspending the use of any prospectus or prospectus supplement; (iii) any suspension of qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or contemplated initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the happening of any event that (A) makes any statement of a material fact made in any Registration Statement or any prospectus untrue or (B) requires the making of any additions to or changes to the statements then made in any Registration Statement or any prospectus in order to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein not misleading (each, a “Suspension Event”), Seller will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until Seller’s receipt of a notice from Purchaser confirming the resolution of such Suspension Event and that such dispositions may again be made. Purchaser shall use its reasonable best efforts to terminate a Suspension Event as promptly as practicable. Purchaser shall not be permitted to implement more than two Suspension Events in any twelve (12) month period, and the aggregate number of days of all such Suspension Events in any twelve (12) month period shall not exceed sixty (60) days.
(f) Seller Cooperation. Seller agrees to cooperate with Purchaser as reasonably requested by Purchaser in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement or any amendments and supplements to any Registration Statement, unless Seller has notified Purchaser in writing of its election to exclude all of its Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
3. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
Subject to Section 2(c), all expenses incurred by Purchaser to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be borne by Purchaser. All Selling Expenses shall be borne by Seller.
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4. ORDERLY DISPOSITION.
Seller agrees, that for a period of six (6) months following the Closing Date, Seller (a) may not Transfer any shares of Purchaser Common Stock constituting the Stock Consideration (the “Shares”) without first providing Purchaser at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice; and (b) may not Transfer, in any single transaction or in any rolling forty-five (45) day period more than thirty-three percent (33%) of the total number of Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section will not preclude sales pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer for all outstanding shares of Purchaser Common Stock, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of Purchaser’s securities involving a change of control of Purchaser.
5. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) Purchaser shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of Seller; provided, however, that Purchaser may assign this Agreement at any time in connection with a sale or acquisition of Purchaser, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of Purchaser’s assets, or similar transaction.
(b) The rights to cause Purchaser to include Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by Seller with a transfer of Registrable Securities to any Affiliate of Seller; provided, that Purchaser is given written notice at least fifteen (15) days prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such transferee and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Seller and its successors and permitted assigns.
6. LEGEND REMOVAL.
Subject to receipt from Seller by Purchaser and Purchaser’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) of customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to Purchaser and the Transfer Agent in connection therewith, Seller may request in writing that Purchaser remove any legend from the book-entry position evidencing the Registrable Securities, and Purchaser will, if required by the Transfer Agent, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause an opinion of Purchaser’s counsel to be provided, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Transfer Agent to the effect that the removal of such restrictive legends in such circumstances may be effected under the Securities Act, following the time the Registration Statement is declared effective, if such Shares (a) have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 or any other applicable exemption from registration requirements of the Securities Act or (b) are eligible for resale under Rule 144(b)(1) or any successor provision without the requirement for Purchaser to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144 and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions applicable to the sale or transfer of such Registrable Securities. If restrictive legends are no longer required for such Shares pursuant to the foregoing, Purchaser shall, within two (2) Business Days of any request in writing (email being sufficient) therefor from Seller accompanied by such customary and reasonably acceptable representations and other documentation referred to above establishing that restrictive legends are no longer required, deliver to the Transfer Agent irrevocable instructions to make a new, unlegended entry for such book entry Shares.
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7. DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT.
(a) Generally. Upon or as promptly as practicable following Purchaser’s receipt of the Appointment Notice, the Renesas CEO shall be appointed by the Board of Directors to serve as a Class I director of the Board of Directors (in such capacity, the “Renesas CEO Director”) until the next annual meeting of stockholders of Purchaser after the Closing Date at which the Class I directors of the Board of Directors are elected. Purchaser’s obligations with respect to Section 7(a) shall be subject to the Renesas CEO Director’s satisfaction of all requirements regarding service as a director of the Board of Directors under applicable law and applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. Renesas will direct the Renesas CEO Director (i) to consent to such reference and background checks or other investigations as the Board of Directors may reasonably request in order to determine the Renesas CEO Director’s eligibility and qualification to serve as a director of the Board of Directors and (ii) to provide to Purchaser a completed copy of the directors questionnaire submitted by Purchaser to its other directors in the ordinary course of business.
(b) Indemnification; Compensation. The Renesas CEO Director shall (i) execute and become a party to Purchaser’s standard form of director indemnification agreement and (ii) unless waived by the Renesas CEO Director, be entitled to cash and equity compensation in the same manner and to the same extent as other non-employee directors of the Board of Directors.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, Purchaser will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend Seller, each Person, if any, who controls Seller, the members, the directors, officers, partners, employees, members, managers, agents, representatives and advisors of Seller and each Person, if any, who controls Seller within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, an “Indemnified Person”), against any losses, obligation, claims, damages, liabilities, contingencies, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs (including, without limitation, court costs and costs of preparation), reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees, amounts paid in settlement or reasonable and documented expenses, (collectively, “Claims”) reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency or body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto (“Indemnified Damages”), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries of the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any other state securities or other “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to Purchaser or its agents and relating to action or inaction required of Purchaser in connection with such registration of the Registrable Securities (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being, collectively, “Violations”). Purchaser shall reimburse each Indemnified Person promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable out-of-pocket legal fees or other reasonable and documented expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding
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anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 8(a): (A) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to Purchaser by Seller or such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the Registration Statement or prospectus and was reviewed and approved in writing by Seller or such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, any prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, in each case if the foregoing was timely made available by Purchaser; (B) with respect to any superseded prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit of any such Person from whom the Person asserting any such Claim purchased the Registrable Securities that are the subject thereof (or to the benefit of any other Indemnified Person) if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the superseded prospectus was corrected in the revised prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and the Indemnified Person was promptly advised in writing not to use the outdated, defective or incorrect prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a Violation; and (C) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of Purchaser, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by Seller pursuant to Section 5.
(b) In connection with the Registration Statement or any prospectus, Seller agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend Purchaser, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, each Person, if any, who controls Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, an “Indemnified Party”), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including reasonable attorney fees) resulting from any Violation, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information about Seller furnished in writing by Seller to Purchaser expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, any prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of Seller be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by Seller net of Selling Expenses incurred by Seller upon the sale of such Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by Seller pursuant to Section 5.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 8, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be, and upon such notice, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (together with all other Indemnified Persons and Indemnified Parties that may be represented without conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the reasonable fees and
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expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person reasonably apprised as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise unless such judgment or settlement (i) imposes no liability or obligation on, (ii) includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving of a complete, explicit and unconditional release from the party bringing such indemnified claims of all liability of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person in respect to or arising out of such claim or litigation in favor of, and (iii) does not include any admission of fault, culpability, wrongdoing, or malfeasance by or on behalf of, the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 8, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
(d) The indemnification required by this Section 8 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred. Any Person receiving a payment pursuant to this Section 8 which person is later determined to not be entitled to such payment shall return such payment (including reimbursement of expenses) to the person making it.
(e) The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
9. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.
The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may be amended, modified or supplemented, or waived only by a written instrument executed by Purchaser and Seller.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Notices. All notices, requests, permissions, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) five Business Days following sending by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, (ii) when delivered, if delivered personally to the intended recipient, (iii) one Business Day following
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sending by overnight delivery via a national courier service, and (iv) as of the date of transmission is sent by electronic mail if no automated notice of delivery failure is received by the sender, in each case, addressed to a party hereto at the following address for such party:
| A. | If to Purchaser, |
SiTime Corporation
5451 Patrick Henry Drive
Santa Clara, California 95054
Attention: [****]
Email: [****]
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Cooley LLP 3175 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Attention: Rishab Kumar, Steve Tonsfeldt
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
| B. | If to Seller, |
Renesas Electronics America Inc.
c/o Renesas Electronics Corporation
3-2-24, Toyosu, Koto-ku
Tokyo 135-0061, Japan
Attention: [****]
Email: [****]
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Sidley Austin LLP
12230 El Camino Real, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92130
Attention: Jon A. Olsen, Sara M. Carian
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
(b) Waiver. No waiver of any term, provision or condition of this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be, or be construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such term, provision or condition or as a waiver of any other term, provision or condition of this Agreement.
(c) Governing Law. The provisions of Section 12.10 of the Asset Purchase Agreement are incorporated by reference herein mutatis mutandis.
(d) Headings. The titles, subtitles and headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party; provided that a facsimile or pdf signature including any electronic signatures complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com shall be considered due execution and shall be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force and effect as if the signature were an original, not a facsimile or pdf (or other electronic reproduction of a) signature.
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(f) Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(g) Contract Interpretation. This Agreement is the joint product of each Seller and Purchaser and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
(h) No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer on any Person other than the parties to this Agreement any rights, remedies, claims, benefits, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, and no Person that is not a party to this Agreement (including, without limitation, any partner, member, shareholder, director, officer, employee or other beneficial owner of any party to this Agreement, in its own capacity as such or in bringing a derivative action on behalf of a party to this Agreement) shall have any standing as a third party beneficiary with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(i) Severability. If any part or provision of this Agreement is held unenforceable or in conflict with the applicable laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the invalid or unenforceable part or provisions shall be replaced with a provision which accomplishes, to the extent possible, the original business purpose of such part or provision in a valid and enforceable manner, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain binding upon the parties hereto.
(j) Specific Performance. In addition to any and all other remedies that may be available at law in the event of any breach of this Agreement, Seller shall be entitled to specific performance of the agreements and obligations of Purchaser hereunder and to such other injunction or other equitable relief as may be granted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of date first written above.
| PURCHASER: | ||
| SiTime Corporation | ||
| By: | /s/ Elizabeth A. Howe | |
| Name: | Elizabeth A. Howe | |
| Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
| SELLER: | ||
| Renesas Electronics America Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Shuhei Shinkai | |
| Name: | Shuhei Shinkai | |
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit A
Plan of Distribution
The selling stockholder, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of common stock received after the date of this prospectus from the selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of the shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares of common stock are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.
The selling stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of the shares of common stock:
| • | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| • | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| • | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| • | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| • | privately negotiated transactions; |
| • | short sales and settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part; |
| • | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
| • | broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; |
| • | a combination of any such methods of sale; and |
| • | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
The selling stockholder may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act, amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholder also may transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling stockholders for purposes of this prospectus.
In connection with the sale of our common stock, the selling stockholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholder may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close
out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholder from the sale of the common stock offered by them will be the purchase price of the common stock less discounts or commissions, if any. The selling stockholder reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.
The selling stockholder also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule, or another available exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act.
The selling stockholder and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the common stock may be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act (it being understood that the selling stockholder shall not be deemed to be underwriters solely as a result of their participation in this offering). Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
To the extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the name of the selling stockholder, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agent, dealer or underwriter, and any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.
In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the common stock may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
We have advised the selling stockholder that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholder and its affiliates. In addition, to the extent applicable, we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the selling stockholder for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling stockholder may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholder against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and state securities laws, relating to the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus.
We have agreed with the selling stockholder to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part to become effective and to remain continuously effective until the earlier of: (i) the date on which the selling stockholder shall have resold or otherwise disposed of all the shares covered by this prospectus and (ii) the date on which the shares covered by this prospectus no longer constitute “Registrable Securities” as such term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, such that they may be resold by the selling stockholder without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations and without current public information pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect.
Exhibit 10.3
TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Transition Services Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 1, 2026 (“Effective Date”), by and between Renesas Electronics America Inc., a California corporation (“Seller”), and SiTime Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, Seller and Purchaser are parties to the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2026 (the “Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which Seller agreed to sell and assign to Purchaser, and Purchaser has agreed to purchase and assume from the Divesting Entities, the Transferred Assets and Assumed Liabilities, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and
WHEREAS, following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, as an accommodation to both parties, each party has agreed to perform certain Services for certain periods following the Closing Date for the benefit of the other party with respect to Purchaser’s operation of the Business and Facilities and Seller’s operation of its business.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements and covenants hereinafter set forth and set forth in the Transaction Agreements, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS; INTERPRETATION
1.1 Defined Terms. Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined, herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Agreement” has the meaning as defined in the Preamble.
“Breaching Party” has the meaning as defined in Section 6.2(b).
“Calendar Year” means each successive period of 12 calendar months commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31, except that the first Calendar Year of the Transition Period shall commence on the Closing Date and end on December 31 of the year in which the Closing Date occurs and the last Calendar Year of the Transition Period shall commence on January 1 of the year in which the Transition Period ends and end on the last day of the Transition Period.
“Confidential Information” has the meaning as defined in Section 7.1.
“Consent” means any agreement, consent or approval of a Third Party (including any Governmental Entity or as required by applicable Law) that is required to permit or enable a Providing Party to perform or provide any of the Services or do any or all of the following: (a) permit a Receiving Party or any of its Affiliates to receive or take the benefit of any Services that are to be provided by a Third Party; or (b) use any third-party equipment, data, software, Intellectual Property, services or other materials for the purpose of performing any part of the Services.
“Contract Year” means a one-year period during the Transition Period with the first contract year beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the day immediately preceding the first anniversary of the Effective Date, and each subsequent one-year period during the Transition Period.
“Covered Employee” means any employee of the other party with whom the Restricted Party or its employees had contact in connection with the receipt or performance of Services.
“Disclosing Party” has the meaning as defined in Section 7.1.
“Due Date” has the meaning as defined in Section 3.3.
“Early Termination Notice” has the meaning as defined in Section 6.2(a).
“ERP System” means the enterprise resource planning system, including the software applications, databases, and related modules, and interfaces used to manage and integrate a Party’s core business processes, including, as applicable, finance, accounting, procurement, inventory, supply chain, and human resources functions.
“Excluded Services” means (a) any services listed on Schedule C, (b) any services that the parties expressly agreed would not be provided as part of this Agreement, and (c) in the case of any services provided by or on behalf of Seller, any services to the extent they cannot reasonably be provided without the use of personnel that have been transferred with the Business.
“Force Majeure Event” has the meaning as defined in Section 8.1.
“Indirect Taxes” means value added taxes, goods and services taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, consumption taxes and other similar Taxes.
“Non-Provided Services” means (a) for the purposes of Schedule A, any and all services that are not expressly specified in Schedule A; and (b) for the purposes of Schedule B, any and all services that are not expressly specified in Schedule B.
“Notice Period” has the meaning as defined in Section 6.2(b).
“One ERP Transition” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.3(c).
“One ERP Transition Period” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.3(c).
“Out-of-Pocket Costs” means with respect to any Services, any actual, reasonably incurred, documented, out-of-pocket costs and expenses paid or payable to a Third Party that are incurred by Providing Party and its Affiliates in providing such Services, with the prior written approval of Receiving Party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed (provided, however, that prior approval of the Receiving Party shall not be necessary for any such costs and expenses (i) less than $5,000, or (ii) incurred for the Seller Mask Set POs, Seller Production POs, and Seller Assembly POs in connection with the Services described in Section 3 of Schedule A or Section 2 of Schedule B, or (iii) less than $10,000 incurred in connection with the establishment of the VDE, the Turnkey Services, or the EDI connections set forth in Section 8 of Schedule A) and that are not included in the Services Fees, which may include (a) any amounts paid to Third Parties (including costs incurred by a Providing Party or its Affiliates under third-party Contracts); (b) fees associated with securing any Consents required from third-party contractors; (c) shipping and transportation costs (including the cost of any insurance related thereto), and duties; (d) travel-related costs in accordance with Section 2.5; (e) costs or expenses incurred by a Providing Party, its Affiliates or subcontractors for the extraction, conversion and transfer of data; (f) those costs and expenses described in Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable,
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that are not included in the Services Fees; and (g) any other actual, reasonably incurred, documented, out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by a Providing Party and its Affiliates in providing such Services. Except to the extent expressly identified as part of the Services, the term “Out-of-Pocket Costs” does not include any costs incurred by Providing Party in connection with its obligations under the Data Migration Exhibit or to disentangle, or otherwise prepare assets for transfer.
“Payments” has the meaning as defined in Section 3.4.
“Permitted Use” has the meaning as defined in Section 7.2(b).
“Providing Party” means, with respect to any Services, the party providing such Services under this Agreement.
“Providing Party-Related Losses” means losses and damages incurred by the Receiving Party to the extent that such losses and damages are caused by (a) the fraud, gross negligence, or willful and intentional misconduct of the Providing Party or any of its Affiliates or subcontractors in connection with this Agreement or (b) any material breach of this Agreement by the Providing Party or any of its Affiliates or subcontractors, including any material breach of Section 2.3(a).
“Purchase Agreement” has the meaning as defined in the Preamble.
“Purchaser” has the meaning as defined in Section 6.2(b).
“Receiving Party” means, with respect to any Services, the party receiving such Services under this Agreement.
“Receiving Party-Related Losses” means losses and damages incurred by the Providing Party to the extent that such losses and damages are caused by (a) the fraud, gross negligence, or willful and intentional misconduct of the Receiving Party or any of its Affiliates or subcontractors in connection with this Agreement or (b) any material breach of this Agreement by the Receiving Party or any of its Affiliates or subcontractors.
“Recipient Party” has the meaning as defined in Section 7.1.
“Seller” has the meaning as defined in the Preamble.
“Service” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.1(a).
“Service Period” has the meaning as defined in Section 6.1(b).
“Services” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.1(a).
“Services Fees” has the meaning as defined in Section 3.1.
“Services Standard” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.3(a).
“Transition Managers” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.6.
“Transition Period” has the meaning as defined in Section 6.1(b).
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ARTICLE II
SERVICES
2.1 Provision of Services.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, during the Transition Period, (i) Seller shall provide or cause to be provided to Purchaser or its Affiliates the transitional services set forth on Schedule A; it being understood that the scope of such services shall be substantially equivalent to the scope of such services that were supplied by Seller or its Affiliates in connection with Seller’s conduct of the Business and the operation of the Facilities during the 12 month period prior to Closing, and (ii) Purchaser shall provide or cause to be provided to Seller or its Affiliates the transitional services set forth on Schedule B; it being understood that the scope of such services shall be substantially equivalent to the scope of such services that were utilized by Seller or its Affiliates in connection with its business and operations during the 12 month period prior to Closing (each, a “Service” and collectively, the “Services”).
