UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Consent and First Amendment to the ABL Credit Agreement
On January 22, 2025, V Opco, LLC (the “Borrower”), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Vince Holding Corp. (the “Company”), entered into that certain First Amendment (the “First Amendment”) to that certain Credit Agreement (the “ABL Credit Agreement,” the ABL Credit Agreement as amended by the First Amendment, the “Amended ABL Credit Agreement,” and the credit facility pursuant to the Amended ABL Credit Agreement, the “ABL Credit Facility”), dated as of June 23, 2023, by and among the Borrower, the guarantors named therein, Bank of America, N.A. (“BofA”), as Agent, the other lenders from time to time party thereto, and BofA Securities, Inc., as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner. The ABL Credit Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 26, 2023 and is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Amended ABL Credit Agreement.
The First Amendment amends the ABL Credit Agreement to, among other things, (a) consent to the P-180 Acquisition (as defined below); (b) provide that, until the first Adjustment Date following January 22, 2026, the applicable margin will be 2.50% with respect to SOFR Term Loans and SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans and 1.50% with respect to Base Rate Loans; (c) until January 22, 2026, eliminate the ability to make certain Restricted Payments and, during the period from January 22, 2026 through July 21, 2026, require compliance with a pro forma Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio equal to or greater than 1.0 to 1.0; and (d) until January 24, 2026, modify the thresholds applicable for the Agent’s rights to conduct field exams and inventory appraisals to Excess Availability being less than the greater of 25% of Loan Cap and $18.75 million and, following January 24, 2026, such thresholds shall revert back to Excess Availability being less than the greater of 20% of Loan Cap and $15 million.
The foregoing description of the First Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the First Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Fifth Amendment to the Sun Credit Agreement
Simultaneously with the entry into the First Amendment, on January 22, 2025, the Borrower entered into the Fifth Amendment (the “Sun Fifth Amendment”) to that certain Credit Agreement (the “Sun Credit Agreement,” and as amended by the Sun Fifth Amendment, the “Sun Amended Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the guarantors named therein, and SK Financial Services, LLC, as administrative and collateral agent. The Sun Fifth Amendment amends the Sun Credit Agreement to, among other things, consent to the P-180 Acquisition.
The foregoing description of the Fifth Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Fifth Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Sun Debt Paydown and Debt Forgiveness
On January 22, 2025, in connection with the P-180 Acquisition, the Borrower paid $15 million to SK Financial Services, LLC with the proceeds from additional borrowings under the ABL Credit Facility as repayment of $20 million in outstanding principal amount (including accrued and unpaid payment-in-kind interest that had been added to the outstanding principal amount thereof) of the loans outstanding under the Sun Amended Credit Agreement (such pay-down transaction, the “Sun Debt Paydown”).
Following the Sun Debt Paydown and in connection with the P-180 Acquisition, P-180 Vince Acquisition Co. (“P-180”) acquired and assumed from SK Financial Services LLC approximately $7 million of the remaining outstanding balance owed by the Company under the Sun Amended Credit Agreement. Immediately thereafter, P-180 agreed to forgive and cancel such $7 million (the “P-180 Debt Forgiveness”) such that thereafter there remained outstanding an aggregate of $7.5 million under the Sun Amended Credit Agreement, which will continue to accrue interest in accordance with, and otherwise be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in, the Sun Amended Credit Agreement. SK Financial Services, LLC is an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. (“Sun Capital”), whose affiliates owned approximately 67% of the Company’s outstanding common stock prior to the P-180 Acquisition. Immediately following the Sun Debt Paydown, the P-180 Debt Forgiveness, and the P-180 Acquisition, affiliates of Sun Capital continued to own approximately 10% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
The foregoing description of the P-180 Debt Forgiveness is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Debt Forgiveness and Expense Reimbursement Letter (the “P-180 Letter”), dated as of January 22, 2025, by and between the Company and P-180, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Expense Reimbursement by P-180
Pursuant to the P-180 Letter, P-180 and its parent company, P-180, Inc., agreed to reimburse the Company for its fees and expenses associated with the transactions relating to the P-180 Acquisition, including the BofA consent fee described above related to the First Amendment and the Company’s legal fees and expenses related to the foregoing transactions.
The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the P-180 Letter, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
The information set forth under Item 1.01 “Entry into a Material Definitive Agreements” is incorporated into this Item 1.02 by reference.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
The information set forth under Item 1.01 “Entry into a Material Definitive Agreements” is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.
Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.
On January 22, 2025, P-180 purchased 8,481,318 shares of common stock of the Company, which constitutes approximately 65% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, from affiliates of Sun Capital in a privately negotiated stock purchase transaction (the “P-180 Acquisition”) for approximately $19.8M in cash. 1,262,923 of these purchased shares were held back at the closing by the affiliates of Sun Capital and all or a portion of such shares will be transferred to P-180 in the event the remaining outstanding obligations under the Sun Amended Credit Agreement are purchased by P-180 (or any of its affiliates or designees) from SK Financial Services, or otherwise repaid in full, prior to September 22, 2025. P-180 will forfeit its right to, and such affiliates of Sun Capital will be entitled to retain, a portion of such held back shares if such purchase or repayment occurs after January 24, 2025, and P-180 will forfeit its right to all held back shares if such purchase or repayment does not occur on or prior to September 22, 2025. The affiliates of Sun Capital have agreed to various voting, transfer and other restrictions on the held back shares. P-180, Inc. funded the P-180 Acquisition with available funds from the issuance of equity and convertible notes to its investors.
The information set forth under Item 1.01 “Entry into Material Definitive Agreements” is incorporated into this Item 5.01 by reference.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(b)-(d)
On January 22, 2025, in connection with, and effective immediately following, the P-180 Acquisition, Matthew Garff resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), including all committees thereof on which he served.
On January 22, 2025, the Company announced that Brendan Hoffman, co-founder and co-CEO of P-180, Inc., age 56, is expected to be appointed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer effective on or around February 3, 2025, subject to mutual agreement on the terms of his employment. On January 22, 2025, the Company also announced that David Stefko, a member of the Board currently serving as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer, will step down as Interim Chief Executive Officer at that time. Mr. Stefko is expected to continue to serve on the Board. The terms of Mr. Hoffman’s employment have not yet been finalized. As a result, the Company will file an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K to disclose such terms within four business days of the date that they are finalized.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On January 22, 2025, the Board approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s bylaws (the “Second Amended and Restated Bylaws”) to provide P-180, following the P-180 Acquisition, with the right to designate (i) a majority of the directors of the Board, (ii) the Chairman of the Board, and (iii) the chairman of each committee of the Board, in each case for so long as P-180 continues to beneficially own at least thirty percent (30%) of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
The foregoing description of the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws marked to show all changes resulting from the amendment and restatement is attached as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On January 22, 2025, the Company issued a press release regarding the foregoing transactions. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference in this Item 7.01.
The information in this Item 7.01 and in the accompanying Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act except as otherwise expressly stated in such filing.