(b) The Providing Party shall have no obligation to provide or cause to be provided to the Receiving Party any Service in excess of the applicable maximum hours (if any) for the Service Period set forth in Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable, unless the parties agree in writing (the Providing Party’s consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed) on the Providing Party’s compensation for such additional hours. The Services do not include, and the Providing Party shall have no obligation to provide to the Receiving Party, any Non-Provided Services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for a period of the later of (i) ninety (90) days from the Effective Date and (ii) thirty (30) days from the date on which a Service is first performed or a service not listed on Schedule A or Schedule B would have been provided if it were included as a Service (in the case of services that have been provided only periodically prior to the Effective Date), the Receiving Party may request that the Providing Party provide additional services not set forth on Schedule A or Schedule B as of the Effective Date that are reasonably necessary for the operation of the Business, or Receiving Party’s business, or any of the Services already set forth in Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable, in all material respects, as it was conducted immediately prior to the Effective Date, and where the Receiving Party cannot reasonably perform the requested services without the Providing Party’s assistance, and in each case excluding the Excluded Services (collectively, the “Omitted Services”). Upon the Receiving Party’s written request that the Providing Party provide an Omitted Service, such Omitted Services shall be deemed to be “Services” under this Agreement, and the Providing Party shall begin performance of such service as soon as is reasonably possible and the parties have agreed on any amounts to be paid by the Receiving Party for such Omitted Services and reasonable adjustments to the Cap on Fees and Costs (defined below).
(c) If Services to be provided to the Receiving Party increase in scale or in scope in a material way beyond those that were provided to Seller or its Affiliates themselves during the 12 month period prior to Closing, the parties shall discuss through the Service Managers and Transition Managers, as applicable, whether the Providing Party will provide such increased scale or scope of Service and the cost thereof; provided that providing any such increased scale or scope shall be in the Providing Party’s sole discretion. For clarity, the Providing Party shall not be obligated to provide such increased scale or scope of Services unless the parties agree in writing on the Providing Party’s compensation for providing such increased scale or scope of Services and the timelines in which such Services are to be provided.
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(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Providing Party nor any of its Affiliates will be required to perform or to cause to be performed any of the Services for the benefit of any person other than the Receiving Party and its Affiliates.
(e) If there is any inconsistency between the terms of Schedule A or Schedule B and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall govern. Except as expressly set forth herein, from and after the Closing Date, Seller’s, Purchaser’s and their respective Affiliates respective obligations and rights with respect to the Transferred Assets, Excluded Assets, Assumed Liabilities and Retained Liabilities shall be as set forth in the Purchase Agreement or the applicable other Ancillary Agreements. The description of the Services set forth on Schedule A and Schedule B may be amended from time to time throughout the Transition Period upon the mutual written agreement of the parties, through their Service Managers and Transition Managers, as applicable, and any such amendment shall be considered part of this Agreement and incorporated herein by this reference. Any such amendment shall include a reasonable change in the applicable Services Fees set forth on Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable.
(f) During the Transition Period, and solely to the extent necessary for Seller to perform the applicable Services, Purchaser hereby appoints Seller as Purchaser’s limited agent solely for administrative and ministerial purposes to (i) process purchase orders and sales orders on behalf of Purchaser, (ii) issue invoices to customers, distributors, foundries, suppliers and other vendors on behalf of Purchaser, and (iii) receive and process payments from customers and distributors on behalf of Purchaser. The parties acknowledge and agree that the limited agency established pursuant to this Section is intended solely to facilitate the orderly provision of the applicable Services during the Transition Period and does not create a partnership, joint venture, fiduciary relationship, or general agency relationship between the parties.
2.2 Services Performed by Affiliates and Third Parties. The Providing Party shall have the right to perform the Services itself, through any Affiliate or through any subcontractor; provided, however that the Providing Party shall be liable for the performance of the Services and compliance with the terms of this Agreement by any such Affiliates or subcontractors.
2.3 Services Standard.
(a) The Receiving Party acknowledges that the Providing Party is not in the business of providing Services to Third Parties and is entering into this Agreement only in connection with the Purchase Agreement. The Providing Party shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and subcontractors to, provide the Services with substantially the same degree of skill, quality and care utilized by Seller (or its Affiliates) during the 12 month period prior to the Closing in performing such activities for itself or, where applicable to the Service, for its own customers and distributors (the “Services Standard”). Except as otherwise set forth herein, under no circumstances shall the Providing Party, its Affiliates or its or their respective employees or agents (including subcontractors) be held accountable to a greater standard of care, efforts or skill than the Services Standard. The Receiving Party acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Services do not include the exercise of business judgment or general management for the Receiving Party, and (ii) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 2.3(b), NEITHER THE PROVIDING PARTY NOR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES MAKES ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES.
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(b) If, in order to provide any Services under this Agreement, it is necessary or advisable to take any steps to facilitate such Services, including implementing special information technology connections or firewalls, the costs of taking such steps shall be borne by the Receiving Party with Receiving Party’s prior written approval.
(c) Notwithstanding the proviso in the last sentence of Section 2.4, Purchaser hereby acknowledges and agrees that, during the Transition Period, Seller may be deprecating its existing ERP System and implementing a new ERP System, which will include modifications to the customer interface and payment processing mechanisms, among other workflow changes (the “One ERP Transition”). For a period of no more than two (2) weeks beginning on or after January 1, 2027 (the “One ERP Transition Period”), the One ERP Transition is expected to result in disruptions to Seller’s ability to take and process purchase orders (including Seller Mask Set POs, Seller Production POs, and Seller Assembly POs) and to manage and execute the shipment of products (including Transferred Products). Prior to commencing the One ERP Transition Period, Seller shall provide Purchaser with the preliminary timeline for the One ERP Transition at least six (6) months’ prior to commencement; provided that Seller may provide an update to delay such timeline upon thirty (30) calendar days’ prior written notice to Purchaser; provided further that Seller may only delay such timeline once every three (3) months, and only to a date that is a minimum of ninety (90) days from the date that notice is given. Seller may reasonably extend the One ERP Transition Period for up to seven (7) calendar days; provided that (i) Seller provides Purchaser at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice of such extension; (ii) Seller may only extend the One ERP Transition Period up to two (2) times (with a maximum of fourteen (14) additional calendar days); (iii) the extension will similarly affect Seller’s and its Affiliates’ comparable businesses; and (iv) Seller uses commercially reasonable efforts to complete the One ERP Transition within the One ERP Transition Period or as soon as possible thereafter. During the One ERP Transition Period (as may be extended), Seller and its Affiliates (in consultation with Purchaser) will provide the affected Services in accordance with, at minimum, substantially the same degree of skill, quality and care with respect to the One ERP Transition that Seller and its Affiliates provide to their own comparable businesses or, where applicable to the Service, for similarly situated customers and distributors to the extent Seller is not able to perform such Services in accordance with the Services Standard. Prior to and during the One ERP Transition Period, Seller shall (x) provide Purchaser with regular updates on the status of the One ERP Transition, including any anticipated delays, (y) consider in good faith Purchaser’s reasonable mitigation suggestions, including pre-building and/or pre-ordering Transferred Products and inventory management suggestions, and (z) promptly following identification of the mitigation efforts Seller plans to provide its other businesses, notify Purchaser of such efforts, and implement those same (or substantially similar) mitigation efforts for Purchaser, upon request. Except as set forth in this Section 2.3(c), during the One ERP Transition Period, the parties acknowledge and agree that Seller and its Affiliates shall otherwise be relieved of providing the affected Services in accordance with the Services Standard.
2.4 Transitional Nature of Services; Changes. The Receiving Party acknowledges and agrees that the Services are intended only to be transitional in nature and shall be furnished, or caused to be furnished, by the Providing Party only during the Transition Period and solely for the purpose of accommodating the Receiving Party in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements. The Receiving Party shall ensure that it will have sufficient resources available to it at the end of the Transition Period to perform the Services
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(or have the Services performed) without the involvement of the Providing Party, its Affiliates or any of its or their employees, agents or subcontractors. The Receiving Party hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Providing Party or its Affiliates may make changes from time to time in the manner of performing the Services if the Providing Party or its Affiliates (a) are making similar changes in performing similar services for their own Affiliates or would have made in performing similar services for their own Affiliates and (b) furnish to the Receiving Party at least substantially the same notice (in content and timing) as the Providing Party or its Affiliates shall furnish to their own Affiliates with respect to such changes, but no less than reasonable notice; provided that (i) such changes do not adversely affect in any material respect the Services or materially increase the Services Fees or any Out-of-Pocket Costs; and (ii) no such changes shall relieve the Providing Party from meeting the Services Standard.
2.5 Location of Services Provided; Travel Expenses. The Providing Party shall provide, or cause to be provided, the Services to the Receiving Party from locations of the Providing Party’s choice unless Services are required to be performed at a specific location identified in Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable. Should the provision of Services require any personnel of the Providing Party, its Affiliates or any of its or their employees, agents or subcontractors to travel from his or her employment location, the Receiving Party shall reimburse the Providing Party for all reasonable pre-approved travel-related costs, consistent with the Providing Party’s travel policy. Travel time of any personnel of the Providing Party in connection with any Service, calculated consistent with the Providing Party’s travel policy, shall be billed at the applicable hourly rate (if any) set forth on the applicable Schedule and (if applicable) included in the maximum hours allocated to such Service.
2.6 Transition Management.
(a) On the Closing Date, Purchaser and Seller each shall designate an appropriate point of contact for all questions and issues relating to the Services (the “Transition Managers”). Either party may, by written notice given to the other party, replace its Transition Manager. The Transition Managers shall meet regularly or as needed. The initial points of contact for Purchaser and Seller with respect to any day-to-day matters about provision of a particular Service, including attempting to resolve any issues that may arise during the performance of such Service, shall be the Persons designated in the “Provider Manager” or “Recipient Manager” column, as applicable, opposite such Service in Schedule A or Schedule B, who shall have the authority to handle such daily operational matters related to the applicable Service (each such Person, a “Service Manager”) who may be the same as the Transition Manager. Neither party may change any Service Managers without prior written notice, or where prior written notice is not reasonable considering the circumstances of the change in Service Managers, with notice as soon as reasonable after such change, to the other party. Issues that cannot be resolved by such Service Managers shall be escalated to the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 2.6(b) below.
(b) Prior to initiating any action regarding any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of the Services or this Agreement (including the breach, validity or legality thereof and also including any dispute relating to any Services, modification to the Services, statement, account, payment or reimbursement to be made pursuant to this Agreement (each, a “Dispute”)), the parties shall attempt to resolve the Dispute through informal dispute resolution. Either party may initiate such informal dispute resolution by sending written notice of the Dispute to the other party in accordance with the notice provisions in Section 12.4 of the Purchase Agreement. The
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applicable Service Managers shall first attempt in good faith to resolve the Dispute. If the Service Managers cannot resolve the Dispute within 10 Business Days after notice of the Dispute is provided, the Dispute shall be submitted to the Transition Managers, who shall meet in person or by telephone to attempt in good faith to resolve the Dispute. If the Transition Managers are unable to resolve the Dispute within an additional 10 Business Days (or such longer time as the Transition Managers may mutually agree in writing), the Transition Managers shall escalate the dispute to a joint committee consisting of two Persons appointed by the senior executive officers of each party (the “Steering Committee”). If the Steering Committee fails to resolve the Dispute within an additional 10 Business Days, either party may commence an action to resolve the Dispute in accordance with Section 2.6(c). Any Dispute not resolved in accordance with this Section 2.6(b) shall be resolved in accordance with Section 12.10 of the Purchase Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing in Section 2.6(c), either party may, at any time and without first beginning or completing the process described in Section 2.6(c), file a claim, action, or proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction to the extent reasonably necessary to protect such party from material harm that could reasonably be expected to result if such claim, action, or proceeding were not filed at that time (including to preserve rights, avoid the expiration of applicable limitation periods, seek injunctive or other equitable relief, or prevent irreparable or material harm). Any such filing shall not be deemed a waiver of, or noncompliance with, the process described in Section 2.6(c), and the parties shall continue to engage in such process with respect to the underlying dispute to the extent practicable.
2.7 Cooperation. Each of Purchaser and Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with each other in all matters relating to the provision and receipt of the Services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence:
(a) The Receiving Party shall permit the Providing Party, its Affiliates and its and their respective employees, agents and subcontractors reasonable access during regular business hours (or otherwise upon reasonable prior notice) to such facilities, data and personnel as are involved in receiving or overseeing the Services, and records as reasonably requested by the Providing Party to facilitate the Providing Party’s performance of this Agreement; provided, however, that any such access (i) shall be subject to compliance with applicable Law and confidentiality obligations owed to Third Parties, and (ii) shall not jeopardize the health and safety of any person or the safety standards and security requirements and other published policies of the Receiving Party that the Receiving Party has made available to the Providing Party prior to such access.
(b) The Providing Party shall be relieved of its obligation to provide a Service if the Receiving Party fails to (i) perform its obligations under this Agreement, (ii) timely provide to the Providing Party or any of its Affiliates or subcontractors, at the Receiving Party’s cost, information, materials, products or access to systems or facilities required for the provision of such Service, or (iii) approve any Out-of-Pocket Costs (including Out-of-Pocket Costs incurred before or after Closing in connection with the Services described in Section 3 of Schedule A or Section 2 of Schedule B or in connection with the establishment of the VDE, the Turnkey Services, or the EDI connections set forth in Section 8 of Schedule A) that require the Receiving Party’s consent and that are reasonably necessary for the provision of the relevant Service and, in any of the foregoing cases, that the Providing Party notifies the Receiving Party in advance that such obligations or resources are necessary for the Providing Party to perform the specific Service, and that such failure prevents the Providing Party from performing such Service. In the event that the
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Receiving Party fails to provide such information, materials, products or access, the Service Manager or Transition Manager, as applicable, of the Providing Party shall provide notice of such failure to the Service Manager or Transition Manager of the Receiving Party and the Service Managers or Transition Managers shall discuss and work together in good faith to resolve any impact such failure may have to the provision of the Services.
2.8 Consents. To the extent that any Consent is needed in order for the Providing Party to provide any Services, or for the Receiving Party to take the benefit of any Services, the Receiving Party shall (a) cooperate with the Providing Party in obtaining any such Consent; (b) comply with any requirements imposed on the Receiving Party in connection with securing such Consent; (c) comply with any restrictions imposed under the Consent; and (d) be responsible for any fees payable to a Third Party in connection with securing such Consent, in each case, to the extent agreed to by the Receiving Party in advance. If the Receiving Party does not agree to bear the cost for a Consent as described in part (d) of the immediately preceding sentence, then, subject to the following sentence, the Providing Party shall be excused for any failure to provide the Services to the extent resulting from the failure to receive the relevant Consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to the contrary, if the Providing Party is unable to secure any such Consent, the Providing Party’s sole liability, and the Receiving Party’s sole remedy, will be for the Providing Party to use its reasonable commercial endeavors to assist the Receiving Party in identifying alternate services in replacement of Services impacted by the applicable Consent not being secured.
2.9 Facilities
(a) Regarding the Receiving Party’s access to certain space in the facilities described in the applicable Service on Schedule A (each, a “Facility” and collectively, the “Facilities”) and to use the spaces, furniture, fixtures and equipment located at such Facilities (collectively, the “Provided Resources”) and specified common areas within the Facilities, the parties shall, subject to obtaining any required consents, permits, or other approvals, in each case at the Receiving Party’s cost and expense (subject to the last two sentences of this Section 2.9(a)), separate personnel such that the Provided Resources within each Facility shall include only that portion of the applicable Facility that will be used by the Receiving Party. If required under any Lease (as defined below), the parties shall, (i) obtain the consent of the landlord(s) to permit the Receiving Party’s access to and use of the Facility as described in Schedule A or (ii) enter into a sublease or similar license or use agreement with respect to any Lease on terms consistent with this Agreement including Schedule A. The parties will collaborate to determine the most cost-effective means of facilitating any modifications to the Facilities that need to be made to accomplish the foregoing, and the Receiving Party shall bear the cost of, and shall reimburse Service Provider for any costs incurred by Service Provider related to, making such modifications whether before, on, or after the Effective Date; provided that Service Provider will notify Receiving Party and obtain Receiving Party’s consent if costs are anticipated to exceed U.S. $200,000. For the avoidance of doubt, any costs and expenses paid by Receiving Party in connection with this Section 2.9 shall constitute Services Fees or Out-of-Pocket Costs, as applicable.
(b) The parties acknowledge that the Providing Party leases some of the Facilities pursuant to lease agreements (each, a “Lease”). Receiving Party’s access to and use of the Facility as described in Schedule A is and shall be subject and subordinate to each Lease, as applicable, and to the matters to which such Lease is or shall be subordinate, and the Receiving
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Party shall, and shall cause its personnel to, comply with the Lease and Law applicable to the use or occupation of the Facilities, including those relating to environmental, health, and workplace safety matters. Without limitation to the foregoing, Receiving Party’s access to and use of the Facility as described in Schedule A shall immediately terminate without any further action on the part of the parties in the event that the underlying Lease terminates and is not replaced by a similar arrangement; provided, that the Providing Party shall promptly provide the Receiving Party with notice of any such termination, and upon request by the Receiving Party, including if Receiving Party is interested in assuming the Lease, will introduce the Receiving Party and lessor. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any underlying Lease, the terms and conditions of the underlying Lease shall control.
(c) The Receiving Party shall and shall cause its personnel to not use the Provided Resources in a manner substantially different that it currently uses Provided Resources and, in any event, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Leases and in compliance with the Providing Party’s policies, rules, and procedures that are applicable to the access to and use of the Facilities, of which Providing Party notifies Receiving Party. Except as otherwise approved by Providing Party in advance in writing, the Receiving Party: (i) shall permit in each Facility only the Transferred Employees who worked in such Facility immediately prior to the Closing, and (ii) shall not make and shall cause its personnel to refrain from damaging or from making, any alterations or improvements to the Facilities.
(d) Upon prior written notice to the Receiving Party, the Providing Party shall have access to the Facilities and Provided Resources from time to time, as reasonably necessary for the security, repair, and maintenance thereof in accordance with past practice. The Providing Party shall, at its sole cost and expense, maintain the Facilities and Provided Resources in good repair and condition and shall not cause or permit any damage thereto, ordinary wear and tear excepted. The Receiving Party shall be fully responsible for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Providing Party from and against, any loss, cost, damage, or liability arising out of or relating to any damage to the Facilities or Provided Resources caused by the Receiving Party or its personnel. The Receiving Party shall bear the cost of, and shall reimburse the Service Provider for any costs incurred by Service Provider related to, restoring such Facilities to substantially the condition existing immediately prior to the Effective Date, ordinary wear and tear excepted; provided that Service Provider will notify Receiving Party and obtain Receiving Party’s consent if costs are anticipated to exceed U.S. $200,000.
(e) The rights granted pursuant to this Section 2.9 shall not create a leasehold or other estate or possessory rights in any of the Receiving Party or its personnel with respect to the Facilities and shall not include any right of sub-license or sub-leasehold to any Person.
(f) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties in advance, the term of the Receiving Party’s access to and use of each Facility shall commence on the Effective Date and continue until the end of the Service Period applicable to such Facility listed on Schedule A. The Receiving Party shall vacate each Facility and its Provided Resources on or prior to the expiration or earlier termination of Service Period applicable to such Provided Resources and Facility. The Receiving Party shall be responsible for all moving and similar costs associated with vacating the Facilities and Provided Resources.
(g) Each party shall ensure that its personnel that are reasonably likely to have access to the Confidential Information of the other party because of their use of the Facilities are bound by agreements restricting their use and disclosure of such Confidential Information.
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ARTICLE III
COMPENSATION
3.1 Services Fees. In consideration for the performance of the Services by the Providing Party, Purchaser shall pay the applicable fees therefor set forth on Schedule A and Seller shall pay the applicable fees therefor set forth on Schedule B (all such fees, the “Services Fees”). In addition, the Receiving Party shall reimburse the Providing Party (upon receipt of applicable receipts and other reasonable supporting documentation) for any Out-of-Pocket Costs incurred by the Providing Party or its Affiliates including Out-of-Pocket Costs incurred prior to the Closing in connection with the establishment of the VDE, the Turnkey Services, or the EDI connections set forth in Section 8 of Schedule A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser shall not be obligated to pay, in the aggregate, more than ten million dollars ($10,000,000) (the “Cap on Fees and Costs”) in total for the sum of all Service Fees and Out-of-Pocket Costs for Services performed during any individual Contract Year, excluding (a) as it relates to Seller Mask Set POs, the aggregate purchase price under all Seller Mask Set POs and (b) as it relates to Seller Production POs and Seller Assembly POs, the aggregate ASC for all Seller Production POs and Seller Assembly POs.
3.2 Invoicing. The Providing Party shall, on a calendar monthly basis, invoice (or cause the Affiliate providing the applicable Service to invoice) the Receiving Party (or the applicable Affiliate receiving the applicable Service) for applicable Services Fees and Out-of-Pocket Costs. All Services Fees shall be billed in arrears and shall not be subject to proration.
3.3 Due Date. The Receiving Party shall pay each invoice for Services Fees and Out-of-Pocket Costs promptly, but in no event later than 30 days, after the date of receipt of such invoice (“Due Date”). Any payments under this Agreement that are not made on or before the applicable Due Date shall bear simple interest from the payment due date at 1.5 percent per month until paid in full (or, if less, the maximum amount permitted by applicable Law). The Providing Party may, in its sole discretion, suspend the provision of the Services hereunder if the Receiving Party does not pay the Service Fees and Out-of-Pocket Costs within ten Business Days after the Due Date (and such non-payment continues for a further period of five Business Days following a written request by the Providing Party to the Receiving Party to cure such non-payment).
3.4 Taxes.
(a) The amounts payable by the Receiving Party to the Providing Party pursuant to this Agreement (“Payments”) shall not be reduced on account of any Taxes unless required by applicable Law. If any Payments are subject to withholding or deduction for Taxes, the parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to reduce or eliminate any such withholding or deduction (including (i) by cooperating in good faith to provide, invoice and pay for such services in a manner that reduces, to the extent possible, the application of any Taxes that may be required to be withheld under this Section 3.4(a) and (ii) upon written request, by providing such forms as are reasonably necessary for the application of any Tax treaty). The Receiving Party shall timely remit to the proper Taxing Authority any amounts deducted or withheld pursuant to this Section 3.4(a), and send to the Providing Party proof of such remittance within 60 days thereof.
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(b) All Payments are stated exclusive of Indirect Taxes. If any Indirect Taxes are chargeable in respect of any Payments, the Receiving Party shall pay such Indirect Taxes at the applicable rate in respect of any such Payments following the receipt, where applicable, of an Indirect Taxes invoice in the appropriate form issued by the Providing Party in respect of such Payments, such Indirect Taxes to be payable on the due date of the payment of the Payments to which such Indirect Taxes relate. The Providing Party shall issue its invoices for all amounts payable under this Agreement consistent with Indirect Tax requirements and irrespective of whether the sums may be netted for settlement purposes.
(c) Each party agrees to deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the other party a valid, accurate and properly completed IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8, with respect to such party and any Affiliate providing services pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof (i) on or before the Closing Date, (ii) upon reasonable request by a party and (iii) promptly upon learning that any such tax form previously provided by a party has become obsolete.
3.5 Records; Audit.
(a) Each party shall keep and maintain, and shall cause its Affiliates to keep and maintain, complete and accurate records and books of account documenting its compliance with the terms of this Agreement and all expenses and all other data necessary for the calculation of the amounts payable to the Providing Party under this Agreement consistent with its standard procedures and policies in the ordinary course of business for a period of (i) two years following the expiration or termination of this Agreement, with respect to books and records not related to payments hereunder and (ii) two years after such expenses are incurred, with respect to books and records related to payments hereunder, in each case ((i) and (ii)), unless a longer retention period is required by Law.
(b) Subject to any restrictions under applicable Law or non-disclosure or confidentiality obligations owed to a Third Party, upon either party’s request, the other party shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates engaged in the performance of activities under this Agreement to, permit a Third Party (to be mutually agreed upon in good faith by Seller and Purchaser) bound by obligations of confidentiality as protective as those set forth in ARTICLE VII herein to inspect and audit the records and books of account maintained by the audited party pursuant to Section 3.5(a) in order to confirm the accuracy and completeness of such records and books of account, its performance of the obligations under this Agreement and all payments under this Agreement; provided, that neither party shall be entitled to exercise its inspection and audit rights under this Section 3.5(b) more than once per Calendar Year, unless, in any case, any prior audit identifies that a party failed to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise resulted in an adjustment to amounts due hereunder. The party requesting the audit shall bear all costs incurred in connection with any inspection or audit performed pursuant to this Section 3.5(b); provided, however, that the audited party shall reimburse the party requesting the audit for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred by such party in connection with such inspection or audit if any such audit identifies an underpayment to the auditing party or an overpayment to the audited party hereunder in excess of 10 percent of the amounts actually payable. In any case, the full amount of any underpayment or overpayment, as applicable, shall be payable to the applicable party plus accrued interest from the payment Due Date at one percent per month until paid in full (or, if less, the maximum amount permitted by applicable Law).
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(c) All information disclosed pursuant to Section 3.5(b) shall be subject to the non-disclosure and non-use provisions set forth in Article VII. Section 3.5 shall survive during the Transition Period and for a period of 1 year thereafter.
ARTICLE IV
OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND RIGHTS OF REFERENCE
4.1 Ownership. This Agreement and the performance of the Services hereunder shall not affect the ownership of any Intellectual Property rights or other assets. Neither party shall gain, by virtue of this Agreement or the Services hereunder, by implication or otherwise, any rights of ownership or use of any property or Intellectual Property rights owned by the other. To the extent Seller creates or develops any content, works of authorship, inventions, technology or other Intellectual Property in the course of its performance of the Services hereunder that is exclusively related to the Business (“Work Product”), Seller will execute and deliver to Purchaser any documents reasonably requested by Purchaser that Purchaser reasonably deems as necessary to assign such Work Product to Purchaser.
4.2 License to Intellectual Property. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and without affecting the rights and obligations of the parties in the Transaction Agreements: (a) each party in its capacity as the Receiving Party, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, hereby grants to the other party in its capacity as the Providing Party and its Affiliates a non-exclusive, irrevocable (except as otherwise set forth herein), fully paid-up, worldwide, sublicensable (through multiple tiers of sublicenses, but only to its subcontractors), non-transferrable and royalty-free license to and right to use any Intellectual Property, data and software owned, licensed or otherwise controlled by such party in its capacity as the Receiving Party or its Affiliates solely to the extent necessary for the Providing Party to provide the Services hereunder; and (b) each party in its capacity as the Providing Party, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, hereby grants to the other party in its capacity as the Receiving Party and its Affiliates a non-exclusive, irrevocable (except as otherwise set forth herein), fully paid-up, worldwide, sublicensable (through multiple tiers of sublicenses, but only to its subcontractors), non-transferrable and royalty-free license to and right to use any Intellectual Property, data and software owned, licensed or otherwise controlled by such party in its capacity as the Providing Party or its Affiliates solely to the extent necessary for the Receiving Party to receive the Services or use or exploit any deliverables, information technology, software or other technology provided or otherwise made available by or on behalf of the Providing Party to the Receiving Party in connection with such Services. Such license will terminate at the end of the Transition Period or such later date as is agreed on by the parties.
ARTICLE V
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 Limitation of Liability. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PAYABLE TO A THIRD PARTY PURSUANT TO A THIRD PARTY CLAIM FOR WHICH THE LIABLE PARTY IS OBLIGATED TO INDEMNIFY THE OTHER PARTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.2, IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SERVICES PROVIDED PURSUANT HERETO FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT,
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INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY OTHER PARTY OR FOR LOST OR ANTICIPATED PROFITS, REVENUES OR OPPORTUNITIES, DIMINUTION IN VALUE OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR FOR ANY DAMAGES CALCULATED BY REFERENCE TO A MULTIPLIER OF REVENUE, PROFITS, EBITDA OR SIMILAR METHODOLOGY, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR RESULTING FROM THE ACTIONS OF SUCH PARTY OR THE BREACH OF ITS COVENANTS, AGREEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES HEREUNDER AND WHETHER OR NOT BASED ON OR IN WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR STRICT LIABILITY) OR OTHERWISE. Except for payment obligations under ARTICLE III (with respect to which the liability shall equal such obligation), the maximum aggregate liability of a party and its Affiliates to the other party and any of its Affiliates with respect to this Agreement shall (a) be, with respect to any particular Service provided hereunder, an amount not to exceed the least of (i) the Services Fee payable by the Receiving Party to such Providing Party for such Service (excluding that portion of the Services Fee that is in turn payable by the Providing Party to Third Parties), (ii) the Receiving Party’s cost of performing such Service itself during the remainder of the Transition Period (excluding that portion of the Services Fee that is in turn payable by the Providing Party to Third Parties), and (iii) the Receiving Party’s cost of obtaining such Service from a Third Party during the remainder of the Transition Period, and (b) in the aggregate (including all amounts payable as described in clause (a)), not exceed the Services Fees payable by the Receiving Party to such Providing Party hereunder (excluding those portions of the Services Fees that are in turn payable by the Providing Party to Third Parties). The Receiving Party and its Affiliates shall exercise all reasonable efforts to minimize the cost of any such alternatives to the Services by selecting the most cost-effective alternatives which provide a reasonably comparable equivalent of the Services replaced.
5.2 Indemnification. Except as set forth in the Purchase Agreement with respect to matters covered thereby and subject to this Article V, each party in its capacity as the Receiving Party shall indemnify the other party in its capacity as the Providing Party and its Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives (the “Providing Party Indemnitees”) from and against, and compensate and reimburse them for, any and all Receiving Party-Related Losses incurred by the Providing Party Indemnitees. Except as set forth in the Purchase Agreement with respect to matters covered thereby and subject to this Article V, each party in its capacity as the Providing Party shall indemnify the other party in its capacity as the Receiving Party and its Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives (the “Receiving Party Indemnitees”) from and against, and compensate and reimburse them for, any and all Providing Party-Related Losses incurred by the Receiving Party Indemnitees. All indemnification claims made pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall be governed by Section 10.3 of the Purchase Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
5.3 Exclusive Remedy. Except for equitable remedies that may be available to a party and except as set forth in the Purchase Agreement with respect to matters covered thereby (including with respect to Assumed Liabilities), to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, each party’s and its Affiliates’ sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be (a) reperformance of the applicable Service (to the extent practicable), (b) recovery of monetary damages, subject to the limitations set forth herein, or (c) the indemnification rights set forth in Section 5.2, subject to the limitations set forth herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.3 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall affect the rights and remedies available to the parties thereto under the other Transaction Agreements.
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ARTICLE VI
TERM AND TERMINATION
6.1 Term.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the Closing Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) this Agreement shall be of no force or effect unless and until Closing occurs and (ii) this Agreement shall be of no force or effect if the Purchase Agreement is terminated pursuant to its terms.
(b) From and after the Closing Date, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the earliest of (i) the date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with this Article VI; (ii) the expiration of the last Service Period, such that neither party is obligated to provide any further Services pursuant to this Agreement; and (iii) the termination by the Receiving Party of the only remaining outstanding Services pursuant to Section 6.2(a), such that neither party is obligated to provide any further Services pursuant to this Agreement (the “Transition Period”). For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Service Period” shall mean, with respect to any particular Service, the period between the Closing Date and the termination date for such Service as set forth in Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable. For clarity, all obligations of either party to provide to the other party any Services under this Agreement shall cease at the end of the Transition Period, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein.
6.2 Termination of Services.
(a) Except with respect to Services related to outstanding Purchase Orders and Sales Orders (as such terms are defined in Schedule A), the Receiving Party may at any time prior to the end of the Transition Period and upon 20 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Providing Party (an “Early Termination Notice”), terminate this Agreement with respect to all or any Services provided to such Receiving Party, whereupon, from and after the date of termination specified in such written notice, such Providing Party’s obligation to provide such Services to such Receiving Party shall cease and such Receiving Party shall have no obligation to pay such Providing Party for such Service(s) (other than with respect to those Services requested by such Receiving Party, and performed by such Providing Party or its Affiliates or subcontractors, and costs incurred, or non-cancellable commitments made, prior to termination); provided, if another Service is identified on Schedule A or Schedule B, as the case may be, as being dependent upon the Service to be terminated early, then the Receiving Party may only terminate such Service if it also terminates the dependent Services. Furthermore, if, within five Business Days following receipt of the Early Termination Notice, the Providing Party notifies the Receiving Party that the termination of such Service pursuant to this Section 6.2(a) materially inhibits the Providing Party’s ability to provide or prevents the Providing Party from providing any other Services it then provides hereunder, the Receiving Party shall have the option to (i) rescind its written notice to terminate such Services or (ii) terminate the other Services for which the Providing Party’s ability to provide is materially inhibited or the Providing Party is prevented from providing as a result of the termination of the Services to be terminated by the Receiving Party pursuant to this Section 6.2(a).
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(b) In the event that either party (the “Breaching Party”) breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, the other party may terminate this Agreement upon 20 days’ prior written notice (such 20-day period, the “Notice Period”) to the Breaching Party, specifying the breach and its claim of right to terminate; provided, that the termination of this Agreement shall not become effective at the end of the Notice Period if (i) the Breaching Party cures such breach during the Notice Period or (ii) such breach cannot be cured during the Notice Period and the Breaching Party commences and diligently pursues actions to cure such breach within the Notice Period, in which case the Breaching Party shall have an additional 20-day period to cure such breach before such termination shall become effective; provided, further, that the cure period for breach of a payment obligation shall not be subject to extension in accordance with the preceding proviso.
(c) Either party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to the other party if the other party (i) files in any court or with any other Governmental Entity, pursuant to any Law of any state or country, a petition in bankruptcy or insolvency or for reorganization or for an arrangement or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee of that party or of its assets; (ii) is served with an involuntary petition against it, filed in any insolvency proceeding, and such petition is not dismissed within 60 days after the filing thereof; (iii) consents to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver or liquidator (or similar official) of such party or for any substantial part of its property or makes any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due.
(d) This Agreement may be terminated upon the mutual written agreement of Purchaser and Seller at any time.
6.3 Accrued Rights; Surviving Obligations.
(a) Accrued Rights. Termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason shall be without prejudice to any rights that shall have accrued to the benefit of a party prior to such termination or expiration.
(b) Surviving Obligations. No termination or expiration of this Agreement shall relieve a party from obligations that are expressly indicated to survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the following provisions shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement subject to any limitations on survival included in such provisions: Article I, Article III, Section 4.1, Article V, this Section 6.3, Article VII, and Article VIII. For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to Section 3.1, the right of a Providing Party to payment for any Services provided in compliance with this Agreement prior to termination shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason; provided that, upon termination or expiration, such obligations shall cease and Receiving Party shall have no obligation to pay Providing Party any additional amounts, other than with respect to those Services requested by Receiving Party, and performed by Providing Party or its Affiliates or subcontractors, and costs incurred, or non-cancellable commitments made, prior to termination.