The information in this Item 7.01 and in the accompanying Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally are identifiable by use of the words “may,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan to,” “estimate,” “project” or similar expressions, and include but are not limited to: our ability to successfully manage the transition of VNCE majority ownership to P180 and to execute on the Company’s strategies under P180’s control; our ability to execute and realize the enhanced profitability expectations of our planned transformation program; our ability to maintain the license agreement with ABG Vince, a subsidiary of Authentic Brands Group; ABG Vince's expansion of the Vince brand into other categories and territories; ABG Vince's approval rights and other actions; our ability to maintain adequate cash flow from operations or availability under our revolving credit facility to meet our liquidity needs; our ability to realize the benefits of our strategic initiatives; general economic conditions; further impairment of our goodwill; the execution and management of our direct-to-consumer business growth plans; our ability to make lease payments when due; our ability to maintain our larger wholesale partners; our ability to remediate the identified material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting; our ability to comply with domestic and international laws, regulations and orders; our ability to anticipate and/or react to changes in customer demand and attract new customers, including in connection with making inventory commitments; our ability to remain competitive in the areas of merchandise quality, price, breadth of selection and customer service; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; seasonal and quarterly variations in our revenue and income; our ability to mitigate system security risk issues, such as cyber or malware attacks, as well as other major system failures; our ability to optimize our systems, processes and functions; our ability to comply with privacy-related obligations; our ability to ensure the proper operation of the distribution facilities by third-party logistics providers; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials; commodity, raw material and other cost increases; the extent of our foreign sourcing; our reliance on independent manufacturers; and other tax matters. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risk and uncertainties. Though we believe that expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectation will prove to be correct. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These and other risk factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and “Disclosures Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in our Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2024 and, if applicable, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statement to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release except as required by applicable law.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ASC Topic 350 Intangibles-Goodwill and Other ("ASC 350"), goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually and in interim period if a triggering event occurs. The P-180 Transaction constitutes a triggering event under ASC 350. As a result, management is currently in the process of conducting the required analyses relating to goodwill impairment. While no conclusions have been reached, there can be no assurance that the Company will not be required to record a non-cash charge for impairment of goodwill in its financial statements as a result of the P-180 Transaction, which could negatively impact the Company’s results of operations for the period in which any such impairment charge is required.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number |
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Description |
3.1 |
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3.2 |
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Marked Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Vince Holding Corp. |
10.1 |
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First Amendment, dated January 22, 2025, to the ABL Credit Agreement |
10.2 |
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Fifth Amendment, dated January 22, 2025, to the Sun Credit Agreement |
10.3 |
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99.1 |
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104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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VINCE HOLDING CORP. |
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Date: |
January 22, 2025 |
By: |
/s/ David Stefko |
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David Stefko, Interim Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 3.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
VINCE HOLDING CORP.
A Delaware corporation
(Adopted as of January 22, 2025)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Offices. Vince Holding Corp. (the “Corporation”) may have an office or offices other than its registered office at such place or places, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may designate a place, if any, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held at such time as is specified by the Board of Directors. At the annual meeting, stockholders shall elect directors to succeed those whose terms expire at such annual meeting and transact such other business as properly may be brought before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 11 of this ARTICLE II. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation as then in effect (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to business brought by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take action at a meeting, notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders not physically present may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Such notice shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) or the Certificate of Incorporation).
(a) Form of Notice. All such notices shall be delivered in writing or in any other manner permitted by the DGCL. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation. If given by facsimile telecommunication, such notice shall be deemed given when directed to a number at which the
stockholder has consented to receive notice by facsimile. Subject to the limitations of Section 4(c) of this ARTICLE II, if given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered: (i) by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (x) such posting and (y) the giving of such separate notice; and (iii) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the Secretary or an assistant Secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent of the Corporation or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(b) Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws (these “Bylaws”), a written waiver thereof, signed by the stockholder entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person or entity entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a stockholder of the Corporation at a meeting of such stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
(c) Notice by Electronic Delivery. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders of the Corporation pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice to stockholders of the Corporation given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder of the Corporation to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if: (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and (ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice. However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. For purposes of these Bylaws, except as otherwise limited by applicable law, the term “electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such recipient through an automated process.
Section 5. List of Stockholders. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make available, at least 10 days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place, if any, of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the list shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 5 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the outstanding voting power of all shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed or these Bylaws. If a quorum is not present, the
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chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place from time to time until a quorum shall be present or represented by proxy. When a specified item of business requires a separate vote by a class or series (if the Corporation shall then have outstanding shares of more than one class or series) voting as a class or series, the holders of a majority of the voting power of such class or series shall constitute a quorum (as to such class or series) for the transaction of such item of business.
Section 7. Adjourned Meetings. When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the place, if any, date and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors or such committee, as applicable, and, except as otherwise required by law, shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 8. Vote Required. When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of voting power of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders, unless by express provisions of an applicable law, the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed or the Certificate of Incorporation a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.
Section 9. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, the certificate of designation relating to any outstanding class or series of preferred stock or these Bylaws, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.
Section 10. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.
Section 11. Business Brought Before a Meeting of the Stockholders.
(a) Annual Meetings.
(i) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall be considered and such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations and other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and must be (A) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (B) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (C) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (I) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed or such nomination or nominations are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation)
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both at the time the notice provided for in paragraph (a) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II is delivered to the secretary of the Corporation and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders, (II) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (III) complies with the notice procedures set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II. For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which Public Announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation). In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of an annual meeting or the Public Announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no Public Announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (a) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such Public Announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(ii) A stockholder’s notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a director or directors of the Corporation shall set forth (A) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made (and for purposes of clauses (II) through (IX) below, including any interests described therein held by any affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) for purposes of these Bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owner or by any member of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household, in each case as of the date of such stockholder’s notice, which information shall be confirmed or updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting of stockholders and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to such meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such confirmation or update shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) business day after the record date for the meeting of stockholders (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the close of business on the eighth (8th) business day prior to the date for the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof)) (I) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (II) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) (provided that a person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future) and owned of record by such stockholder or beneficial owner, (III) the class or series, if any, and number of options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights, or similar rights, obligations or commitments with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, right, obligation or commitment shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation (each a “Derivative Security”), which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner, (IV) any agreement, arrangement,
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understanding, or relationship, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder or beneficial owner, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or beneficial owner with respect to any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, or that provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series or capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, (V) a description of any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit (including any performance-based fees) derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares or other securities of the Corporation, (VI) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner has a right to vote any shares or other securities of the Corporation, (VII) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or such beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (VIII) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Securities held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or beneficial owner is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, if any, (IX) a description of all agreements, arrangements, and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person(s) (including their name(s)) in connection with or related to the ownership or voting of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Securities, (X) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (XI) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to elect such stockholder’s nominees and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from the stockholders in support of such nomination and (XII) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination, and (B) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (I) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (II) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (III) a completed and signed questionnaire regarding the background and qualifications of such person to serve as a director, a copy of which may be obtained upon request to the Secretary of the Corporation, (IV) all information with respect to such person that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II if such person were a stockholder or beneficial owner, on whose behalf the nomination was made, submitting a notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a director or directors of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II, and (V) such additional information that the Corporation may reasonably request to determine the eligibility or qualifications of such person to serve as a director or an independent director of the Corporation, or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the qualifications and/or independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee as a director.
(iii) A stockholder’s notice regarding business proposed to be brought before a meeting of stockholders other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall set forth (A) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, the
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information called for by clauses (A)(I) through (A)(IX) of the immediately preceding paragraph (ii) (including any interests described therein held by any affiliates or associates of such stockholder or beneficial owner or by any member of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household, in each case as of the date of such stockholder’s notice, which information shall be confirmed or updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting of stockholders and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to such meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such confirmation or update shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) business day after the record date for the meeting of stockholders (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the close of business on the eighth (8th) business day prior to the date for the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof)), (B) a brief description of (I) the business desired to be brought before such meeting, (II) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and (III) any material interest of such stockholder or beneficial owner in such business, including a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person(s) (including the name(s) of such other person(s)) in connection with or related to the proposal of such business by the stockholder, (C) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (I) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to approve the proposal and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal and (II) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (D) if the matter such stockholder proposes to bring before any meeting of stockholders involves an amendment to the Corporation’s Bylaws, the specific wording of such proposed amendment, (E) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business and (F) such additional information that the Corporation may reasonably request regarding such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, and/or the business that such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.