ARTICLE VII
CONFIDENTIALITY
7.1 Confidentiality Obligations. Each party shall, shall cause its Affiliates to, and shall direct its Representatives and such Affiliates’ Representatives to, keep completely confidential and not publish, disclose or use, directly or indirectly, for any purpose, any Confidential Information furnished or otherwise made known to it, directly or indirectly, by the other party, except to the extent such disclosure or use is expressly permitted by the terms of this Agreement (including pursuant to Section 7.2). “Confidential Information” means the terms of this Agreement and any information provided by or on behalf of Providing Party or Receiving
16
Party (in such capacity, a “Disclosing Party”) or their respective Affiliates or Representatives to the other (or to any of the other party’s Affiliates or Representatives) (collectively, in such capacity, a “Recipient Party”) on or after the Closing Date in connection with the Services, and shall include all memoranda, notes, analyses, compilations, studies and other materials prepared by or for the Recipient Party to the extent containing or reflecting such information. Confidential Information shall not include any information that the Recipient Party can establish by written documentation to:
(a) have been publicly known prior to disclosure by the Disclosing Party or its Affiliates or Representatives to the Recipient Party;
(b) have become publicly known, without fault on the part of the Recipient Party, subsequent to disclosure by the Disclosing Party or its Affiliates or Representatives to the Recipient Party;
(c) have been received by the Recipient Party at any time from a source, other than the Disclosing Party or its Affiliates or Representatives, lawfully having possession of and the right to disclose such Confidential Information;
(d) have been otherwise known by the Recipient Party prior to disclosure by the Disclosing Party or its Affiliates or Representatives to the Recipient Party (other than Confidential Information transferred to Purchaser under the Purchase Agreement); or
(e) is independently developed by the Recipient Party without use of or reference to any Confidential Information or in breach of this Agreement.
7.2 Permitted Uses and Disclosures. Each Recipient Party may use or disclose Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party only as follows:
(a) in responding to a valid order of a Governmental Entity having jurisdiction or, if upon the reasonable advice of the Recipient Party’s legal counsel, such disclosure is otherwise required by Law; provided, however, that (to the extent permitted by applicable Law or reasonably practicable) the Recipient Party shall first have given notice to the Disclosing Party and given the Disclosing Party a reasonable opportunity to quash such order or to obtain a protective order requiring that the Confidential Information and documents that are the subject of such order be held in confidence by such Governmental Entity or, if disclosed, be used only for the purposes for which the order was issued (and, if requested by the Disclosing Party, the Recipient Party shall have reasonably cooperated with the Disclosing Party in connection with the foregoing); provided, further, that if a disclosure order is not quashed or a protective order is not obtained, the Confidential Information disclosed in response to such order shall be limited to that information that is legally required to be disclosed in response to such order and shall retain its confidentiality protections for all other purposes;
(b) such Confidential Information may be (i) disclosed to any of the Recipient Party’s Representatives, the Recipient Party’s Affiliates and such Affiliates’ Representatives, and in the case of Providing Party, its subcontractors, in each case, who (A) has a need to know such Confidential Information (I) in connection with the Recipient Party’s performance of its obligations or exercise of its rights or remedies under this Agreement or (II) for tax, financial reporting, and accounting purposes (each of (A)(I) and (A)(II), a “Permitted Use”), and (B) is subject to obligations of confidentiality and non-use with respect to such Confidential Information substantially similar to the obligations of confidentiality and non-use of the Recipient Party pursuant to this Article VII and (ii) used solely for a Permitted Use; provided, however, each party shall be responsible for any failure by any person to whom it disclosed Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party to comply with the confidentiality and use restrictions set forth in this Article VII; and
17
(c) to the extent permitted by the Transaction Agreements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Recipient Party and its Affiliates shall have the right to (i) use and disclose to any Third Party the Services and any deliverable or work product hereunder to the extent reasonably necessary or useful to exploit the Services for their intended use, and (ii) disclose Confidential Information solely to the extent necessary in response to a request by a regulatory or self-regulatory authority.
7.3 Return or Destruction of Confidential Information. Promptly following the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement or, upon the earlier written request of a Disclosing Party, the applicable Recipient Party shall, and shall direct its Representatives, its Affiliates and such Affiliates’ Representatives to, destroy or return all documentary, electronic or other tangible embodiments of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information to which the Recipient Party does not retain rights hereunder and any and all copies thereof, including those portions of any documents that incorporate or are derived from such Confidential Information, and, in the case of destruction, provide a written certification of such destruction, except that the Recipient Party may retain copies of any Confidential Information to the extent required to (a) exercise any of its rights or remedies or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, or (b) comply with its established document retention, electronic backup protocols and archiving policies.
7.4 Survival. The provisions of this Article VII shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement as follows: (a) with respect to any Confidential Information that constitutes a trade secret under applicable Law, such obligations shall survive for so long as such information remains a trade secret under applicable Law and is maintained by the Disclosing Party as a trade secret, (b) with respect to any Confidential Information that constitutes Purchaser Confidential Information, such obligations shall survive for the period set forth in the Purchase Agreement, and (c) with respect to all other Confidential Information, such obligations shall survive for a period of seven (7) years following the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 Force Majeure. Except for the obligation to pay monies due and owing, neither party shall be liable for any failure to perform or any delays in performance, and neither such party shall be deemed to be in breach or default of its obligations set forth in this Agreement, if, to the extent and for so long as, such failure or delay is due to any causes that are beyond its reasonable control and without its fault or negligence, including such causes as acts of God, natural disasters, fire, flood, severe storm, earthquake, civil disturbance, lockout, riot, order of any court or administrative body, embargo, acts of government, war (whether or not declared), acts of terrorism, epidemic, pandemic or outbreak of disease or other similar causes (“Force Majeure Event”). In the event of a Force Majeure Event, the party prevented from or delayed in performing shall promptly give notice to the other party and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid or minimize the delay. In the event that the failure to perform or the delay in performance continues for a period of at least 30 days, the party affected by the other party’s delay may elect to (a) suspend performance and extend the time for performance for the duration of the Force Majeure Event, or (b) terminate this Agreement without any liability to either party arising out of such termination, subject to Section 6.3.
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8.2 Independent Contractor. The parties and each of their respective Affiliates shall each be an independent contractor in the performance of its obligations hereunder. No Third Party, including any employee of any party or any of such party’s Affiliates, shall have or acquire any rights by reason of this Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or is to be construed to create any association, partnership, fiduciary relationship or joint venture between Seller and Purchaser. Except as may be expressly provided herein, neither party shall have any express or implied right or authority to assume or create any obligations on behalf of or in the name of the other party or to bind the other party to any Contract with any Third Party. For such time as any employees of the Providing Party or any of its Affiliates are providing Services under this Agreement, (a) such employees will remain employees of the Providing Party or such Affiliate, as applicable, and shall not be deemed to be employees of the Receiving Party for any purpose and (b) the Providing Party or such Affiliate, as applicable, shall be solely responsible for the payment and provision of all wages, bonuses and commissions, employee benefits, including severance and worker’s compensation, and the withholding and payment of applicable Taxes relating to such employment.
8.3 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor, except to the extent provided in Section 2.2, any of the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder may be assigned by Purchaser, on the one hand, or Seller, on the other hand, without the prior written consent of Seller (in the case of Purchaser) or Purchaser (in the case of any of Seller), as applicable; provided, however, that the parties may assign this Agreement to an Affiliate with prior written notice to the other party; provided, further that no such assignment shall relieve the assignor of any obligations under this Agreement. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 8.3, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any attempted assignment or transfer in violation of this Section 8.3 shall be null and void.
8.4 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except with respect to remedies provided to Providing Party Indemnitees or Receiving Party Indemnitees pursuant to Article V, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein expressed or implied shall give or be construed to give to any person, other than the parties hereto and such successors and assigns, any legal or equitable rights hereunder.
8.5 Non-Solicitation. During the term of this Agreement and for a period of six (6) months thereafter, each party agrees that without obtaining the prior written consent of the other party, neither party nor any of its Affiliates (each, a “Restricted Party”) shall directly or indirectly solicit for employment, or otherwise induce, influence, or encourage to terminate employment with the other party or any of its Affiliates, any Covered Employee, except pursuant to a general solicitation that is not directed specifically to any employees of the other party. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein prevents either party from hiring any persons, including any Covered Employees, who respond to such general solicitations.
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8.6 Interpretation. The captions, titles and headings included in this Agreement are for convenience only, and do not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires: (i) words of any gender include each other gender; (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively; (iii) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; (iv) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement; (v) references to defined terms in the singular shall include the plural and references to defined terms in the plural shall include the singular; and (vi) “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase does not mean simply “if.”
8.7 Notices. All notices, requests, permissions, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) five Business Days following sending by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, (b) when delivered, if delivered personally to the intended recipient, (c) one Business Day following sending by overnight delivery via a national courier service and (d) as of the date of transmission is sent by electronic mail if no automated notice of delivery failure is received by the sender, in each case, addressed to a party hereto at the following address for such party:
(a) if to Seller,
Renesas Electronics America Inc.
c/o Renesas Electronics Corporation
3-2-24, Toyosu, Koto-ku
Tokyo 135-0061, Japan
Attention: [****]
Email: [****]
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Seller’s Transition Manager at an address and email address to be
provided to Purchaser by written notice whether before, on, or after the
Effective Date
and with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Sidley Austin LLP
12230 El Camino Real, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92130
Attention: Jon A. Olsen, Sara M. Carian
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
(b) if to Purchaser,
SiTime Corporation
5451 Patrick Henry Drive
Santa Clara, California 95054
Attention: [****]
Email: [****]
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Cooley LLP
3175 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Attention: Rishab Kumar, Steve Tonsfeldt
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
or to such other address(es) as shall be furnished in writing by any such party to the other party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.7.
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8.8 Incorporation from Purchase Agreement. Each of Section 12.7 (Counterparts), Section 12.8 (Entire Agreement), Section 12.9 (Severability), Section 12.10 (Governing Law; Venue), Section 12.11 (Waiver of Jury Trial), Section 12.12 (Amendments and Waivers), Section 12.14 (Joint Drafting) and Section 12.16 (Legal Representation and Privilege) of the Purchase Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seller and Purchaser have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| Renesas Electronics America Inc. | ||
| by: | /s/ Shuhei Shinkai | |
| Name: Shuhei Shinkai | ||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
| SiTime Corporation | ||
| by: | /s/ Elizabeth A. Howe | |
| Name: Elizabeth A. Howe | ||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT]
Exhibit 10.4
SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan
Adoption Agreement
Effective as of July 1, 2026
Table of Contents
| 1.01 |
Preamble | 1 | ||||
| 1.02 |
Plan | 1 | ||||
| 1.03 |
Plan Sponsor | 1 | ||||
| 1.04 |
Employer | 2 | ||||
| 1.05 |
Administrator | 2 | ||||
| 1.06 |
Key Employee Determination Dates | 2 | ||||
| 2.01 |
Participation | 3 | ||||
| 3.01 |
Compensation | 4 | ||||
| 3.02 |
Bonuses | 5 | ||||
| 4.01 |
Participant Contributions | 6 | ||||
| 5.01 |
Employer Contributions | 9 | ||||
| 6.01 |
Distributions | 12 | ||||
| 7.01 |
Vesting | 18 | ||||
| 8.01 |
Unforeseeable Emergency | 22 | ||||
| 9.01 |
Investment Decisions | 23 | ||||
| 10.01 |
Trust | 24 | ||||
| 11.01 |
Termination Upon Change in Control | 25 | ||||
| 11.02 |
Automatic Distribution Upon Change in Control | 25 | ||||
| 11.03 |
Change in Control | 25 | ||||
| 12.01 |
Governing State Law | 26 | ||||
| Appendix A |
28 | |||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | TOC-i |
| 1.01 | Preamble |
By the execution of this Adoption Agreement the Plan Sponsor hereby [complete (a) or (b)]
| (a) ☒ | adopts a new plan as of July 1, 2026 |
| (b) ☐ | amends and restates its existing plan as of [month, day, year] which is the Amendment Effective Date. Except as otherwise provided in Appendix A, all amounts deferred under the Plan prior to the Amendment Effective Date shall be governed by the terms of the Plan as in effect on the day before the Amendment Effective Date. |
Original Effective Date: [month, day, year]
Pre-409A Grandfathering: ☐ Yes ☐ No
By executing this Adoption Agreement, the Plan Sponsor (as defined below) has adopted the Plan (as defined below) consisting of the Basic Plan Document along with this Adoption Agreement (and any exhibits or schedules attached hereto). The Plan Sponsor, by completing this Adoption Agreement has made the specific choices regarding plan design as set forth in the Adoption Agreement together with the detailed additional provisions set out in the Basic Plan Document. All capitalized terms used in this Adoption Agreement have the same meaning given in the Basic Plan Document.
| 1.02 | Plan |
Plan Name: SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan
Plan Year: January 1 – December 31, except that the first Plan Year shall be a short Plan Year from July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
| 1.03 | Plan Sponsor |
Name: SiTime Corporation
Address: 5451 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Phone #: (408)328-4400
EIN #: 02-0713868
Fiscal Year: December 31
Is stock of the Plan Sponsor, any Employer or any Related Employer publicly traded on an established securities market? ☒ Yes ☐ No
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 1 |
| 1.04 | Employer |
The following entities have been authorized by the Plan Sponsor to participate in and have adopted the Plan [insert “Not Applicable” if none have been authorized]:
| Entity |
Publicly Traded on Est. Securities Market | |||
| Yes | No | |||
| Not Applicable |
☐ | ☐ | ||
|
|
☐ | ☐ | ||
|
|
☐ | ☐ | ||
|
|
☐ | ☐ | ||
|
|
☐ | ☐ | ||
|
|
☐ | ☐ | ||
|
|
☐ | ☐ | ||
| 1.05 | Administrator |
The Plan Sponsor has designated the following party or parties to be responsible for the administration of the Plan:
Name: SiTime Corporation
Address: 5451 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054
| 1.06 | Key Employee Determination Dates |
The Employer has designated December 31 as the Identification Date for purposes of determining Key Employees.
In the absence of a designation, the Identification Date is December 31.
The Employer has designated April 1 as the effective date for purposes of applying the six-month delay in distributions to Key Employees.
In the absence of a designation, the effective date is the first day of the fourth month following the Identification Date.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 2 |
| 2.01 | Participation |
| (a) ☒ | Employees [complete (i), (ii) or (iii)] |
| (i) ☒ | Eligible Employees are selected by the Employer. |
| (ii) ☒ | Eligible Employees are those employees of the Employer who satisfy the following criteria: |
| Individuals as determined by the CEO in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer and the Chief People Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (iii) ☐ | Employees are not eligible to participate. |
| (b) ☒ | Directors [complete (i), (ii) or (iii)] |
| (i) ☐ | All Directors are eligible to participate. |
| (ii) ☒ | Only Directors selected by the Employer are eligible to participate. |
| (iii) ☐ | Directors are not eligible to participate. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 3 |
| 3.01 | Compensation |
For purposes of determining Participant contributions under Article 4 and Employer contributions under Article 5, Compensation shall be defined in the following manner [complete (a) or (b) and select (c) and/or (d), if applicable]:
| (a) | ☒ | Compensation is defined as: | ||||
| Base Salary | ||||||
| RSUs | ||||||
| Quarterly RSU Bonus | ||||||
| Annual Bonus – Cash, | ||||||
| Annual Bonus - RSUs | ||||||
| Performance RSUs | ||||||
| Commissions | ||||||
| (b) | ☐ | Compensation as defined in [insert name of qualified plan] without regard to the limitation in Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for such Plan Year. | ||||
| (c) | ☒ | Director Compensation is defined as: | ||||
| Board Cash Compensation | ||||||
| Initial and Annual RSU Grants | ||||||
|
|
||||||
| (d) | ☐ | Compensation shall, for all Plan purposes, be limited to $ . | . | |||
| (e) | ☐ | Not Applicable. | ||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 4 |
| 3.02 | Bonuses |
Compensation, as defined in Section 3.01 of the Adoption Agreement, includes the following type of bonuses that will be the subject of a separate deferral election:
| [Will be treated as] | ||||
| Type |
Performance Based Compensation | |||
| Yes | No | |||
| Annual Bonus Cash | ☒ | ☐ | ||
| Performance RSUs | ☒ | ☐ | ||
| Annual Bonus RSUs | ☒ | ☐ | ||
|
|
☐ | ☐ | ||
|
|
☐ | ☐ | ||
| ☐ | Not Applicable. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 5 |
| 4.01 | Participant Contributions |
If Participant contributions are permitted, complete (a) and (b). Otherwise, complete (c).
| (a) | Amount of Deferrals |
A Participant may elect within the period specified in Section 4.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement to defer the following amounts of remuneration. For each type of remuneration listed, complete “dollar amount” and/or “percentage amount”.
| (i) | Compensation other than Bonuses [do not complete if you complete (iii)] |
| Type of Remuneration |
Dollar Amount | % Amount | Increment | |||||||||||||||||
| Min | Max | Min | Max | |||||||||||||||||
| Base Salary |
1 | % | 80 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| RSUs |
1 | % | 100 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Quarterly RSU Bonus |
1 | % | 100 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Commissions (effective for Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 2027) |
1 | % | 100 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
Note: The increment is required to determine the permissible deferral amounts. For example, a minimum of 0% and maximum of 20% with a 5% increment would allow an individual to defer 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%.
| (ii) | Bonuses [do not complete if you complete (iii)] |
| Type of Bonus |
Dollar Amount | % Amount | Increment | |||||||||||||||||
| Min | Max | Min | Max | |||||||||||||||||
| Annual Bonus Cash (effective for Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 2027) |
1 | % | 100 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Annual Performance RSUs |
1 | % | 100 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Annual Bonus RSUs (effective for Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 2027) |
1 | % | 100 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 6 |
| (iii) | Compensation [do not complete if you completed (i) and (ii)] |
| Dollar Amount |
% Amount |
Increment | ||||||
| Min |
Max |
Min |
Max | |||||
| % | % | % | ||||||
| (iv) | Director Compensation |
| Type of Compensation |
Dollar Amount | % Amount | Increment | |||||||||||||||||
| Min | Max | Min | Max | |||||||||||||||||
| Board Cash Compensation |
1 | % | 100 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Initial and Annual RSU Grants |
1 | % | 100 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Other: |
% | % | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Other: |
% | % | % | |||||||||||||||||
| (b) | Election Period |
| (i) | Performance Based Compensation |
A special election period
☒ Does
☐ Does Not
apply to each eligible type of performance based compensation referenced in Section 3.02 of the Adoption Agreement.