(iv) The presiding officer of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not properly made or that any business was not properly brought before the meeting, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 of this ARTICLE II; if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such nomination not properly made or any business not properly brought before the meeting, as the case may be, shall not be transacted.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The notice of such special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (A) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination or nominations are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time the notice provided for in paragraph (b) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II is delivered to the Corporation’s Secretary and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote
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at the special meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election, and (C) complies with the notice procedures set forth in the third sentence of paragraph (b) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II shall be delivered to the Corporation’s Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which Public Announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of a special meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 11, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
(ii) For purposes of this section, “Public Announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to any nomination or other business to be considered pursuant to Section 11 of this ARTICLE II.
(iv) Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to (A) affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, (B) confer upon any stockholder a right to have a nominee or any proposed business included in the Corporation’s proxy statement, or (C) affect any rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 12. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors, or a committee designated by the Board of Directors, may fix, except as otherwise required by law, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors, as applicable, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors or a committee thereof so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors or such committee determines, at the time
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it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next preceding the day on which notice is first given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 12 at the adjourned meeting.
Section 13. Action by Stockholders Without a Meeting. So long as stockholders of the Corporation have the right to act by written consent in accordance with Section 1 of ARTICLE EIGHT of the Certificate of Incorporation, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) Record Date. For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting as may be permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of designation relating to any outstanding class or series of preferred stock, the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors, may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors or such committee, as applicable, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days after the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors or such committee. Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take action by written consent shall, by written notice to the Secretary, request that the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors fix a record date, which notice shall include the text of any proposed resolutions. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors or committee thereof pursuant to this Section 13(a) or otherwise within ten (10) days of receipt of a valid request by a stockholder, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof is required pursuant to applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation pursuant to Section 13(b); provided, however, that if prior action by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall in such an event be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
(b) Generally. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take such action are delivered to the Corporation, in the manner required by this Section 13, within sixty (60) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days of the date of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation in the manner required by this Section 13. The validity of any consent executed by a proxy for a stockholder pursuant to an electronic transmission transmitted to such proxy holder by or upon the authorization of the stockholder shall be determined by or at the direction of the Secretary. A written record of the information upon which the person making such determination relied shall be made and kept in the records of the proceedings of the stockholders. Any such consent shall be inserted in the minute book as if it were the minutes of a meeting of stockholders. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given by the Corporation (at its expense) to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consent signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.
Section 14. Conduct of Meetings.
(a) Generally. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Chairman’s absence or disability by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence or disability, by the President, or in the President’s absence or disability, by a Vice President, or in the absence or
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disability of the foregoing persons by a chairperson designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the Secretary’s absence or disability the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) Rules, Regulations and Procedures. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The chairman of the meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination or matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chairman should so determine, such chairman shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The chairman of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power, for any reason, to recess and/or to adjourn any meeting of stockholders to another place, if any, date and time.
(c) Inspectors of Elections. The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or duly appointed inspectors.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to such powers as are herein and in the Certificate of Incorporation expressly conferred upon it, the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise all the powers of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws.
Section 2. Election. Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors; provided that, whenever the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation are entitled to elect one
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or more directors pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, any duly authorized certificate of designation), such directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of such class or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of such directors. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.
Section 3. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this Bylaw immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 4. Regular Meetings and Special Meetings. Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or upon the written request of at least a majority of the directors then in office.
Section 5. Notice of Meetings. Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given except as otherwise required by law or these Bylaws. Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of each regular and annual meeting of the Board of Directors for which notice is required, shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this Section 5. Such notice shall state the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting. Notice of any special meeting, and of any regular or annual meeting for which notice is required, shall be given to each director at least (a) twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting if by telephone or by being personally delivered or sent by telex, telecopy, email or similar means or (b) five (5) days before the meeting if delivered by mail to the director’s residence or usual place of business. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail so addressed, with postage prepaid, or when transmitted if sent by telex, telecopy, email or similar means. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 6. Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent. Any director may waive notice of any meeting of directors by a writing signed by the director or by electronic transmission. Any member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.
Section 7. Chairman of the Board, Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment. The Board of Directors may elect, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, a Chairman of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and following such time as Sun Cardinal, LLC (“Sun Cardinal”) has ceased to have the right pursuant to Article Six, Section 5 of the Certificate of Incorporation to designate the Chairman of the Board of Directors, thereafter P180 Acquisition Co. (“P180”) shall have the right to designate the Chairman of the Board of Directors for so long as P180, including through its Affiliates, beneficially owns at least thirty percent (30%) of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board may be a director or an officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and the direction of the Board of Directors, he or she shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the position of Chairman of the Board or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and Board of Directors at which he or she is present and have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. If the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the stockholders or the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and is not also the Chairman of the Board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the Chief Executive Officer is not present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one of the directors present at the meeting to so preside. A majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless by express provision of an applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws a different vote is required, the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business
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shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 8. Committees. The Board of Directors (i) may, by resolution passed by a majority of the directors then in office, designate one or more committees, including an executive committee, consisting of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, and (ii) shall during such period of time as any securities of the Corporation are listed on any exchange, by resolution passed by a majority of the directors then in office, designate all committees required by the rules and regulations of such exchange. Subject to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and following such time as Sun Cardinal has ceased to have the right pursuant to Article Six, Section 5 of the Certificate of Incorporation to designate the chairman of each committee designated by the Board of Directors, thereafter P180 shall have the right to designate the chairman of each committee designated by the Board of Directors for so long as P180, including through its Affiliates, beneficially owns at least thirty percent (30%) of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation; provided that, the committee membership of each committee designated by the Board of Directors will comply with the applicable rules of the exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Except to the extent restricted by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, each such committee, to the extent provided by the DGCL and in the resolution creating it, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or as required by the rules and regulations of such exchange, if applicable. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors upon request.
Section 9. Committee Rules. Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee or as otherwise provided herein or required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. All matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 10. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 11. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees, reimbursement of expenses and equity compensation of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity, including for attendance of meetings of the Board of Directors or participation on any committees. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 12. Reliance on Books and Records. A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such members’ duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other
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person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 13. Telephonic and Other Meetings. Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
Section 14. Certain Director Designation Rights. Subject to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and following such time as Sun Cardinal has ceased to have the right pursuant to Article Six, Section 5 of the Certificate of Incorporation to designate a majority of the directors to the Board of Directors, thereafter for so long as P180, including through its Affiliates, beneficially owns at least thirty percent (30%) of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation, P180 shall have the right to designate a majority of the directors to the Board of Directors; provided that, at such time as the Corporation ceases to be a “controlled company,” the majority of the Board of Directors will be comprised of “independent” directors, as such terms are defined under the rules of the exchange on which the Corporation’s securities are listed.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as is convenient. The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as is convenient. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer or agent elected by the Board of Directors may be removed with or without cause by the Board of Directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or by such officers as may be designated by a resolution of the Board of Directors, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Compensation. Compensation of all executive officers shall be approved by the Board of Directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or by such officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the Corporation.
Section 6. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position. The Chief Executive Officer shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if a Chairman of the Board shall not have been elected, preside at each meeting of (a) the Board of Directors if the Chief Executive Officer is a director or (b) the stockholders. Subject to the powers of the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall be in general and active charge of the entire business and
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affairs of the Corporation, and shall be its chief policy making officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or provided in these Bylaws. The Chief Executive Officer is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. Whenever the President is unable to serve, by reason of sickness, absence or otherwise, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform all the duties and responsibilities and exercise all the powers of the President.
Section 7. The President. The President of the Corporation shall, subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees. The President shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The President is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors or as may be provided in these Bylaws. The President shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position.
Section 8. Vice Presidents. The Vice President, or if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents, in the order determined by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, act with all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the President. The Vice Presidents shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe. The Vice Presidents may also be designated as Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents, as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. A Vice President shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position.
Section 9. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors (other than executive sessions thereof) and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose or shall ensure that his or her designee attends each such meeting to act in such capacity. Under the Board of Directors’ supervision, the Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these Bylaws or by law; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, any of the assistant secretaries, shall in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or Secretary may, from time to time, prescribe. The Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to those positions.