The special election period, if applicable, will be determined by the Employer.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 7 |
| (ii) | Newly Eligible Participants |
An employee who is classified or designated as an Eligible Employee during a Plan Year
| ☒ | May |
| ☐ | May Not |
elect to defer Compensation earned during the remainder of the Plan Year by completing a deferral agreement within the 30-day period beginning on the date he or she is eligible to participate in the Plan.
The special election period, if applicable, will be determined by the Employer.
| (c) | No Participant Contributions |
| ☐ | Participant contributions are not permitted under the Plan. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 8 |
| 5.01 | Employer Contributions |
If Employer contributions are permitted, complete (a) and/or (b). Otherwise, complete (c).
| (a) | Matching Contributions | |||||||
| (i) | Amount | |||||||
| For each Plan Year, the Employer shall make a matching contribution on behalf of each Participant who defers Compensation for the Plan Year and satisfies the requirements of Section 5.01(a)(ii) of the Adoption Agreement equal to [complete the ones that are applicable]: | ||||||||
| (A) | ☐ | [insert percentage]% of the Compensation the Participant has elected to defer for the Plan Year | ||||||
| (B) | ☐ | An amount determined by the Employer in its sole discretion | ||||||
| (C) | ☐ | Matching contributions for each Participant shall be limited to $ and/or [insert percentage]% of Compensation | ||||||
| (D) | ☐ | Other: | ||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
| (E) | ☒ | Not Applicable [Proceed to Section 5.01(b)] | ||||||
| (ii) | Eligibility for matching contribution | |||||||
| A Participant who defers Compensation for the Plan Year shall receive an allocation of matching contributions determined in accordance with Section 5.01(a)(i) provided he or she satisfies the following requirements [complete the ones that are applicable]: | ||||||||
| (A) | ☐ | Describe requirements: | ||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 9 |
| (B) | ☐ | Is selected by the Employer in its sole discretion to receive an allocation of matching contributions | ||||||
| (C) | ☐ | No requirements | ||||||
| (iii) | Time of Allocation | |||||||
| Matching contributions, if made, shall be treated as allocated [select one]: | ||||||||
| (A) | ☐ | As of the last day of the Plan Year | ||||||
| (B) | ☐ | At such times as the Employer shall determine in its sole discretion | ||||||
| (C) | ☐ | At the time the Compensation on account of which the matching contribution is being made would otherwise have been paid to the Participant | ||||||
| (D) | ☐ | Other: | ||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
| (b) | Other Contributions | |||||||
| (i) | Amount | |||||||
| The Employer shall make a contribution on behalf of each Participant who satisfies the requirements of Section 5.01(b)(ii) equal to [complete the ones that are applicable]: | ||||||||
| (A) | ☐ | An amount equal to [insert percentage]% of the Participant’s Compensation | ||||||
| (B) | ☒ | An amount determined by the Employer in its sole discretion | ||||||
| (C) | ☐ | Contributions for each Participant shall be limited to $ | ||||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 10 |
| (D) | ☐ | Other: | ||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
| (E) | ☐ | Not Applicable [Proceed to Section 6.01] | ||||||
| (ii) | Eligibility for Other Contribution | |||||||
| A Participant shall receive an allocation of other Employer contributions determined in accordance with Section 5.01(b)(i) for the Plan Year if he or she satisfies the following requirements [complete the one that is applicable]: | ||||||||
| (A) | ☐ | Describe requirements: | ||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
| (B) | ☒ | Is selected by the Employer in its sole discretion to receive an allocation of other Employer contributions | ||||||
| (C) | ☐ | No requirements | ||||||
| (iii) | Time of Allocation | |||||||
| Employer contributions, if made, shall be treated as allocated [select one]: | ||||||||
| (A) | ☐ | As of the last day of the Plan Year | ||||||
| (B) | ☒ | At such times or times as the Employer shall determine in its sole discretion | ||||||
| (C) | ☐ | Other: | ||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
| (c) | No Employer Contributions | |||||||
| ☐ | Employer contributions are not permitted under the Plan. | |||||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 11 |
| 6.01 | Distributions |
The timing and form of payment of distributions made from the Participant’s vested Account shall be made in accordance with the elections made in this Section 6.01 of the Adoption Agreement except when Section 9.6 of the Plan requires a six-month delay for certain distributions to Key Employees of publicly traded companies.
| (a) | Timing of Distributions | |||||||
| (i) | All distributions shall commence in accordance with the following [choose one]: | |||||||
| (A) | ☐ | As soon as administratively feasible following the distribution event but in no event later than the time prescribed by Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.409A-3(d). | ||||||
| (B) | ☒ | Monthly on the tenth (10th) day | ||||||
| (C) | ☐ | Annually on specified month and day [insert month and day] | ||||||
| (D) | ☐ | Calendar quarter on specified month and day [insert month and day] [insert numerical quarter 1, 2, 3, or 4] | ||||||
| (ii) | The timing of distributions as determined in Section 6.01(a)(i) shall be modified by the adoption of: | |||||||
| (A) | ☒ | Event Delay – Distribution events other than those based on Specified Date, Death, or Disability will be treated as not having occurred for six (6) months | ||||||
| (B) | ☐ | Hold Until Next Year – Distribution events other than those based on Specified Date or Specified Age will be treated as not having occurred for twelve months from the date of the event if payment pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(i) will thereby occur in the next calendar year or on the first payment date in the next calendar year in all other cases | ||||||
| (C) | ☐ | Immediate Processing – The timing method selected by the Plan Sponsor under Section 6.01(a)(i) shall be overridden for the following distribution events [insert events]: | ||||||
| (D) | ☐ | Not applicable | ||||||
|
| ||||||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 12 |
| (b) | Distribution Events | |||||||||
| (i) | Participant Contributions under Section 4.01(a) | |||||||||
| Participants may elect the following payment events and the associated form or forms of payment. If multiple events for each year are selected, the earliest to occur will trigger payment. For installments, insert the range of available periods (e.g., 5-15) or insert the periods available (e.g., 5, 7, 9). | ||||||||||
| Lump Sum | Installments | |||||||||
| (A) | ☒ | Specified Date | ☒ | 2 - 5 years | ||||||
| (B) | ☐ | Specified Age | ☐ | years | ||||||
| (C) | ☒ | Separation from Service | ☒ | 2 -15 years | ||||||
| (D) | ☐ | Separation from Service plus 6 months | ☐ | years | ||||||
| (E) | ☐ | Separation from Service plus months [not to exceed months] | ☐ | years | ||||||
| (F) | ☐ | Retirement | ☐ | years | ||||||
| (G) | ☐ | Retirement plus 6 months | ☐ | years | ||||||
| (H) | ☐ | Retirement plus 12 months | ☐ | years | ||||||
| (I) | ☐ | Disability | ☐ | years | ||||||
| (J) | ☐ | Death | ☐ | years | ||||||
| (K) | ☐ | Change in Control | ☐ | years | ||||||
| The minimum deferral period for Specified Date or Specified Age event shall be two (2) years except that the minimum deferral period for RSUs shall be five (5) years from the time of grant. | ||||||||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 13 |
Installments may be paid [select each that applies]
| ☐ | Monthly |
| ☐ | Quarterly |
| ☐ | Semi-Annually |
| ☒ | Annually |
| (ii) | Employer Contributions under Section 5.01(a) and (b) |
Participants may elect the following payment events and the associated form or forms of payment. If multiple events for each year are selected, the earliest to occur will trigger payment. For installments, insert the range of available periods (e.g., 5-15) or insert the periods available (e.g., 5, 7, 9).
| Lump Sum |
Installments | |||||
| (A) | ☐ Specified Date |
☐ | years | |||
| (B) | ☐ Specified Age |
☐ | years | |||
| (C) | ☒ Separation from Service |
☒ | 2 - 15 years | |||
| (D) | ☐ Separation from Service plus 6 months |
☐ | years | |||
| (E) | ☐ Separation from Service plus months [not to exceed months] |
☐ | years | |||
| (F) | ☐ Retirement |
☐ | years | |||
| (G) | ☐ Retirement plus 6 months |
☐ | years | |||
| (H) | ☐ Retirement plus 12 months |
☐ | years | |||
| (I) | ☐ Disability |
☐ | years | |||
| (J) | ☐ Death |
☐ | years | |||
| (K) | ☐ Change in Control |
☐ | years | |||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 14 |
The minimum deferral period for Specified Date or Specified Age event shall be Not Applicable years.
Installments may be paid [select each that applies]
| ☐ | Monthly |
| ☐ | Quarterly |
| ☐ | Semi-Annually |
| ☒ | Annually |
| (c) | Specified Date and Specified Age elections may not extend beyond age Not Applicable. |
| (d) | Payment Election Override |
Payment of the remaining vested balance of the Participant’s Account will automatically occur at the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement in the form indicated upon the earliest to occur of the following events [check each event that applies and for each event include only a single form of payment]:
| Events |
Form of Payment | |||
| Lump Sum | Installments | |||
| ☐ Separation from Service |
☐ | |||
| ☐ Separation from Service before Retirement |
☐ | |||
| ☒ Death |
☒ | |||
| ☒ Disability |
☒ | |||
| ☐ Not Applicable |
☐ | |||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 15 |
| (e) | Involuntary Cashouts |
| ☒ | If the Participant’s vested Account at the time of his or her Separation from Service does not exceed the limit in effect under Section 402(g) of the Code for the year in which Separation from Service occurs, distribution of the vested Account shall automatically be made in the form of a single lump sum in accordance with Section 9.5 of the Plan. |
| ☐ | There are no involuntary cashouts. |
| (f) | Retirement |
| ☐ | Retirement shall be defined as a Separation from Service that occurs on or after the Participant [insert description of requirements]: |
| ☒ | No special definition of Retirement applies. |
| (g) | Distribution Election Change |
A Participant
| ☒ | Shall |
| ☐ | Shall Not |
be permitted to modify a scheduled distribution date and/or payment option in accordance with Section 9.2 of the Plan.
A Participant shall generally be permitted to elect such modification unlimited number of times.
Administratively, allowable distribution events will be modified to reflect all options necessary to fulfill the distribution change election provision.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 16 |
| (h) | Frequency of Elections |
The Plan Sponsor
| ☒ | Has |
| ☐ | Has Not |
elected to permit annual elections of a time and form of payment for amounts deferred under the Plan. If a single election of a time and/or form of payment is required, the Participant will make such election at the time he or she first completes a deferral agreement which, in all cases, will be no later than the time required by Reg. Sec. 1.409A-2.
| (i) | Disability |
For purposes of Section 2.11 of the Plan, Disability shall be defined as
| ☒ | Total disability as determined by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board. |
| ☐ | As determined by the Employer’s long term disability insurance policy. |
| ☒ | As follows [insert description of requirements]: |
Any circumstance that constitutes a disability within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(j)(4)
| ☐ | Not applicable. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 17 |
| 7.01 | Vesting |
| (a) | Matching Contributions |
The Participant’s vested interest in the amount credited to his or her Account attributable to matching contributions shall be based on the following schedule:
| ☐ | Years of Service |
Vesting % |
||||
| 0 | % | [insert “100” if there is immediate vesting] | ||||
| 1 | % | |||||
| 2 | % | |||||
| 3 | % | |||||
| 4 | % | |||||
| 5 | % | |||||
| 6 | % | |||||
| 7 | % | |||||
| 8 | % | |||||
| 9 | % | |||||
| ☐ | Other: | |||||
| ☐ | Class year vesting applies: |
| ☒ | Not applicable. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 18 |
| (b) | Other Employer Contributions |
The Participant’s vested interest in the amount credited to his or her Account attributable to Employer contributions other than matching contributions shall be based on the following schedule:
| ☒ | Years of Service | Vesting % | ||||||
| 0 | 100% | [insert “100” if there is immediate vesting] | ||||||
| 1 | % | |||||||
| 2 | % | |||||||
| 3 | % | |||||||
| 4 | % | |||||||
| 5 | % | |||||||
| 6 | % | |||||||
| 7 | % | |||||||
| 8 | % | |||||||
| 9 | % | |||||||
| ☐ | Other: |
| ☐ | Class year vesting applies: |
| ☐ | Not applicable. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 19 |
| (c) | Acceleration of Vesting |
The Participant’s vested interest in his or her Account will automatically be 100% upon the occurrence of the following events [select the ones that are applicable]:
| (i) | ☐ Death. |
| (ii) | ☐ Disability. |
| (iii) | ☐ Change in Control. |
| (iv) | ☐ Eligibility for Retirement. |
| (v) | ☐ Other: |
| (vi) | ☒ Not applicable. |
| (d) | Years of Service |
| (i) | A Participant’s Years of Service shall include all service performed for the Employer and |
| ☐ | Shall |
| ☐ | Shall Not |
include service performed for the Related Employer.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 20 |
| (ii) | Years of Service shall also include service performed for the following entities: |
| (iii) | Years of Service shall be determined in accordance with [select one]: |
| (A) | ☐ The elapsed time method in Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.410(a)-7 |
| (B) | ☐ The general method in DOL Reg. Sec. 2530.200b-1 through b-4 |
| (C) | ☐ Participant’s Years of Service credited under: |
| [insert name of plan] |
| (D) | ☐ Other: |
| (iv) | ☒ Not applicable. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 21 |
| 8.01 | Unforeseeable Emergency |
| (a) | A withdrawal due to an Unforeseeable Emergency as defined in Section 2.24: |
| ☒ | Will |
| ☐ | Will Not [if Unforeseeable Emergency withdrawals are not permitted, proceed to Section 9.01] |
be allowed.
| (b) | Upon a withdrawal due to an Unforeseeable Emergency, a Participant’s deferral election for the remainder of the Plan Year: |
| ☒ | Will |
| ☐ | Will Not |
be cancelled. If cancellation occurs, the Participant may resume participation in accordance with Article 4 of the Plan.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 22 |
| 9.01 | Investment Decisions |
Investment decisions regarding the hypothetical amounts credited to a Participant’s Account shall be made by [select one]:
| (a) | ☒ The Participant or his or her Beneficiary |
| (b) | ☐ The Employer |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 23 |
| 10.01 | Trust |
The Employer [select one]:
| ☒ | Does |
| ☐ | Does Not |
intend to establish a trust as provided in Article 11 of the Plan.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 24 |
| 11.01 | Termination Upon Change in Control |
The Plan Sponsor
| ☒ | Reserves |
| ☐ | Does Not Reserves |
the right to terminate the Plan and distribute all vested amounts credited to Participant Accounts upon a Change in Control as described in Section 9.7.
| 11.02 | Automatic Distribution Upon Change in Control |
Distribution of the remaining vested balance of each Participant’s Account
| ☐ | Shall |
| ☒ | Shall Not |
automatically be paid as a lump sum payment upon the occurrence of a Change in Control as provided in Section 9.7.
| 11.03 | Change in Control |
A Change in Control for Plan purposes includes the following [select each definition that applies]:
| (a) | ☒ | A change in the ownership of the Employer as described in Section 9.7(c) of the Plan. | ||
| (b) | ☒ | A change in the effective control of the Employer as described in Section 9.7(d) of the Plan. | ||
| (c) | ☒ | A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Employer as described in Section 9.7(e) of the Plan. | ||
| (d) | ☐ | Not Applicable. | ||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 25 |
| 12.01 | Governing State Law |
The laws of Delaware shall apply in the administration of the Plan to the extent not preempted by ERISA.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 26 |
Execution Page
The Plan Sponsor has caused this Adoption Agreement to be executed this 29th day of June, 2026.
| Plan Sponsor: | SiTime Corporation | |
| By: | /s/ Vince Pangrazio | |
| Title: | Chief Legal Officer | |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 27 |
Appendix A
Special Effective Dates
Not Applicable
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | 28 |
SiTime Corporation
Deferred Compensation Plan
Effective as of July 1, 2026
IMPORTANT NOTE
This document has not been approved by the Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Service, or any other governmental entity. An adopting Employer must determine whether the Plan is subject to the Federal securities laws and the securities laws of the various states. An adopting Employer may not rely on this document to ensure any particular tax consequences or to ensure that the Plan is “unfunded and maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation to a select group of management or highly compensated employees” under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, with respect to the Employer’s particular situation. FMR LLC, its affiliates and employees cannot provide you with legal advice in connection with the execution of this document. This document should be reviewed by the Employer’s attorney prior to execution.