Section 10. The Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with applicable law or generally accepted accounting principles; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors; shall receive, and give receipts for, moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever; shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; and shall render to the Board of Directors, at its regular meeting or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of the Corporation; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position.
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Section 11. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these Bylaws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.
Section 12. Officers’ Bonds or Other Security. If required by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors may require.
Section 13. Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person whom it may select.
ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. If shares are represented by certificates, the certificates shall be in such form as required by applicable law and as determined by the Board of Directors. Each certificate shall certify the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation and shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by (i) the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President and (ii) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation designated by the Board of Directors. Any or all signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been issued by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation at the date of issue. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The Board of Directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the Corporation. The Corporation, or its designated transfer agent or other agent, shall keep a book or set of books to be known as the stock transfer books of the Corporation, containing the name of each holder of record, together with such holder’s address and the number and class or series of shares held by such holder and the date of issue. When shares are represented by certificates, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to each holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred, certificates representing the shares owned by such holder, and shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation or its designated transfer agent or other agent of the certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates and record the transaction on its books. When shares are not represented by certificates, shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, with such evidence of the authenticity of such transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps, and within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, the Corporation shall send the holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred a written statement of the information required by applicable law. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or any other instrument, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.
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Section 2. Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue or direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares, the Corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct, sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
Section 3. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the owner of shares of stock to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner. The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares of stock on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Section 4. Fixing a Record Date for Purposes Other Than Stockholder Meetings or Actions by Written Consent. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action (other than stockholder meetings and stockholder written consents which are expressly governed by Sections 12 and 13 of ARTICLE II hereof), the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 5. Regulations. The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of statutes and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared and paid by the Board of Directors, in accordance with applicable law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s theretofore unissued capital stock, subject to the provisions of applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors may think conducive to the interests of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserves in the manner in which they were created.
Section 2. Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be authorized by the Board of Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designation.
Section 3. Contracts. In addition to the powers otherwise granted to officers pursuant to ARTICLE IV hereof, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
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Section 4. Loans. Subject to compliance with applicable law (including Section 13(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), the Corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the Corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a director of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the Corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the Corporation. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the Corporation at common law or under any statute.
Section 5. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no seal shall be required by virtue of this Section 6.
Section 7. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief Financial Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation, unless the Board of Directors specifically confers authority to vote or act with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.
Section 8. Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded and the day of the event shall be included.
Section 9. Inspection of Books and Records. Subject to applicable law, the Board of Directors shall have power from time to time to determine to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, unless and until authorized to do so by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 10. Facsimile Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
Section 11. Section Headings. Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 12. Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, the provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.
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ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Right to Indemnification and Advancement. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including involvement, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of the Corporation or as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes, penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in this Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII shall be a contract right. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred herein, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “advance of expenses”); provided, however, that if and to the extent that the DGCL requires, an advance of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 1 of this Article VII or otherwise. The Corporation may also, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification and advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification. Any indemnification of a director or officer of the Corporation or advance of expenses (including attorneys’ fees, costs and charges) under this Section 2 of this ARTICLE VII shall be made promptly, and in any event within forty-five days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days, provided that the director or officer has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII if required), upon the written request of the director or officer. If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advance of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within forty-five days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days, provided that the director or officer has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII if required), the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this ARTICLE VII shall be enforceable by the director or officer in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advance of expenses where the undertaking required pursuant to Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of such defense shall be on the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its
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stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this ARTICLE VII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation. The procedure for indemnification of other employees and agents for whom indemnification and advancement of expenses is provided pursuant to Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII shall be the same procedure set forth in this Section 2 of this ARTICLE VII for directors or officers, unless otherwise set forth in an action of the Board of Directors providing indemnification and advancement of expenses for such employee or agent.
Section 3. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 4. Service for Subsidiaries. Any person serving as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise, at least 50% of whose equity interests are owned by the Corporation (a “subsidiary” for purposes of this ARTICLE VII) shall be conclusively presumed to be serving in such capacity at the request of the Corporation.
Section 5. Reliance. Persons who after the date of the adoption of this provision become or remain directors or officers of the Corporation or who, while a director or officer of the Corporation, become or remain a director, officer, employee or agent of a subsidiary, shall be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights to indemnity, advance of expenses and other rights contained in this ARTICLE VII in entering into or continuing such service. The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall apply to claims made against an indemnitee arising out of acts or omissions which occurred or occur both prior and subsequent to the adoption hereof. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this ARTICLE VII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.
Section 6. Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Continuation of Rights to Indemnification. The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under the Certificate of Incorporation or under any statute, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. All rights to indemnification under this ARTICLE VII shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director or officer of the Corporation who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this ARTICLE VII is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this ARTICLE VII or repeal or modification of relevant provisions of the DGCL or any other applicable laws shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses of such director or officer or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to any proceeding arising out of, or relating to, any actions, transactions or facts occurring prior to the final adoption of such repeal or modification.
Section 7. Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this ARTICLE VII, references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this ARTICLE VII with respect to the resulting or
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surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
Section 8. Savings Clause. If this ARTICLE VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and advance expenses to each person entitled to indemnification under Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII as to all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes, penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person and for which indemnification and advancement of expenses is available to such person pursuant to this ARTICLE VII to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this ARTICLE VII that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed or repealed or new Bylaws adopted only in accordance with Section 1 of ARTICLE ELEVEN of the Certificate of Incorporation.
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Exhibit 3.2
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
VINCE HOLDING CORP.
A Delaware corporation
(Adopted as of November 27, 2013January 22, 2025)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Offices. Vince Holding Corp. (the “Corporation”) may have an office or offices other than its registered office at such place or places, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may designate a place, if any, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held at such time as is specified by the Board of Directors. At the annual meeting, stockholders shall elect directors to succeed those whose terms expire at such annual meeting and transact such other business as properly may be brought before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 11 of this ARTICLE II. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation as then in effect (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to business brought by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take action at a meeting, notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders not physically present may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Such notice shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) or the Certificate of Incorporation).
(a) Form of Notice. All such notices shall be delivered in writing or in any other manner permitted by the DGCL. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation. If given by facsimile telecommunication, such notice shall be deemed given when directed to a number at which the
stockholder has consented to receive notice by facsimile. Subject to the limitations of Section 4(c) of this ARTICLE II, if given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered: (i) by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (x) such posting and (y) the giving of such separate notice; and (iii) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the Secretary or an assistant Secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent of the Corporation or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(b) Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws (these “Bylaws”), a written waiver thereof, signed by the stockholder entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person or entity entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a stockholder of the Corporation at a meeting of such stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
(c) Notice by Electronic Delivery. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders of the Corporation pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice to stockholders of the Corporation given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder of the Corporation to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if: (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and (ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice. However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. For purposes of these Bylaws, except as otherwise limited by applicable law, the term “electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such recipient through an automated process.
Section 5. List of Stockholders. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make available, at least 10 days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place, if any, of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the list shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 5 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the outstanding voting power of all shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed or these Bylaws. If a quorum is not present, the
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chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place from time to time until a quorum shall be present or represented by proxy. When a specified item of business requires a separate vote by a class or series (if the Corporation shall then have outstanding shares of more than one class or series) voting as a class or series, the holders of a majority of the voting power of such class or series shall constitute a quorum (as to such class or series) for the transaction of such item of business.
Section 7. Adjourned Meetings. When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the place, if any, date and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors or such committee, as applicable, and, except as otherwise required by law, shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 8. Vote Required. When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of voting power of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders, unless by express provisions of an applicable law, the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed or the Certificate of Incorporation a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.
Section 9. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, the certificate of designation relating to any outstanding class or series of preferred stock or these Bylaws, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.
Section 10. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.
Section 11. Business Brought Before a Meeting of the Stockholders.
(a) Annual Meetings.
(i) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall be considered and such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations and other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and must be (A) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (B) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (C) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (I) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed or such nomination or nominations are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation)
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both at the time the notice provided for in paragraph (a) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II is delivered to the secretary of the Corporation and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders, (II) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (III) complies with the notice procedures set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II. For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which Public Announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation). In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of an annual meeting or the Public Announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no Public Announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (a) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such Public Announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(ii) A stockholder’s notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a director or directors of the Corporation shall set forth (A) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made (and for purposes of clauses (II) through (IX) below, including any interests described therein held by any affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) for purposes of these Bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owner or by any member of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household, in each case as of the date of such stockholder’s notice, which information shall be confirmed or updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting of stockholders and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to such meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such confirmation or update shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) business day after the record date for the meeting of stockholders (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the close of business on the eighth (8th) business day prior to the date for the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof)) (I) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (II) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) (provided that a person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future) and owned of record by such stockholder or beneficial owner, (III) the class or series, if any, and number of options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights, or similar rights, obligations or commitments with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, right, obligation or commitment shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation (each a “Derivative Security”), which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner, (IV) any agreement, arrangement,
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understanding, or relationship, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder or beneficial owner, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or beneficial owner with respect to any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, or that provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series or capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, (V) a description of any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit (including any performance-based fees) derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares or other securities of the Corporation, (VI) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner has a right to vote any shares or other securities of the Corporation, (VII) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or such beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (VIII) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Securities held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or beneficial owner is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, if any, (IX) a description of all agreements, arrangements, and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person(s) (including their name(s)) in connection with or related to the ownership or voting of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Securities, (X) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (XI) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to elect such stockholder’s nominees and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from the stockholders in support of such nomination and (XII) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination, and (B) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (I) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (II) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (III) a completed and signed questionnaire regarding the background and qualifications of such person to serve as a director, a copy of which may be obtained upon request to the Secretary of the Corporation, (IV) all information with respect to such person that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II if such person were a stockholder or beneficial owner, on whose behalf the nomination was made, submitting a notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a director or directors of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II, and (V) such additional information that the Corporation may reasonably request to determine the eligibility or qualifications of such person to serve as a director or an independent director of the Corporation, or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the qualifications and/or independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee as a director.
(iii) A stockholder’s notice regarding business proposed to be brought before a meeting of stockholders other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall set forth (A) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, the
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information called for by clauses (A)(I) through (A)(IX) of the immediately preceding paragraph (ii) (including any interests described therein held by any affiliates or associates of such stockholder or beneficial owner or by any member of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household, in each case as of the date of such stockholder’s notice, which information shall be confirmed or updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting of stockholders and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to such meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such confirmation or update shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) business day after the record date for the meeting of stockholders (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the close of business on the eighth (8th) business day prior to the date for the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof)), (B) a brief description of (I) the business desired to be brought before such meeting, (II) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and (III) any material interest of such stockholder or beneficial owner in such business, including a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person(s) (including the name(s) of such other person(s)) in connection with or related to the proposal of such business by the stockholder, (C) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (I) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to approve the proposal and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal and (II) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (D) if the matter such stockholder proposes to bring before any meeting of stockholders involves an amendment to the Corporation’s Bylaws, the specific wording of such proposed amendment, (E) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business and (F) such additional information that the Corporation may reasonably request regarding such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, and/or the business that such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.
(iv) The presiding officer of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not properly made or that any business was not properly brought before the meeting, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 of this ARTICLE II; if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such nomination not properly made or any business not properly brought before the meeting, as the case may be, shall not be transacted.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The notice of such special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (A) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination or nominations are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time the notice provided for in paragraph (b) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II is delivered to the Corporation’s Secretary and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote
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at the special meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election, and (C) complies with the notice procedures set forth in the third sentence of paragraph (b) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II shall be delivered to the Corporation’s Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which Public Announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of a special meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11 of this ARTICLE II, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 11, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
(ii) For purposes of this section, “Public Announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to any nomination or other business to be considered pursuant to Section 11 of this ARTICLE II.
(iv) Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to (A) affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, (B) confer upon any stockholder a right to have a nominee or any proposed business included in the Corporation’s proxy statement, or (C) affect any rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 12. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors, or a committee designated by the Board of Directors, may fix, except as otherwise required by law, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors, as applicable, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors or a committee thereof so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors or such committee determines, at the time
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it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next preceding the day on which notice is first given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 12 at the adjourned meeting.
Section 13. Action by Stockholders Without a Meeting. So long as stockholders of the Corporation have the right to act by written consent in accordance with Section 1 of ARTICLE EIGHT of the Certificate of Incorporation, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) Record Date. For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting as may be permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of designation relating to any outstanding class or series of preferred stock, the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors, may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors or such committee, as applicable, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days after the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors or such committee. Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take action by written consent shall, by written notice to the Secretary, request that the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors fix a record date, which notice shall include the text of any proposed resolutions. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors or committee thereof pursuant to this Section 13(a) or otherwise within ten (10) days of receipt of a valid request by a stockholder, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof is required pursuant to applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation pursuant to Section 13(b); provided, however, that if prior action by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall in such an event be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
(b) Generally. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take such action are delivered to the Corporation, in the manner required by this Section 13, within sixty (60) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days of the date of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation in the manner required by this Section 13. The validity of any consent executed by a proxy for a stockholder pursuant to an electronic transmission transmitted to such proxy holder by or upon the authorization of the stockholder shall be determined by or at the direction of the Secretary. A written record of the information upon which the person making such determination relied shall be made and kept in the records of the proceedings of the stockholders. Any such consent shall be inserted in the minute book as if it were the minutes of a meeting of stockholders. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given by the Corporation (at its expense) to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consent signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.
Section 14. Conduct of Meetings.
(a) Generally. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Chairman’s absence or disability by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence or disability, by the President, or in the President’s absence or disability, by a Vice President, or in the absence or
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disability of the foregoing persons by a chairperson designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the Secretary’s absence or disability the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) Rules, Regulations and Procedures. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The chairman of the meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination or matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chairman should so determine, such chairman shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The chairman of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power, for any reason, to recess and/or to adjourn any meeting of stockholders to another place, if any, date and time.
(c) Inspectors of Elections. The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or duly appointed inspectors.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to such powers as are herein and in the Certificate of Incorporation expressly conferred upon it, the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise all the powers of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws.
Section 2. Election. Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors; provided that, whenever the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation are entitled to elect one
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or more directors pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, any duly authorized certificate of designation), such directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of such class or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of such directors. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.
Section 3. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this Bylaw immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 4. Regular Meetings and Special Meetings. Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or upon the written request of at least a majority of the directors then in office.
Section 5. Notice of Meetings. Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given except as otherwise required by law or these Bylaws. Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of each regular and annual meeting of the Board of Directors for which notice is required, shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this Section 5. Such notice shall state the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting. Notice of any special meeting, and of any regular or annual meeting for which notice is required, shall be given to each director at least (a) twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting if by telephone or by being personally delivered or sent by telex, telecopy, email or similar means or (b) five (5) days before the meeting if delivered by mail to the director’s residence or usual place of business. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail so addressed, with postage prepaid, or when transmitted if sent by telex, telecopy, email or similar means. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 6. Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent. Any director may waive notice of any meeting of directors by a writing signed by the director or by electronic transmission. Any member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.