Table of Contents
| Preamble |
1 | |||||
| Article 1 - General |
1-1 | |||||
| 1.1. |
Plan | 1-1 | ||||
| 1.2. |
Effective Dates | 1-1 | ||||
| 1.3. |
Amounts Not Subject to Code Section 409A | 1-1 | ||||
| Article 2 - Definitions |
2-1 | |||||
| 2.1. |
Account | 2-1 | ||||
| 2.2. |
Administrator | 2-1 | ||||
| 2.3. |
Adoption Agreement | 2-1 | ||||
| 2.4. |
Beneficiary | 2-1 | ||||
| 2.5. |
Board or Board of Directors | 2-1 | ||||
| 2.6. |
Bonus | 2-1 | ||||
| 2.7. |
Change in Control | 2-1 | ||||
| 2.8. |
Code | 2-1 | ||||
| 2.9. |
Compensation | 2-1 | ||||
| 2.10. |
Director | 2-2 | ||||
| 2.11. |
Disability | 2-2 | ||||
| 2.12. |
Eligible Employee | 2-2 | ||||
| 2.13. |
Employer | 2-2 | ||||
| 2.14. |
ERISA | 2-2 | ||||
| 2.15. |
Identification Date | 2-2 | ||||
| 2.16. |
Key Employee | 2-2 | ||||
| 2.17. |
Participant | 2-2 | ||||
| 2.18. |
Plan | 2-2 | ||||
| 2.19. |
Plan Sponsor | 2-2 | ||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | TOC-i |
| 2.20. |
Plan Year | 2-2 | ||||
| 2.21. |
Related Employer | 2-3 | ||||
| 2.22. |
Retirement | 2-3 | ||||
| 2.23. |
Separation from Service | 2-3 | ||||
| 2.24. |
Unforeseeable Emergency | 2-4 | ||||
| 2.25. |
Valuation Date | 2-4 | ||||
| 2.26. |
Years of Service | 2-4 | ||||
| Article 3 - Participation |
3-1 | |||||
| 3.1. |
Participation | 3-1 | ||||
| 3.2. |
Termination of Participation | 3-1 | ||||
| Article 4 - Participant Elections |
4-1 | |||||
| 4.1. |
Deferral Agreement | 4-1 | ||||
| 4.2. |
Amount of Deferral | 4-1 | ||||
| 4.3. |
Timing of Election to Defer | 4-1 | ||||
| 4.4. |
Election of Payment Schedule and Form of Payment | 4-2 | ||||
| Article 5 - Employer Contributions |
5-1 | |||||
| 5.1. |
Matching Contributions | 5-1 | ||||
| 5.2. |
Other Contributions | 5-1 | ||||
| Article 6 - Accounts and Credits |
6-1 | |||||
| 6.1. |
Establishment of Account | 6-1 | ||||
| 6.2. |
Credits to Account | 6-1 | ||||
| Article 7 - Investment of Contributions |
7-1 | |||||
| 7.1. |
Investment Options | 7-1 | ||||
| 7.2. |
Adjustment of Accounts | 7-1 | ||||
| Article 8 - Right to Benefits |
8-1 | |||||
| 8.1. |
Vesting | 8-1 | ||||
| 8.2. |
Death | 8-1 | ||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | TOC-ii |
| 8.3. |
Disability | 8-1 | ||||
| Article 9 - Distribution of Benefits |
9-1 | |||||
| 9.1. |
Amount of Benefits | 9-1 | ||||
| 9.2. |
Method and Timing of Distributions | 9-1 | ||||
| 9.3. |
Unforeseeable Emergency | 9-1 | ||||
| 9.4. |
Payment Election Overrides | 9-2 | ||||
| 9.5. |
Cashouts of Amounts Not Exceeding Stated Limit | 9-2 | ||||
| 9.6. |
Required Delay in Payment to Key Employees | 9-2 | ||||
| 9.7. |
Change in Control | 9-3 | ||||
| 9.8. |
Permissible Delays in Payment | 9-6 | ||||
| 9.9. |
Permitted Acceleration of Payment | 9-7 | ||||
| Article 10 - Amendment and Termination |
10-1 | |||||
| 10.1. |
Amendment by Plan Sponsor | 10-1 | ||||
| 10.2. |
Plan Termination Following Change in Control or Corporate Dissolution | 10-1 | ||||
| 10.3. |
Other Plan Terminations | 10-1 | ||||
| Article 11 - The Trust |
11-1 | |||||
| 11.1. |
Establishment of Trust | 11-1 | ||||
| 11.2. |
Trust | 11-1 | ||||
| 11.3. |
Investment of Trust Funds | 11-1 | ||||
| Article 12 - Plan Administration |
12-1 | |||||
| 12.1. |
Powers and Responsibilities of the Administrator | 12-1 | ||||
| 12.2. |
Claims and Review Procedures | 12-2 | ||||
| 12.3. |
Plan Administrative Costs | 12-3 | ||||
| Article 13 - Miscellaneous |
13-1 | |||||
| 13.1. |
Unsecured General Creditor of the Employer | 13-1 | ||||
| 13.2. |
Employer’s Liability | 13-1 | ||||
| 13.3. |
Limitation of Rights | 13-1 | ||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | TOC-iii |
| 13.4. |
Anti-Assignment | 13-1 | ||||
| 13.5. |
Facility of Payment | 13-2 | ||||
| 13.6. |
Notices | 13-2 | ||||
| 13.7. |
Tax Withholding | 13-2 | ||||
| 13.8. |
Indemnification | 13-3 | ||||
| 13.9. |
Successors | 13-4 | ||||
| 13.10. |
Disclaimer | 13-4 | ||||
| 13.11. |
Governing Law | 13-4 | ||||
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | TOC-iv |
Preamble
The Plan is intended to be a “plan which is unfunded and is maintained by an employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees” within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or an “excess benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(36) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or a combination of both. The Plan is further intended to conform with the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the final regulations issued thereunder and shall be interpreted, implemented, and administered in a manner consistent therewith.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Preamble-1 |
Article 1 - General
| 1.1. | Plan |
The Plan will be referred to by the name specified in the Adoption Agreement.
| 1.2. | Effective Dates |
| (a) | Original Effective Date. The Original Effective Date is the date as of which the Plan was initially adopted. |
| (b) | Amendment Effective Date. The Amendment Effective Date is the date specified in the Adoption Agreement as of which the Plan is amended and restated. Except as otherwise provided in the Adoption Agreement, all amounts deferred under the Plan prior to the Amendment Effective Date shall be governed by the terms of the Plan as in effect on the day before the Amendment Effective Date. |
| (c) | Special Effective Date. A Special Effective Date may apply to any given provision if so specified in Appendix A of the Adoption Agreement. A Special Effective Date will control over the Original Effective Date or Amendment Effective Date, whichever is applicable, with respect to such provision of the Plan. |
| 1.3. | Amounts Not Subject to Code Section 409A |
Except as otherwise indicated by the Plan Sponsor in Section 1.01 of the Adoption Agreement, amounts deferred before January 1, 2005 that are earned and vested on December 31, 2004 will be separately accounted for and administered in accordance with the terms of the Plan as in effect on December 31, 2004.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 1-1 |
Article 2 - Definitions
Wherever used herein, the following terms have the meanings set forth below, unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context:
| 2.1. | Account |
“Account” means an account and any subaccounts established for the purpose of recording amounts credited on behalf of a Participant and any earnings, expenses, gains, losses, or distributions included thereon. The Account shall be a bookkeeping entry only and shall be utilized solely as a device for the measurement and determination of the amounts to be paid to a Participant or to the Participant’s Beneficiary pursuant to the Plan.
| 2.2. | Administrator |
“Administrator” means the person or persons designated by the Plan Sponsor in Section 1.05 of the Adoption Agreement to be responsible for the administration of the Plan. If no Administrator is designated in the Adoption Agreement, the Administrator is the Plan Sponsor.
| 2.3. | Adoption Agreement |
“Adoption Agreement” means the agreement adopted by the Plan Sponsor that establishes the Plan.
| 2.4. | Beneficiary |
“Beneficiary” means the persons, trusts, estates, or other entities entitled under Section 8.2 to receive benefits under the Plan upon the death of a Participant.
| 2.5. | Board or Board of Directors |
“Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Plan Sponsor.
| 2.6. | Bonus |
“Bonus” means an amount of incentive remuneration payable by the Employer to a Participant.
| 2.7. | Change in Control |
“Change in Control” means the occurrence of an event involving the Plan Sponsor that is described in Section 9.7.
| 2.8. | Code |
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
| 2.9. | Compensation |
“Compensation” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01 of the Adoption Agreement.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 2-1 |
| 2.10. | Director |
“Director” means a non-employee member of the Board who has been designated by the Employer as eligible to participate in the Plan.
| 2.11. | Disability |
“Disability” means that a Participant is disabled as defined in Section 6.01(i) of the Adoption Agreement.
| 2.12. | Eligible Employee |
“Eligible Employee” means an employee of the Employer who satisfies the requirements in Section 2.01 of the Adoption Agreement.
| 2.13. | Employer |
“Employer” means the Plan Sponsor and any other Related Employer that is listed in Section 1.04 of the Adoption Agreement and which is authorized by the Plan Sponsor to participate in and, in fact, does adopt the Plan.
| 2.14. | ERISA |
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
| 2.15. | Identification Date |
“Identification Date” means the date as of which Key Employees are determined which is specified in Section 1.06 of the Adoption Agreement.
| 2.16. | Key Employee |
“Key Employee” means an employee who satisfies the conditions set forth in Section 9.6.
| 2.17. | Participant |
“Participant” means an Eligible Employee or Director who commences participation in the Plan in accordance with Article 3.
| 2.18. | Plan |
“Plan” means the unfunded plan of deferred compensation set forth herein, including the Adoption Agreement and any trust agreement, as adopted by the Plan Sponsor, and as amended from time to time.
| 2.19. | Plan Sponsor |
“Plan Sponsor” means the entity identified in Section 1.03 of the Adoption Agreement or any successor by merger, consolidation or otherwise.
| 2.20. | Plan Year |
“Plan Year” means the period identified in Section 1.02 of the Adoption Agreement.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 2-2 |
| 2.21. | Related Employer |
“Related Employer” means the Plan Sponsor and (a) any corporation that is a member of a controlled group of corporations as defined in Code Section 414(b) that includes the Plan Sponsor and (b) any trade or business that is under common control as defined in Code Section 414(c) that includes the Plan Sponsor.
| 2.22. | Retirement |
“Retirement” has the meaning specified in 6.01(f) of the Adoption Agreement.
| 2.23. | Separation from Service |
“Separation from Service” means the date that the Participant dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with respect to all entities comprising the Related Employer. A Separation from Service does not occur if the Participant is on military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of leave does not exceed six months or such longer period during which the Participant’s right to re-employment is provided by statute or contract. If the period of leave exceeds six months and the Participant’s right to re-employment is not provided either by statute or contract, a Separation from Service will be deemed to have occurred on the first day following the six-month period. If the period of leave is due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months, where the impairment causes the Participant to be unable to perform the duties of his or her position of employment or any substantially similar position of employment, a 29 month period of absence may be substituted for the six month period.
Whether a termination of employment has occurred is based on whether the facts and circumstances indicate that the Related Employer and the Participant reasonably anticipated that no further services would be performed after a certain date or that the level of bona fide services the Participant would perform after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) would permanently decrease to no more than 20 percent of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) over the immediately preceding 36 month period (or the full period of services to the Related Employer if the employee has been providing services to the Related Employer for less than 36 months).
An independent contractor is considered to have experienced a Separation from Service with the Related Employer upon the expiration of the contract (or, in the case of more than one contract, all contracts) under which services are performed for the Related Employer if the expiration constitutes a good-faith and complete termination of the contractual relationship.
If a Participant provides services as both an employee and an independent contractor of the Related Employer, the Participant must separate from service both as an employee and as an independent contractor to be treated as having incurred a Separation from Service. If a Participant ceases providing services as an independent contractor and begins providing services as an employee, or ceases providing services as an employee and begins providing services as an independent contractor, the Participant will not be considered to have experienced a Separation from Service until the Participant has ceased providing services in both capacities.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 2-3 |
If a Participant provides services both as an employee and as a member of the Board of Directors of a corporate Related Employer (or an analogous position with respect to a noncorporate Related Employer), the services provided as a Director are not taken into account in determining whether the Participant has incurred a Separation from Service as an employee for purposes of a nonqualified deferred compensation plan in which the Participant participates as an employee that is not aggregated under Code Section 409A with any plan in which the Participant participates as a Director.
If a Participant provides services both as an employee and as a member of the Board of Directors of a corporate related Employer (or an analogous position with respect to a noncorporate Related Employer), the services provided as an employee are not taken into account in determining whether the Participant has experienced a Separation from Service as a Director for purposes of a nonqualified deferred compensation plan in which the Participant participates as a Director that is not aggregated under Code Section 409A with any plan in which the Participant participates as an employee.
All determinations of whether a Separation from Service has occurred will be made in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder.
| 2.24. | Unforeseeable Emergency |
“Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship of the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, the Participant’s Beneficiary, or the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Code Section 152, without regard to Code Sections 152(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B); loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty; or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.
| 2.25. | Valuation Date |
“Valuation Date” means each business day of the Plan Year that the New York Stock Exchange is open.
| 2.26. | Years of Service |
“Years of Service” means each one-year period for which the Participant receives service credit in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 2-4 |
Article 3 - Participation
| 3.1. | Participation |
The Participants in the Plan shall be those Eligible Employees and Directors of the Employer who satisfy the requirements of Section 2.01 of the Adoption Agreement.
| 3.2. | Termination of Participation |
The Administrator may terminate a Participant’s participation in the Plan in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A. If the Employer terminates a Participant’s participation before the Participant experiences a Separation from Service, the Participant’s vested Accounts shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of Article 9.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 3-1 |
Article 4 - Participant Elections
| 4.1. | Deferral Agreement |
If permitted by the Plan Sponsor in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Adoption Agreement, each Eligible Employee and Director may elect to defer his or her Compensation within the meaning of Section 3.01 of the Adoption Agreement by executing in writing or electronically, a deferral agreement in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator and the provisions of this Article 4.
A new deferral agreement must be timely executed for each Plan Year during which the Eligible Employee or Director desires to defer Compensation. An Eligible Employee or Director who does not timely execute a deferral agreement shall be deemed to have elected zero deferrals of Compensation for such Plan Year.
A deferral agreement may be changed or revoked during the period specified by the Administrator. Except as provided in Section 9.3, a deferral agreement becomes irrevocable at the close of the specified period.
| 4.2. | Amount of Deferral |
An Eligible Employee or Director may elect to defer Compensation in any amount permitted by Section 4.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement.
| 4.3. | Timing of Election to Defer |
Each Eligible Employee or Director who desires to defer Compensation otherwise payable during a Plan Year must execute a deferral agreement within the period preceding the Plan Year specified by the Administrator. Each Eligible Employee who desires to defer Compensation that is a Bonus must execute a deferral agreement within the period preceding the Plan Year during which the Bonus is earned that is specified by the Administrator, except that if the Bonus can be treated as performance based compensation as described in Code Section 409A(a)(4)(B)(iii), the deferral agreement may be executed within the period specified by the Administrator, which period, in no event, shall end after the date which is six months prior to the end of the period during which the Bonus is earned, provided the Participant has performed services continuously from the later of the beginning of the performance period or the date the performance criteria are established through the date the Participant executed the deferral agreement and provided further that the compensation has not yet become ‘readily ascertainable’ within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(a)(8). In addition, if the Compensation qualifies as ‘fiscal year compensation’ within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(a)(6), the deferral agreement may be made not later than the end of the Employer’s taxable year immediately preceding the first taxable year of the Employer in which any services are performed for which such Compensation is payable.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 4-1 |
Except as otherwise provided below, an employee who is classified or designated as an Eligible Employee during a Plan Year or a Director who is designated as eligible to participate during a Plan Year may elect to defer Compensation otherwise payable during the remainder of such Plan Year in accordance with the rules of this Section 4.3 by executing a deferral agreement within the thirty (30) day period beginning on the date the employee is classified or designated as an Eligible Employee or the date the Director is designated as eligible, whichever is applicable, if permitted by Section 4.01(b)(ii) of the Adoption Agreement. If Compensation is based on a specified performance period that begins before the Eligible Employee or Director executes his or her deferral agreement, the election will be deemed to apply to the portion of such Compensation equal to the total amount of Compensation for the performance period multiplied by the ratio of the number of days remaining in the performance period after the election becomes irrevocable and effective over the total number of days in the performance period. The rules of this paragraph shall not apply unless the Eligible Employee or Director can be treated as initially eligible in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(a)(7).
| 4.4. | Election of Payment Schedule and Form of Payment |
All elections of a payment schedule and a form of payment will be made in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator and the provisions of this Section 4.4.
| (a) | If the Plan Sponsor has elected to permit annual distribution elections in accordance with Section 6.01(h) of the Adoption Agreement the following rules apply. At the time an Eligible Employee or Director completes a deferral agreement, the Eligible Employee or Director must elect a distribution event (which includes a specified time) and a form of payment for the Compensation subject to the deferral agreement from among the options the Plan Sponsor has made available for this purpose and which are specified in 6.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement. Prior to the time required by Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2, the Eligible Employee or Director shall elect a distribution event (which includes a specified time) and a form of payment for any Employer contributions that may be credited to the Participant’s Account during the Plan Year. If an Eligible Employee or Director fails to elect a distribution event, he or she shall be deemed to have elected Separation from Service as the distribution event. If he or she fails to elect a form of payment, he or she shall be deemed to have elected a lump sum form of payment. |
| (b) | If the Plan Sponsor has elected not to permit annual distribution elections in accordance with Section 6.01(h) of the Adoption Agreement the following rules apply. At the time an Eligible Employee or Director first completes a deferral agreement but in no event later than the time required by Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2, the Eligible Employee or Director must elect a distribution event (which includes a specified time) and a form of payment for amounts credited to his or her Account from among the options the Plan Sponsor has made available for this purpose and which are specified in Section 6.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement. If an Eligible Employee or Director fails to elect a distribution event, he or she shall be deemed to have elected Separation from Service in the distribution event. If the Participant fails to elect a form of payment, he or she shall be deemed to have elected a lump sum form of payment. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 4-2 |
Article 5 - Employer Contributions
| 5.1. | Matching Contributions |
If elected by the Plan Sponsor in Section 5.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement, the Employer will credit the Participant’s Account with a matching contribution determined in accordance with the formula specified in Section 5.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement. The matching contribution will be treated as allocated to the Participant’s Account at the time specified in Section 5.01(a)(iii) of the Adoption Agreement.
| 5.2. | Other Contributions |
If elected by the Plan Sponsor in Section 5.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement, the Employer will credit the Participant’s Account with a contribution or contributions determined in accordance with the formula or method specified in Section 5.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement. These contributions will be treated as allocated to the Participant’s Account at the time specified in Section 5.01(b)(iii) of the Adoption Agreement.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 5-1 |
Article 6 - Accounts and Credits
| 6.1. | Establishment of Account |
For accounting and computational purposes only, the Administrator will establish and maintain an Account on behalf of each Participant which will reflect the credits made pursuant to Section 6.2, distributions or withdrawals, along with the earnings, expenses, gains and losses allocated thereto, attributable to the hypothetical investments made with the amounts in the Account as provided in Article 7. The Administrator may establish and maintain such other records and accounts, as it decides in its discretion to be reasonably required or appropriate to discharge its duties under the Plan.
| 6.2. | Credits to Account |
A Participant’s Account will be credited for each Plan Year with the amount of his or her elective deferrals under Section 4.1 at the time the amount subject to the deferral election would otherwise have been payable to the Participant and the amount of Employer contributions, if any, treated as allocated on his or her behalf under Article 5.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 6-1 |
Article 7 - Investment of Contributions
| 7.1. | Investment Options |
The amount credited to each Account shall be treated as invested in the investment options designated for this purpose by the Administrator.
| 7.2. | Adjustment of Accounts |
The amount credited to each Account shall be adjusted for hypothetical investment earnings, expenses, gains or losses in an amount equal to the earnings, expenses, gains or losses attributable to the investment options selected by the party designated in Section 9.01 of the Adoption Agreement from among the investment options provided in Section 7.1. If permitted by Section 9.01 of the Adoption Agreement, a Participant (or the Participant’s Beneficiary after the death of the Participant) may, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator, select the investments from among the options provided in Section 7.1 to be used for the purpose of calculating future hypothetical investment adjustments to the Account or to future credits to the Account under Section 6.2 effective as of the Valuation Date coincident with or next following notice to the Administrator. Each Account shall be adjusted as of each Valuation Date to reflect: (a) the hypothetical earnings, expenses, gains, and losses described above; (b) amounts credited pursuant to Section 6.2; and (c) distributions or withdrawals. In addition, each Account may be adjusted for its allocable share of the hypothetical costs and expenses associated with the maintenance of the hypothetical investments provided in Section 7.1.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 7-1 |
Article 8 - Right to Benefits
| 8.1. | Vesting |
A Participant, at all times, has a 100% nonforfeitable interest in the amounts credited to his or her Account attributable to his or her elective deferrals made in accordance with Section 4.1.