Section 7. Chairman of the Board, Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment. The Board of Directors may elect, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, a Chairman of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and following such time as Sun Cardinal, LLC (“Sun Cardinal”) has ceased to have the right pursuant to Article Six, Section 5 of the Certificate of Incorporation to designate the Chairman of the Board of Directors, thereafter P180 Acquisition Co. (“P180”) shall have the right to designate the Chairman of the Board of Directors for so long as Sun Cardinal, LLCP180, including through its Affiliates, beneficially owns at least thirty percent (30%) of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board may be a director or an officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and the direction of the Board of Directors, he or she shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the position of Chairman of the Board or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and Board of Directors at which he or she is present and have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. If the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the stockholders or the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and is not also the Chairman of the Board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the Chief Executive Officer is not present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one of the directors present at the meeting to so preside. A majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless by express provision of an applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws a different vote is required, the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. At any meeting of the Board of
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Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 8. Committees. The Board of Directors (i) may, by resolution passed by a majority of the directors then in office, designate one or more committees, including an executive committee, consisting of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, and (ii) shall during such period of time as any securities of the Corporation are listed on any exchange, by resolution passed by a majority of the directors then in office, designate all committees required by the rules and regulations of such exchange. Sun Cardinal, LLC (“Sun Cardinal”) Subject to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and following such time as Sun Cardinal has ceased to have the right pursuant to Article Six, Section 5 of the Certificate of Incorporation to designate the chairman of each committee designated by the Board of Directors, thereafter P180 shall have the right to designate the chairman of each committee designated by the Board of Directors for so long as Sun Cardinal,P180, including through its Affiliates, beneficially owns at least thirty percent (30%) of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation; provided that, the committee membership of each committee designated by the Board of Directors will comply with the applicable rules of the exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Except to the extent restricted by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, each such committee, to the extent provided by the DGCL and in the resolution creating it, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or as required by the rules and regulations of such exchange, if applicable. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors upon request.
Section 9. Committee Rules. Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee or as otherwise provided herein or required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. All matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 10. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 11. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees, reimbursement of expenses and equity compensation of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity, including for attendance of meetings of the Board of Directors or participation on any committees. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 12. Reliance on Books and Records. A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such members’ duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other
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person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 13. Telephonic and Other Meetings. Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
Section 14. Certain Director Designation Rights. Subject to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and following such time as Sun Cardinal has ceased to have the right pursuant to Article Six, Section 5 of the Certificate of Incorporation to designate a majority of the directors to the Board of Directors, thereafter for so long as P180, including through its Affiliates, beneficially owns at least thirty percent (30%) of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation, P180 shall have the right to designate a majority of the directors to the Board of Directors; provided that, at such time as the Corporation ceases to be a “controlled company,” the majority of the Board of Directors will be comprised of “independent” directors, as such terms are defined under the rules of the exchange on which the Corporation’s securities are listed.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as is convenient. The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as is convenient. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer or agent elected by the Board of Directors may be removed with or without cause by the Board of Directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or by such officers as may be designated by a resolution of the Board of Directors, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Compensation. Compensation of all executive officers shall be approved by the Board of Directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or by such officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the Corporation.
Section 6. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position. The Chief Executive Officer shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if a Chairman of the Board shall not have been elected, preside at each meeting of (a) the Board of Directors if the Chief Executive Officer is a director or (b) the stockholders. Subject to the powers of the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall be in general and active charge of the entire business and
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affairs of the Corporation, and shall be its chief policy making officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or provided in these Bylaws. The Chief Executive Officer is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. Whenever the President is unable to serve, by reason of sickness, absence or otherwise, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform all the duties and responsibilities and exercise all the powers of the President.
Section 7. The President. The President of the Corporation shall, subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees. The President shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The President is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors or as may be provided in these Bylaws. The President shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position.
Section 8. Vice Presidents. The Vice President, or if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents, in the order determined by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, act with all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the President. The Vice Presidents shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe. The Vice Presidents may also be designated as Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents, as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. A Vice President shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position.
Section 9. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors (other than executive sessions thereof) and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose or shall ensure that his or her designee attends each such meeting to act in such capacity. Under the Board of Directors’ supervision, the Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these Bylaws or by law; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, any of the assistant secretaries, shall in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or Secretary may, from time to time, prescribe. The Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to those positions.
Section 10. The Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with applicable law or generally accepted accounting principles; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors; shall receive, and give receipts for, moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever; shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; and shall render to the Board of Directors, at its regular meeting or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of the Corporation; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position.
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Section 11. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these Bylaws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.
Section 12. Officers’ Bonds or Other Security. If required by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors may require.
Section 13. Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person whom it may select.
ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. If shares are represented by certificates, the certificates shall be in such form as required by applicable law and as determined by the Board of Directors. Each certificate shall certify the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation and shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by (i) the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President and (ii) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation designated by the Board of Directors. Any or all signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been issued by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation at the date of issue. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The Board of Directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the Corporation. The Corporation, or its designated transfer agent or other agent, shall keep a book or set of books to be known as the stock transfer books of the Corporation, containing the name of each holder of record, together with such holder’s address and the number and class or series of shares held by such holder and the date of issue. When shares are represented by certificates, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to each holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred, certificates representing the shares owned by such holder, and shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation or its designated transfer agent or other agent of the certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates and record the transaction on its books. When shares are not represented by certificates, shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, with such evidence of the authenticity of such transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps, and within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, the Corporation shall send the holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred a written statement of the information required by applicable law. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or any other instrument, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.
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Section 2. Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue or direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares, the Corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct, sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
Section 3. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the owner of shares of stock to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner. The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares of stock on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Section 4. Fixing a Record Date for Purposes Other Than Stockholder Meetings or Actions by Written Consent. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action (other than stockholder meetings and stockholder written consents which are expressly governed by Sections 12 and 13 of ARTICLE II hereof), the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors or a committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 5. Regulations. The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of statutes and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared and paid by the Board of Directors, in accordance with applicable law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s theretofore unissued capital stock, subject to the provisions of applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors may think conducive to the interests of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserves in the manner in which they were created.
Section 2. Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be authorized by the Board of Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designation.
Section 3. Contracts. In addition to the powers otherwise granted to officers pursuant to ARTICLE IV hereof, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
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Section 4. Loans. Subject to compliance with applicable law (including Section 13(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), the Corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the Corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a director of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the Corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the Corporation. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the Corporation at common law or under any statute.
Section 5. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no seal shall be required by virtue of this Section 6.
Section 7. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief Financial Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation, unless the Board of Directors specifically confers authority to vote or act with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.
Section 8. Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded and the day of the event shall be included.
Section 9. Inspection of Books and Records. Subject to applicable law, the Board of Directors shall have power from time to time to determine to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, unless and until authorized to do so by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 10. Facsimile Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
Section 11. Section Headings. Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 12. Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, the provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.
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ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Right to Indemnification and Advancement. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including involvement, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of the Corporation or as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes, penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in this Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII shall be a contract right. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred herein, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “advance of expenses”); provided, however, that if and to the extent that the DGCL requires, an advance of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 1 of this Article VII or otherwise. The Corporation may also, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification and advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification. Any indemnification of a director or officer of the Corporation or advance of expenses (including attorneys’ fees, costs and charges) under this Section 2 of this ARTICLE VII shall be made promptly, and in any event within forty-five days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days, provided that the director or officer has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII if required), upon the written request of the director or officer. If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advance of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within forty-five days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days, provided that the director or officer has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII if required), the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this ARTICLE VII shall be enforceable by the director or officer in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advance of expenses where the undertaking required pursuant to Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of such defense shall be on the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its
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stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this ARTICLE VII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation. The procedure for indemnification of other employees and agents for whom indemnification and advancement of expenses is provided pursuant to Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII shall be the same procedure set forth in this Section 2 of this ARTICLE VII for directors or officers, unless otherwise set forth in an action of the Board of Directors providing indemnification and advancement of expenses for such employee or agent.
Section 3. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 4. Service for Subsidiaries. Any person serving as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise, at least 50% of whose equity interests are owned by the Corporation (a “subsidiary” for purposes of this ARTICLE VII) shall be conclusively presumed to be serving in such capacity at the request of the Corporation.
Section 5. Reliance. Persons who after the date of the adoption of this provision become or remain directors or officers of the Corporation or who, while a director or officer of the Corporation, become or remain a director, officer, employee or agent of a subsidiary, shall be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights to indemnity, advance of expenses and other rights contained in this ARTICLE VII in entering into or continuing such service. The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall apply to claims made against an indemnitee arising out of acts or omissions which occurred or occur both prior and subsequent to the adoption hereof. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this ARTICLE VII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.
Section 6. Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Continuation of Rights to Indemnification. The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under the Certificate of Incorporation or under any statute, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. All rights to indemnification under this ARTICLE VII shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director or officer of the Corporation who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this ARTICLE VII is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this ARTICLE VII or repeal or modification of relevant provisions of the DGCL or any other applicable laws shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses of such director or officer or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to any proceeding arising out of, or relating to, any actions, transactions or facts occurring prior to the final adoption of such repeal or modification.
Section 7. Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this ARTICLE VII, references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this ARTICLE VII with respect to the resulting or
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surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
Section 8. Savings Clause. If this ARTICLE VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and advance expenses to each person entitled to indemnification under Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII as to all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes, penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person and for which indemnification and advancement of expenses is available to such person pursuant to this ARTICLE VII to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this ARTICLE VII that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed or repealed or new Bylaws adopted only in accordance with Section 1 of ARTICLE ELEVEN of the Certificate of Incorporation.
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Exhibit 10.1
Execution Version
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
This FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is entered into as of January 22, 2025, by and among V OPCO, LLC (f/k/a VINCE, LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors signatory hereto, each Lender signatory hereto, each L/C Issuer signatory hereto, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents (in such capacities, the “Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the Agent, and the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as lenders (the “Lenders”) are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, modified, or otherwise in effect from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”; the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, the “Amended Credit Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Borrower has advised the Agent that P180 Vince Acquisition Co., a Delaware corporation (“P180”) will be purchasing (x) all of the Equity Interests of the Parent owned by Sun Capital Partners V, L.P. (and its Affiliates) and (y) all or a portion of the Subordinated Indebtedness owing by the Borrower to SK Financial Services, LLC under the Third Lien Credit Agreement (after giving effect to the Third Lien Debt Payment, as hereinafter defined), in each case, pursuant to (and in accordance with) that certain Stock and Loan Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “SLPA”), by and among P180, as purchaser, and Sun Cardinal, LLC, SCSF Cardinal, LLC and SK Financial Services, LLC, as sellers (the transactions contemplated pursuant to the SLPA being hereinafter referred to as the “P180 Transactions”);
WHEREAS, the Borrower has further advised the Agent that during the period beginning on the Amendment Effective Date (as defined below) and ending on January 24, 2025 it will be making one or more voluntary prepayments of the Subordinated Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Third Lien Credit Agreement in an aggregate payment amount of up to $20,200,000.00 (the “Third Lien Debt Prepayment");
WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing, the Borrower and the Guarantors have requested that the Agent and the Lenders agree to, and the Agent and the Lenders have expressed their willingness to, amend the Credit Agreement as provided herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is agreed as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions. Unless otherwise indicated, all capitalized terms used herein (including the preamble and the recitals) and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings provided to such terms in the Amended Credit Agreement.
SECTION 2. Amendment Effective Date Composite Amendment. On the Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete the bold, stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and to add the bold,
1
double-under lined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) as set forth in the pages of the Amended Credit Agreement attached as Annex A hereto.
SECTION 3. Conditions to Effectiveness of Amendment. Section 2 to this Amendment shall become effective on the date that each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived in writing by the Agent) (the “Amendment Effective Date”):
2
SECTION 4. [Reserved].
SECTION 5. Representations and Warranties. To induce the Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Amendment, the Borrower and each other Loan Party represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders on and as of the Amendment Effective Date that, in each case:
SECTION 6. Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents; Ratification.
3
SECTION 7. Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 8. Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Amendment may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures. Each party hereto agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with this Amendment shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that this Amendment, to the extent 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. This Amendment 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance of a manually signed paper signature page which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed signature page converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Agent and each of the Loan Parties may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Amendment 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. This Amendment, if provided 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 Agent, nor any L/C Issuer nor Swing Line Lender is under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Agent, any L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the 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 without further verification and regardless of the appearance or form of such Electronic Signature, and (b) upon the request of the Agent or any Loan Party, any signature page hereto executed using an Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart.
SECTION 9. Miscellaneous. Sections 10.14, 10.15 and 10.16 of the Amended Credit Agreement are incorporated herein mutatis mutandis. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document.
SECTION 10. Third Lien Subordination Consent. The Agent, in its capacity as “Senior Agent” under and as defined in the Third Lien Subordination Agreement, (a) consents to (i) the amendment of the Third Lien Credit Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in that certain Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Annex B, dated on or around the date hereof, among the Borrower, the Guarantors, SK Financial Services, LLC as administrative agent and collateral agent and the lenders party thereto and (ii) the disposition of the Subordinated Debt by the Junior Creditor to P180 and (b) waives the requirement to provide at least ten Business Days notice prior to the date of the disposition.
[The remainder of the page is intentionally left blank]
4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly authorized officers to execute and deliver this Amendment as of the date first above written.
V OPCO, LLC (F/K/A VINCE, LLC), as Borrower
By: /s/ David Stefko
Name: David Stefko
Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer
VINCE INTERMEDIATE HOLDING, LLC, as a Guarantor
By: /s/ David Stefko
Name: David Stefko
Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer
VINCE HOLDING CORP., as a Guarantor
By: /s/ David Stefko
Name: David Stefko
Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer
[Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement]
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent, Swing Line Lender, L/C Issuer, and a Lender
By: /s/ Jennifer Cann
Name: Jennifer Cann
Title: Senior Vice President
[Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement]
ANNEX A
Amendment Effective Date Composite Credit Agreement
[see attached]
Conformed through First Amendment
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 23, 2023
as amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2025,
among
v opco, llc (f/k/a Vince, LLC),
as the Borrower,
The Guarantors Named Herein,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Agent
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
BofA SECURITIES, INC.,
as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS 1
1.01 Defined Terms 1
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions 50
1.03 Accounting Terms 51
1.04 [Reserved] 51
1.05 Rounding 5251
1.06 Times of Day 5251
1.07 Letter of Credit Amounts 5251