A Participant’s right to the amounts credited to his or her Account attributable to Employer contributions made in accordance with Article 5 shall be determined in accordance with the relevant schedule and provisions in Section 7.01 of the Adoption Agreement. Upon a Separation from Service and after application of the provisions of Section 7.01 of the Adoption Agreement, the Participant shall forfeit the nonvested portion of his or her Account.
| 8.2. | Death |
The Plan Sponsor may elect to accelerate vesting upon the death of the Participant in accordance with Section 7.01(c) of the Adoption Agreement and/or to accelerate distributions upon death in accordance with Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement. If the Plan Sponsor does not elect to accelerate distributions upon death in accordance with Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement, the vested amount credited to the Participant’s Account will be paid in accordance with the provisions of Article 9.
A Participant may designate a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, or change any prior designation of Beneficiary or Beneficiaries in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator. Whenever a Participant designates a new Beneficiary, all former Beneficiary designations by such Participant shall be revoked automatically. If a Participant and the Participant’s spouse divorce, any designations of the spouse as Beneficiary shall become null and void. The former spouse shall be treated as the Beneficiary under the Plan only if after the divorce is final, the Participant expressly re-designates the former spouse as the Participant’s Beneficiary.
A copy of the death notice or other sufficient documentation must be filed with and approved by the Administrator. If upon the death of the Participant there is, in the opinion of the Administrator, no designated Beneficiary for part or all of the Participant’s vested Account, such amount will be paid to his or her estate (such estate shall be deemed to be the Beneficiary for purposes of the Plan) in accordance with the provisions of Article 9.
| 8.3. | Disability |
If the Plan Sponsor has elected to accelerate vesting upon the occurrence of a Disability in accordance with Section 7.01(c) of the Adoption Agreement and/or to permit distributions upon Disability in accordance with Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement, the determination of whether a Participant has incurred a Disability shall be based on the definition of Disability in Section 6.01(i) of the Adoption Agreement and in a manner consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 8-1 |
Article 9 - Distribution of Benefits
| 9.1. | Amount of Benefits |
The vested amount credited to a Participant’s Account as determined under Articles 6, 7 and 8 shall determine and constitute the basis for the value of benefits payable to the Participant under the Plan.
| 9.2. | Method and Timing of Distributions |
Except as otherwise provided in this Article 9, distributions under the Plan shall be made in accordance with the elections made or deemed made by the Participant under Article 4. Subject to the provisions of Section 9.6 requiring a six-month delay for certain distributions to Key Employees, distributions following a payment event shall commence at the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement. If permitted by Section 6.01(g) of the Adoption Agreement, a Participant may elect, at least twelve months before a scheduled distribution event, to delay the payment date for a minimum period of sixty months from the originally scheduled date of payment, provided the election does not take effect for at least twelve months from the date on which the election is made. The distribution election change must be made in accordance with procedures and rules established by the Administrator. The Participant may, at the same time the date of payment is deferred, change the form of payment but such change in the form of payment may not effect an acceleration of payment in violation of Code Section 409A or the provisions of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(b). For purposes of this Section 9.2, a series of installment payments is always treated as a single payment and not as a series of separate payments.
| 9.3. | Unforeseeable Emergency |
A Participant may request a distribution due to an Unforeseeable Emergency if the Plan Sponsor has elected to permit Unforeseeable Emergency withdrawals under Section 8.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement. The request must be in writing and must be submitted to the Administrator along with evidence that the circumstances constitute an Unforeseeable Emergency. The Administrator has the discretion to require whatever evidence it deems necessary to determine whether a distribution is warranted, and may require the Participant to certify that the need cannot be met from other sources reasonably available to the Participant. Whether a Participant has incurred an Unforeseeable Emergency will be determined by the Administrator on the basis of the relevant facts and circumstances in its sole discretion, but, in no event, will an Unforeseeable Emergency be deemed to exist if the hardship can be relieved: (a) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, (b) by liquidation of the Participant’s assets to the extent such liquidation would not itself cause severe financial hardship, or (c) by cessation of deferrals under the Plan. A distribution due to an Unforeseeable Emergency must be limited to the amount reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need and may include any amounts necessary to pay any federal, state, foreign or local income taxes and penalties reasonably anticipated to result from the distribution. The distribution will be made in the form of a single lump sum cash payment. If permitted by Section 8.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement, a Participant’s deferral elections for the remainder of the Plan Year will be cancelled upon a withdrawal due to an Unforeseeable Emergency. If the payment of all or any portion of the Participant’s vested Account is being delayed in accordance with Section 9.6 at the time he or she experiences an Unforeseeable Emergency, the amount being delayed shall not be subject to the provisions of this Section 9.3 until the expiration of the six month period of delay required by section 9.6.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 9-1 |
| 9.4. | Payment Election Overrides |
If the Plan Sponsor has elected one or more payment election overrides in accordance with Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement, the following provisions apply. Upon the occurrence of the first event selected by the Plan Sponsor, the remaining vested amount credited to the Participant’s Account shall be paid in the form designated to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary regardless of whether the Participant had made different elections of time and/or form of payment or whether the Participant was receiving installment payments at the time of the event.
| 9.5. | Cashouts of Amounts Not Exceeding Stated Limit |
If the vested amount credited to the Participant’s Account does not exceed the limit established for this purpose by the Plan Sponsor in Section 6.01(e) of the Adoption Agreement at the time he or she incurs a Separation from Service for any reason, the Employer shall distribute such amount to the Participant at the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement in a single lump sum cash payment following such Separation from Service regardless of whether the Participant had made different elections of time or form of payment as to the vested amount credited to his or her Account or whether the Participant was receiving installments at the time of such termination. A Participant’s Account, for purposes of this Section 9.5, shall include any amounts described in Section 1.3.
| 9.6. | Required Delay in Payment to Key Employees |
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9.6, a distribution made on account of Separation from Service (or Retirement, if applicable) to a Participant who is a Key Employee as of the date of his or her Separation from Service (or Retirement, if applicable) shall not be made before the date which is six months after the Separation from Service (or Retirement, if applicable).
| (a) | A Participant is treated as a Key Employee if: (i) he or she is employed by a Related Employer any of whose stock is publicly traded on an established securities market, and (ii) he or she satisfies the requirements of Code Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii), determined without regard to Code Section 416(i)(5), at any time during the twelve month period ending on the Identification Date. |
| (b) | A Participant who is a Key Employee on an Identification Date shall be treated as a Key Employee for purposes of the six month delay in distributions for the twelve month period beginning on the first day of a month no later than the fourth month following the Identification Date. The Identification Date and the effective date of the delay in distributions shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06 of the Adoption Agreement. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 9-2 |
| (c) | The Plan Sponsor may elect to apply an alternative method to identify Participants who will be treated as Key Employees for purposes of the six month delay in distributions if the method satisfies each of the following requirements: (i) is reasonably designed to include all Key Employees, (ii) is an objectively determinable standard providing no direct or indirect election to any Participant regarding its application, and (iii) results in either all Key Employees or no more than 200 Key Employees being identified in the class as of any date. Use of an alternative method that satisfies the requirements of this Section 9.6(c) will not be treated as a change in the time and form of payment for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(b). |
| (d) | The six-month delay does not apply to payments described in Section 9.9(a), (b) or (d) or to payments that occur after the death of the Participant. If the payment of all or any portion of the Participant’s vested Account is being delayed in accordance with this Section 9.6 at the time he or she incurs a Disability which would otherwise require a distribution under the terms of the Plan, no amount shall be paid until the expiration of the six month period of delay required by this Section 9.6. |
| 9.7. | Change in Control |
If the Plan Sponsor has elected to permit distributions upon a Change in Control, the following provisions shall apply. A distribution made upon a Change in Control will be made at the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement in the form elected by the Participant in accordance with the procedures described in Article 4. Alternatively, if the Plan Sponsor has elected in accordance with Section 11.02 of the Adoption Agreement to require distributions upon a Change in Control, the Participant’s remaining vested Account shall be paid to the Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary at the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement as a single lump sum payment. A Change in Control, for purposes of the Plan, will occur upon a change in the ownership of the Plan Sponsor, a change in the effective control of the Plan Sponsor or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Plan Sponsor, but only if elected by the Plan Sponsor in Section 11.03 of the Adoption Agreement. The Plan Sponsor, for this purpose, includes any corporation identified in this Section 9.7. All distributions made in accordance with this Section 9.7 are subject to the provisions of Section 9.6.
If a Participant continues to make deferrals in accordance with Article 4 after he or she has received a distribution due to a Change in Control, the residual amount payable to the Participant shall be paid at the time and in the form specified in the elections he or she makes in accordance with Article 4 or upon his or her death or Disability as provided in Article 8.
Whether a Change in Control has occurred will be determined by the Administrator in accordance with the rules and definitions set forth in this Section 9.7. A distribution to the Participant will be treated as occurring upon a Change in Control if the Plan Sponsor terminates the Plan in accordance with Section 10.2 and distributes the Participant’s benefits within twelve months of a Change in Control as provided in Section 10.3.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 9-3 |
| (a) | Relevant Corporations. To constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the Plan, the event must relate to: (i) the corporation for whom the Participant is performing services at the time of the Change in Control, (ii) the corporation that is liable for the payment of the Participant’s benefits under the Plan (or all corporations liable if more than one corporation is liable) but only if either the deferred compensation is attributable to the performance of services by the Participant for such corporation (or corporations) or there is a bona fide business purpose for such corporation (or corporations) to be liable for such payment and, in either case, no significant purpose of making such corporation (or corporations) liable for such payment is the avoidance of federal income tax, or (iii) a corporation that is a majority shareholder of a corporation identified in (i) or (ii), or any corporation in a chain of corporations in which each corporation is a majority shareholder of another corporation in the chain, ending in a corporation identified in (i) or (ii). A majority shareholder is defined as a shareholder owning more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value and voting power of such corporation. |
| (b) | Stock Ownership. Code Section 318(a) applies for purposes of determining stock ownership. Stock underlying a vested option is considered owned by the individual who owns the vested option (and the stock underlying an unvested option is not considered owned by the individual who holds the unvested option). If, however, a vested option is exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested (as defined by Treas. Reg. § 1.83-3(b) and (j)) the stock underlying the option is not treated as owned by the individual who holds the option. |
| (c) | Change in the Ownership of a Corporation. A change in the ownership of a corporation occurs on the date that any one person or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the corporation that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of such corporation. If any one person or more than one person acting as a group is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of a corporation, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a change in the ownership of the corporation (or to cause a change in the effective control of the corporation as discussed below in Section 9.7(d)). An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the corporation acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock. Section 9.7(c) applies only when there is a transfer of stock of a corporation (or issuance of stock of a corporation) and stock in such corporation remains outstanding after the transaction. For purposes of this Section 9.7(c), persons will not be considered to be acting as a group solely because they purchase or own stock of the same corporation at the same time or as a result of a public offering. Persons will, however, be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase, or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the corporation. If a person, including an entity, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in a corporation only with respect to ownership in that corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 9-4 |
| (d) | Change in the Effective Control of a Corporation. A change in the effective control of a corporation occurs on the date that either (i) any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the corporation possessing thirty percent (30%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of such corporation, or (ii) a majority of members of the corporation’s Board of Directors is replaced during any twelve month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the corporation’s Board of Directors prior to the date of the appointment or election, provided that for purposes of this paragraph (ii), the term corporation refers solely to the relevant corporation identified in Section 9.7(a) for which no other corporation is a majority shareholder for purposes of Section 9.7(a). In the absence of an event described in Section 9.7(d)(i) or (ii), a change in the effective control of a corporation will not have occurred. A change in effective control may also occur in any transaction in which either of the two corporations involved in the transaction has a change in the ownership of such corporation as described in Section 9.7(c) or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of such corporation as described in Section 9.7(e). If any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to effectively control a corporation within the meaning of this Section 9.7(d), the acquisition of additional control of the corporation by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a change in the effective control of the corporation or to cause a change in the ownership of the corporation within the meaning of Section 9.7(c). For purposes of this Section 9.7(d), persons will or will not be considered to be acting as a group in accordance with rules similar to those set forth in Section 9.7(c) with the following exception. If a person, including an entity, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in a corporation only with respect to the ownership in that corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 9-5 |
| (e) | Change in the Ownership of a Substantial Portion of a Corporation’s Assets. A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (as determined in accordance with rules similar to those set forth in Section 9.7(d)), acquires (or has acquired during the twelve month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the corporation that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the corporation immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the corporation or the value of the assets being disposed of determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. There is no Change in Control event under this Section 9.7(e) when there is a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the transferring corporation immediately after the transfer. A transfer of assets by a corporation is not treated as a change in ownership of such assets if the assets are transferred to (i) a shareholder of the corporation (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock, (ii) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation, (iii) a person, or more than one person acting as a group, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the corporation, or (iv) an entity, at least fifty (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in Section 9.7(e)(iii). For purposes of the foregoing, and except as otherwise provided, a person’s status is determined immediately after the transfer of assets. |
| 9.8. | Permissible Delays in Payment |
Distributions may be delayed beyond the date payment would otherwise occur in accordance with the provisions of Articles 8 and 9 in any of the following circumstances (as long as the Employer treats all payments to similarly situated Participants on a reasonably consistent basis):
| (a) | The Employer may delay payment if it reasonably anticipates that its deduction with respect to such payment would be limited or eliminated by the application of Code Section 162(m). Payment must be made during the Participant’s first taxable year in which the Employer reasonably anticipates, or should reasonably anticipate, that if the payment is made during such year the deduction of such payment will not be barred by the application of Code Section 162(m) or during the period beginning with the Participant’s Separation from Service and ending on the later of the last day of the Employer’s taxable year in which the Participant separates from service or the 15th day of the third month following the Participant’s Separation from Service. If a scheduled payment to a Participant is delayed in accordance with this Section 9.8(a), all scheduled payments to the Participant that could be delayed in accordance with this Section 9.8(a) will also be delayed. |
| (b) | The Employer may also delay payment if it reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will violate federal securities laws or other applicable laws provided payment is made at the earliest date on which the Employer reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will not cause such violation. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 9-6 |
| (c) | The Employer reserves the right to amend the Plan to provide for a delay in payment upon such other events and conditions as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe in generally applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. |
| 9.9. | Permitted Acceleration of Payment |
The Employer may permit acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment or amount scheduled to be paid pursuant to a payment under the Plan provided such acceleration would be permitted by the provisions of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(j)(4), including the following events:
| (a) | Domestic Relations Order. A payment may be accelerated if such payment is made to an alternate payee pursuant to and following the receipt and qualification of a domestic relations order as defined in Code Section 414(p). |
| (b) | Compliance with Ethics Agreement and Legal Requirements. A payment may be accelerated as may be necessary to comply with ethics agreements with the Federal government or as may be reasonably necessary to avoid the violation of Federal, state, local or foreign ethics law or conflicts of laws, in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A. |
| (c) | De Minimis Amounts. A payment may be accelerated if (i) the amount of the payment is not greater than the applicable dollar amount under Code Section 402(g)(1)(B), and (ii) at the time the payment is made the amount constitutes the Participant’s entire interest under the Plan and all other plans that are aggregated with the Plan under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(c)(2). |
| (d) | FICA Tax. A payment may be accelerated to the extent required to pay the Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax imposed under Code Sections 3101, 3121(a) and 3121(v)(2) of the Code with respect to compensation deferred under the Plan (the “FICA Amount”). Additionally, a payment may be accelerated to pay the income tax on wages imposed under Code Section 3401 of the Code on the FICA Amount and to pay the additional income tax at source on wages attributable to the pyramiding Code Section 3401 wages and taxes. The total payment under this subsection (d) may not exceed the aggregate of the FICA Amount and the income tax withholding related to the FICA Amount. |
| (e) | Section 409A Additional Tax. A payment may be accelerated if the Plan fails to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A; provided that such payment may not exceed the amount required to be included in income as a result of the failure to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A. |
| (f) | Offset. A payment may be accelerated in the Employer’s discretion as satisfaction of a debt of the Participant to the Employer, where such debt is incurred in the ordinary course of the service relationship between the Participant and the Employer, the entire amount of the reduction in any of the Employer’s taxable years does not exceed $5,000, and the reduction is made at the same time and in the same amount as the debt otherwise would have been due and collected from the Participant. |
| (g) | Other Events. A payment may be accelerated in the Administrator’s discretion in connection with such other events and conditions as permitted by Code Section 409A. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 9-7 |
Article 10 - Amendment and Termination
| 10.1. | Amendment by Plan Sponsor |
The Plan Sponsor reserves the right to amend the Plan (for itself and each Employer) through action of its Board of Directors or other authorized person. No amendment can directly or indirectly deprive any current or former Participant or Beneficiary of all or any portion of his or her Account which had accrued and vested prior to the amendment.
| 10.2. | Plan Termination Following Change in Control or Corporate Dissolution |
If so elected by the Plan Sponsor in 11.01 of the Adoption Agreement, the Plan Sponsor reserves the right to terminate the Plan and distribute all amounts credited to all Participant Accounts within the 30 days preceding or the twelve months following a Change in Control as determined in accordance with the rules set forth in Section 9.7. For this purpose, the Plan will be treated as terminated only if all agreements, methods, programs and other arrangements sponsored by the Related Employer immediately after the Change in Control which are treated as a single plan under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(c)(2) are also terminated so that all Participants under the Plan and all similar arrangements are required to receive all amounts deferred under the terminated arrangements within twelve months of the date the Plan Sponsor irrevocably takes all necessary action to terminate the arrangements. In addition, the Plan Sponsor reserves the right to terminate the Plan within twelve months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331 or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U. S. C. Section 503(b)(1)(A) provided that amounts deferred under the Plan are included in the gross incomes of Participants in the latest of (a) the calendar year in which the termination and liquidation occurs, (b) the first calendar year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, or (c) the first calendar year in which payment is administratively practicable.
| 10.3. | Other Plan Terminations |
The Plan Sponsor retains the discretion to terminate the Plan if (a) all arrangements sponsored by the Plan Sponsor that would be aggregated with any terminated arrangement under Code Section 409A and Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(c)(2) are terminated, (b) no payments other than payments that would be payable under the terms of the arrangements if the termination had not occurred are made within twelve months of the termination of the arrangements, (c) all payments are made within twenty-four months of the date the Plan Sponsor takes all necessary action to irrevocably terminate and liquidate the arrangements, (d) the Plan Sponsor does not adopt a new arrangement that would be aggregated with any terminated arrangement under Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder at any time within the three year period following the date of termination of the arrangement, and (e) the termination does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of the Plan Sponsor. The Plan Sponsor also reserves the right to amend the Plan to provide that termination of the Plan will occur under such conditions and events as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury in generally applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 10-1 |
Article 11 - The Trust
| 11.1. | Establishment of Trust |
The Plan Sponsor may but is not required to establish a trust to hold amounts which the Plan Sponsor may contribute from time to time to correspond to some or all amounts credited to Participants under Section 6.2. In the event that the Plan Sponsor wishes to establish a trust to provide a source of funds for the payment of Plan benefits, any such trust shall be constructed to constitute an unfunded arrangement that does not affect the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan for purposes of Title I of ERISA and the Code. If the Plan Sponsor elects to establish a trust in accordance with Section 10.01 of the Adoption Agreement, the provisions of Sections 11.2 and 11.3 shall become operative.
| 11.2. | Trust |
Any trust established by the Plan Sponsor shall be between the Plan Sponsor and a trustee pursuant to a separate written agreement under which assets are held, administered and managed, subject to the claims of the Plan Sponsor’s creditors in the event of the Plan Sponsor’s insolvency. The Plan Sponsor must notify the trustee in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency.
| 11.3. | Investment of Trust Funds |
Any amounts contributed to the trust by the Plan Sponsor shall be invested by the trustee in accordance with the provisions of the trust and the instructions of the Administrator. Trust investments need not reflect the hypothetical investments selected by Participants under Section 7.1 for the purpose of adjusting Accounts and the earnings or investment results of the trust need not affect the hypothetical investment adjustments to Participant Accounts under the Plan.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 11-1 |
Article 12 - Plan Administration
| 12.1. | Powers and Responsibilities of the Administrator |
The Administrator has the full power and the full responsibility to administer the Plan in all of its details; subject, however, to the applicable requirements of ERISA. The Administrator’s powers and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
| (a) | To make and enforce such rules and procedures as it deems necessary or proper for the efficient administration of the Plan; |
| (b) | To interpret the Plan, its interpretation thereof to be final, except as provided in Section 12.2, on all persons claiming benefits under the Plan; |
| (c) | To decide all questions concerning the Plan and the eligibility of any person to participate in the Plan; |
| (d) | To administer the claims and review procedures specified in Section 12.2; |
| (e) | To compute the amount of benefits which will be payable to any Participant, former Participant or Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of the Plan; |
| (f) | To determine the person or persons to whom such benefits will be paid; |
| (g) | To authorize the payment of benefits; |
| (h) | To make corrections and recover the overpayment of any benefits; |
| (i) | To comply with the reporting and disclosure requirements of Part 1 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA; |
| (j) | To appoint such agents, counsel, accountants, and consultants as may be required to assist in administering the Plan; |
| (k) | By written instrument, to allocate and delegate its responsibilities, including the formation of an Administrative Committee to administer the Plan. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 12-1 |
| 12.2. | Claims and Review Procedures |
| (a) | Claims Procedure. If any person believes he or she is being denied any rights or benefits under the Plan, such person may file a claim in writing with the Administrator. If any such claim is wholly or partially denied, the Administrator will notify such person of its decision in writing. Such notification will contain (i) specific reasons for the denial, (ii) specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions, (iii) a description of any additional material or information necessary for such person to perfect such claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and (iv) a description of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the person’s right to bring a civil action following an adverse decision on review. If the claim involves a Disability, the denial must also include the standards that governed the decision, including the basis for disagreeing with any health care professionals, vocational professionals or the Social Security Administration as well as an explanation of the scientific or clinical judgment underlying the denial. Such notification will be given within 90 days (45 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability) after the claim is received by the Administrator. The Administrator may extend the period for providing the notification by 90 days (30 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability, which may be extended an additional 30 days) if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim and if written notice of such extension and circumstance is given to such person within the initial 90 day period (45 day period in the case of a claim regarding Disability). If such notification is not given within such period, the claim will be considered denied as of the last day of such period and such person may request a review of his or her claim. |
| (b) | Review Procedure. Within 60 days (180 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability) after the date on which a person receives a written notification of denial of claim (or, if written notification is not provided, within 60 days (180 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability) of the date denial is considered to have occurred), such person (or his or her duly authorized representative) may (i) file a written request with the Administrator for a review of his or her denied claim and of pertinent documents and (ii) submit written issues and comments to the Administrator. The Administrator will notify such person of its decision in writing. Such notification will be written in a manner calculated to be understood by such person and will contain specific reasons for the decision as well as specific references to pertinent Plan provisions. The notification will explain that the person is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to and copies of all pertinent documents and has the right to bring a civil action following an adverse decision on review. The decision on review will be made within 60 days (45 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability). The Administrator may extend the period for making the decision on review by 60 days (45 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability) if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the request such as an election by the Administrator to hold a hearing, and if written notice of such extension and circumstances is given to such person within the initial 60-day period (45 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability). If the decision on review is not made within such period, the claim will be considered denied. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 12-2 |
If the claim is regarding Disability, and the determination of Disability has not been made by the Social Security Administration, the Railroad Retirement Board, or under the Plan Sponsor’s long-term disability plan, the person may, upon written request and free of charge, also receive the identification of medical or vocational experts whose advice was obtained in connection with the denial of a claim regarding Disability, even if the advice was not relied upon.
Before issuing any decision with respect to a claim involving Disability, the Administrator will provide to the person, free of charge, the following information as soon as possible and sufficiently in advance of the date on which the response is required to be provided to the person to allow the person a reasonable opportunity to respond prior to the due date of the response:
| (i) | Any new or additional evidence considered, relied upon, or generated by the Administrator or other person making the decision; and |
| (ii) | A new or additional rationale if the decision will be based on that rationale. |
| (c) | Exhaustion of Claims Procedures and Right to Bring Legal Claim. No action at law or equity shall be brought more than one year after the Administrator’s affirmation of a denial of a claim, or, if earlier, more than four years after the facts or events giving rise to the claimant’s allegation(s) or claim(s) first occurred. |
| 12.3. | Plan Administrative Costs |
All reasonable costs and expenses (including legal, accounting, and employee communication fees) incurred by the Administrator in administering the Plan shall be paid by the Plan to the extent not paid by the Employer.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 12-3 |
Article 13 - Miscellaneous
| 13.1. | Unsecured General Creditor of the Employer |
Participants and their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors, and assigns shall have no legal or equitable rights, interests or claims in any property or assets of the Employer. For purposes of the payment of benefits under the Plan, any and all of the Employer’s assets shall be, and shall remain, the general, unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Employer. Each Employer’s obligation under the Plan shall be merely that of an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future.
| 13.2. | Employer’s Liability |
Each Employer’s liability for the payment of benefits under the Plan shall be defined only by the Plan and by the deferral agreements entered into between a Participant and the Employer. An Employer shall have no obligation or liability to a Participant under the Plan except as provided by the Plan and a deferral agreement or agreements. An Employer shall have no liability to Participants employed by other Employers.
| 13.3. | Limitation of Rights |
Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor any amendment thereof, nor the creation of any fund or account, nor the payment of any benefits, will be construed as giving to the Participant or any other person any legal or equitable right against the Employer, the Plan or the Administrator, except as provided herein; and in no event will the terms of employment or service of the Participant be modified or in any way affected hereby.
| 13.4. | Anti-Assignment |
Except as may be necessary to fulfill a domestic relations order within the meaning of Code Section 414(p), none of the benefits or rights of a Participant or any Beneficiary of a Participant shall be subject to the claim of any creditor. In particular, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all such benefits and rights shall be free from attachment, garnishment, or any other legal or equitable process available to any creditor of the Participant and his or her Beneficiary. Neither the Participant nor his or her Beneficiary shall have the right to alienate, anticipate, commute, pledge, encumber, or assign any of the payments which he or she may expect to receive, contingently or otherwise, under the Plan, except the right to designate a Beneficiary to receive death benefits provided hereunder. Notwithstanding the preceding, the benefit payable from a Participant’s Account may be reduced, at the discretion of the Administrator, to satisfy any debt or liability to the Employer.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 13-1 |
| 13.5. | Facility of Payment |
If the Administrator determines, on the basis of medical reports or other evidence satisfactory to the Administrator, that the recipient of any benefit payments under the Plan is incapable of handling his or her affairs by reason of minority, illness, infirmity or other incapacity, the Administrator may direct the Employer to disburse such payments to a person or institution designated by a court which has jurisdiction over such recipient or a person or institution otherwise having the legal authority under State law for the care and control of such recipient. The receipt by such person or institution of any such payments therefore, and any such payment to the extent thereof, shall discharge the liability of the Employer, the Plan and the Administrator for the payment of benefits hereunder to such recipient.
| 13.6. | Notices |
Any notice or other communication to the Employer or Administrator in connection with the Plan shall be deemed delivered in writing if addressed to the Plan Sponsor at the address specified in Section 1.03 of the Adoption Agreement and if either actually delivered at said address or, in the case of a letter, five business days shall have elapsed after the same shall have been deposited in the United States mails, first-class postage prepaid and registered or certified.
| 13.7. | Tax Withholding |
If the Employer concludes that tax is owing with respect to any deferral or payment hereunder, the Employer shall withhold such amounts from any payments due the Participant or from amounts deferred, as permitted by law, or otherwise make appropriate arrangements with the Participant or his or her Beneficiary for satisfaction of such obligation. Tax, for purposes of this Section 13.7 means any federal, state, local or any other governmental income tax, employment or payroll tax, excise tax, or any other tax or assessment owing with respect to amounts deferred, any earnings thereon, and any payments made to Participants under the Plan.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 13-2 |
| 13.8. | Indemnification |
| (a) | Each Indemnitee (as defined in Section 13.8(e)) shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Employer for all actions taken by him or her and for all failures to take action (regardless of the date of any such action or failure to take action), to the fullest extent permitted by the law of the jurisdiction in which the Employer is incorporated, against all expense, liability, and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, taxes, penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (as defined in subsection (e)). No indemnification pursuant to this Section shall be made, however, in any case where (1) the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness or (2) there is a settlement to which the Employer does not consent. |
| (b) | The right to indemnification provided in this Section shall include the right to have the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in defending any Proceeding paid by the Employer in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding, to the fullest extent permitted by the law of the jurisdiction in which the Employer is incorporated; provided that, if such law requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding shall be made only on delivery to the Employer of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced without interest if it shall ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise. |
| (c) | Indemnification pursuant to this Section shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be such and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, and administrators. The Employer agrees that the undertakings made in this Section shall be binding on its successors or assigns and shall survive the termination, amendment, or restatement of the Plan. |
| (d) | The foregoing right to indemnification shall be in addition to such other rights as the Indemnitee may enjoy as a matter of law or by reason of insurance coverage of any kind and is in addition to and not in lieu of any rights to indemnification to which the Indemnitee may be entitled pursuant to the by-laws of the Employer. |
| (e) | For the purposes of this Section, the following definitions shall apply: |
| (i) | “Indemnitee” shall mean each person serving as an Administrator (or any other person who is an employee, Director, or officer of the Employer) who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, any Proceeding, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was performing administrative functions under the Plan. |
| (ii) | “Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding (including, without limitation, an action, suit, or proceeding by or in the right of the Employer), whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, or through arbitration. |
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 13-3 |
| 13.9. | Successors |
The provisions of the Plan shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Plan Sponsor, the Employer and their successors and assigns and the Participant and the Participant’s designated Beneficiaries.
| 13.10. | Disclaimer |
It is the Plan Sponsor’s intention that the Plan comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A. Neither the Plan Sponsor nor the Employer shall have any liability to any Participant should any provision of the Plan fail to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.
| 13.11. | Governing Law |
The Plan will be construed, administered, and enforced according to the laws of the State specified by the Plan Sponsor in Section 12.01 of the Adoption Agreement.
| SiTime Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan | Article 13-4 |
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SiTime Completes Acquisition of Renesas’ Timing Business
Accelerates Path to $1 Billion of Revenue as the Premier Pure-Play Precision Timing Company
SANTA CLARA, Calif. and TOKYO, July 1, 2026 – SiTime Corporation (Nasdaq: SITM) (“SiTime” or the “Company”), the Precision Timing company, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of certain assets from Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) (“Renesas”).
Rajesh Vashist, chairman and CEO of SiTime, said, “SiTime has created the Precision Timing category, and is the only semiconductor company fully dedicated to all aspects of timing. The acquisition of Renesas’ timing business marks a monumental milestone that will transform SiTime. We are accelerating our path to $1B in revenue, growing our clocking portfolio by 10x, expanding our presence in the high-growth AI datacenter market and scaling our gross margins to the higher end of our target range. As we continue to innovate to provide the most compelling system solutions that solve difficult timing problems, we expect to get even closer to our customers and become the default timing choice, not just for oscillators but also for clocks and resonators. The opportunity ahead is massive, we are just getting started, and we look forward to delivering exceptional value to our shareholders.”
SiTime announced the acquisition in February 2026. With the transaction, the company has acquired from Renesas the preeminent brand in clocking with a 30-year legacy of highly differentiated clocking products and an enviable financial profile. It has delivered sustained financial performance of approximately 70% gross margin. It serves over 10,000 customers, with nearly 75% of revenue in the AI-Datacenter-Comms segment and the remainder in industrial and automotive. In the 12 months following this acquisition, the business is expected to generate at least $300 million in revenue, catalyzed by SiTime’s sales and go-to-market expertise.
Hidetoshi Shibata, CEO of Renesas, said, “The completion of this transaction marks an important milestone, but it is just the beginning of our journey with SiTime. Together, we will explore a strategic collaboration to integrate SiTime’s MEMS resonators into Renesas’ embedded computing products for the next generation of intelligent devices.”
The companies signed a partnership MOU in February 2026, alongside the acquisition announcement, to explore strategic collaboration. Hidetoshi Shibata is expected to join SiTime’s Board of Directors.
About SiTime
SiTime is the Precision Timing company. Our semiconductor MEMS programmable solutions offer a rich feature set that enables customers to differentiate their products with higher performance, smaller size, lower power, and better reliability. With more than 4 billion devices shipped, SiTime is changing the timing industry. For more information, visit www.sitime.com.
About Precision Timing
Timing is the heartbeat of all electronic systems, ensuring reliable operation over their lifetime. For decades, quartz-based devices, built on non-semiconductor technology, have delivered this critical function, but they struggle in harsh, demanding environments. SiTime’s Precision Timing, based on semiconductor MEMS technology, delivers superior performance, greater resilience, smaller size and higher reliability. Today, it powers more than 400 applications, including those in high-growth segments such as AI data centers, industrial and humanoid robots, mobile, wearables, IoT and automated driving.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future events, results or achievements, including, but not limited to, revenue forecasts for the 12 months following the acquisition. Actual events, results or achievements may differ materially from those contemplated in this press release. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other filings SiTime makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including SiTime’s Annual Report on Form 10-K that has been filed for the year ended December 31, 2025. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and no person assumes any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor Relations Contacts:
Shelton Group
Leanne Sievers | Brett Perry
SiTime Corporation
Beth Howe
Chief Financial Officer