1.08 Currency Equivalents Generally 52
1.09 Pro Forma Basis 52
1.10 Interest Rates 53
ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS 5453
2.01 Committed Loans 5453
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans 54
2.03 Letters of Credit 56
2.04 Swing Line Loans 6564
2.05 Prepayments; Loan Reallocation 67
2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments 68
2.07 Repayment of Obligations 69
2.08 Interest 69
2.09 Fees 7069
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees 70
2.11 Evidence of Debt 70
2.12 Payments Generally; Agent’s Clawback 71
2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders 73
2.14 Settlement Amongst Lenders 73
2.15 Increase in Commitments 74
2.16 Defaulting Lenders 76
2.17 Extensions of Loans 78
ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY 80
3.01 Taxes 80
3.02 Illegality 84
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates 84
3.04 Increased Costs 86
3.05 Compensation for Losses 87
3.06 Mitigation Obligations 88
3.07 Survival 88
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS 88
4.01 Conditions to Initial Credit Extension 88
4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions 90
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 91
5.01 Financial Condition 91
5.02 No Change 92
5.03 Existence, Compliance with Requirements of Law 92
5.04 Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations 92
(i)
5.05 No Legal Bar 93
5.06 No Material Litigation 93
5.07 No Default 93
5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens 93
5.09 Intellectual Property 93
5.10 Taxes 94
5.11 Federal Regulations 94
5.12 ERISA 94
5.13 Investment Company Act 95
5.14 Subsidiaries 95
5.15 Environmental Compliance 9695
5.16 Accuracy of Information, Etc 96
5.17 Security Documents 96
5.18 Solvency 97
5.19 Senior Indebtedness 97
5.20 Labor Matters 97
5.21 Regulation H 9897
5.22 Anti-Money Laundering and Economic Sanctions Laws 9897
5.23 Insurance 98
5.24 Deposit Accounts; Credit Card Arrangements 98
5.25 EEA Financial Institution 9998
5.26 Beneficial Ownership Certificate 9998
ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 99
6.01 Financial Statements 99
6.02 Certificates; Other Information 100
6.03 Notices 102
6.04 Payment of Obligations 103
6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc 104103
6.06 Maintenance of Properties 104103
6.07 Maintenance of Insurance 104
6.08 Compliance with Requirements of Laws 105104
6.09 [Reserved] 105
6.10 Inspection Rights 105
6.11 Additional Collateral and Additional Loan Parties 106105
6.12 Cash Management 108107
6.13 Cycle Counts; Physical Count 109
6.14 Environmental Laws 110109
6.15 Further Assurances 110109
6.16 Post-Closing Obligations 110
ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS 110
7.01 Liens 110
7.02 Investments 113
7.03 Indebtedness 115
7.04 Fundamental Changes 118117
7.05 Dispositions 118
7.06 Restricted Payments 121120
7.07 Prepayments of Indebtedness 122
7.08 Change in Nature of Business 123122
7.09 Transactions with Affiliates 124123
(ii)
7.10 Burdensome Agreements 124123
7.11 Use of Proceeds 125124
7.12 Amendment of Material Documents 125124
7.13 Fiscal Year 125
7.14 Deposit Accounts; Credit Card Processors 125
7.15 Sales and Leasebacks 125
7.16 Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions 125
7.17 Limitation on Hedge Agreements 126
7.18 Financial Covenant 126
7.19 Tax Receivable Agreement[Reserved] 126
7.20 Sanctions 126
ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES 127126
8.01 Events of Default 127126
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default 130129
8.03 Application of Funds 130
ARTICLE IX THE AGENT 132131
9.01 Appointment 132131
9.02 [Reserved] 132
9.03 [Reserved] 132
9.04 Delegation of Duties 132
9.05 Exculpatory Provisions 132
9.06 Reliance by Agent 133
9.07 Notice of Default 134133
9.08 Non-Reliance on Agent, the Arranger and the Other Lenders 134133
9.09 Indemnification 134
9.10 Rights as a Lender 135134
9.11 Successor Agent; Removal of Agent 135
9.12 Collateral and Guaranty Matters 136135
9.13 No Other Duties, Etc 136
9.14 Agent May File Proofs of Claim 136
9.15 Notice of Transfer 137136
9.16 Reports and Financial Statements 137136
9.17 Agency for Perfection 138137
9.18 Relation among Lenders 138137
9.19 Risk Participation 138137
9.20 Certain ERISA Matters 139138
9.21 Recovery of Erroneous Payments 139
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS 140139
10.01 Amendments and Waivers 140139
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications 142
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies 144143
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver 144
10.05 Payments Set Aside 146145
10.06 Successors and Assigns 146
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality 150
10.08 Right of Setoff 151
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation 152151
10.10 Integration; Effectiveness 152151
(iii)
10.11 Survival 152
10.12 Severability 152
10.13 Replacement of Lenders 153152
10.14 GOVERNING LAW 154153
10.15 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVERS 154153
10.16 Waivers of Jury Trial 154
10.17 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility 154
10.18 USA PATRIOT Act; Proceeds of Crime Act 155154
10.19 Foreign Asset Control Regulations 155
10.20 Time of the Essence 155
10.21 [Reserved] 155
10.22 Press Releases 155
10.23 Additional Waivers 156155
10.24 Judgment Currency 157156
10.25 No Strict Construction 157
10.26 Attachments 157
10.27 Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts 158157
10.28 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions 159158
10.29 Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs 159
(iv)
SCHEDULES
1.01 Guarantors
2.01 Commitments and Applicable Percentages
4.01 Unrestricted Subsidiaries
5.01 Contingent Obligations; Certain Indebtedness
5.08(a) Excepted Property
5.08(b) Owned and Leased Real Estate
5.14 Subsidiaries
5.17 Filing Jurisdictions
5.23 Insurance
5.24(a) DDAs
5.24(b) Credit Card Arrangements
6.16 Post-Closing Obligations
7.01(f) Existing Liens
7.02 Existing Investments
7.03(d) Existing Indebtedness
7.09 Affiliate Transactions
7.10 Existing Burdensome Agreements
7.16 Existing Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions
10.02 Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
(v)
EXHIBITS
Form of
A-1 Committed Loan Notice
A-2 Swing Line Loan Notice
B-1 Revolving Note
B-2 Swing Line Note
C Compliance Certificate
D Assignment and Assumption
E-1 Foreign Lender Exemption Certificate
E-2 Foreign Lender U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
E-3 Alternative Form Foreign Lender U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
E-4 Foreign Partnership U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
F Closing and Solvency Certificate
G Representations and Warranties Certificate
H Credit Card Notification
I Borrowing Base Certificate
J Joinder Agreement
K Closing Checklist
L Notice of Loan Prepayment
(vi)
CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of June 23, 2023, among
V OPCO, LLC (F/K/A VINCE, LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”),
the Guarantors named on Schedule 1.01 hereto,
each Lender from time to time party hereto,
each L/C Issuer from time to time party hereto, and
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent.
The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend and the L/C Issuers have indicated their willingness to issue Letters of Credit, in each case on the terms and 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
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“ABG Agreements” means, collectively, the ABG Purchase Agreement, the ABL License Agreement and the Vince License Agreement.
“ABG IP Sale” means the sale of substantially all of certain Loan Parties’ Intellectual Property pursuant to the ABG Purchase Agreement.
“ABG Purchase Agreement” means that certain Intellectual Property Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of April 21, 2023, by and among the Borrower, ABG-VIKING, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the other parties thereto (if any).
“ABG-Vince” means ABG-Vince LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“ABL License Agreement” means that certain Licensor Consent Letter Agreement dated as of the Closing Date, by and among ABG-Viking, the Borrower and the Agent.
“Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event” means either (i) the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default or (ii) the failure of the Borrower to maintain Excess Availability of at least the Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Trigger Amount for three (3) consecutive Business Days. For purposes of this Agreement, the occurrence of an Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event shall be deemed continuing (x) so long as such Event of Default has not been waived in accordance with the terms hereof, and/or (y) if such Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event arises as a result of the Borrower’s failure to achieve Excess Availability of at least the Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Trigger Amount for three (3) consecutive Business Days, until the date Excess Availability shall have been at least equal to the Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Trigger Amount for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days. The
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termination of an Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event as provided herein shall in no way limit, waive or delay the occurrence of a subsequent Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Event in the event that the conditions set forth in this definition again arise.
“Accelerated Borrowing Base Delivery Trigger Amount” means, at any time of determination, the greater of (i) fifteen percent (15%) of the Loan Cap in effect at such time and (ii) $12,000,000.
“Acceptable Document of Title” means, with respect to any Inventory, a tangible bill of lading or other document (as defined in the UCC) that (a) is issued to the order of a Loan Party or, if so requested by the Agent solely with respect to negotiable documents (as defined in the UCC), to the order of the Agent, (b) is not subject to any Lien (other than in favor of the Agent), and (c) is on terms otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Agent.
“Account” means “accounts” as defined in the UCC and also means a right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, (a) for property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered, or (c) arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card. The term “Account” does not include (a) rights to payment evidenced by chattel paper or an instrument, (b) commercial tort claims, (c) deposit accounts, (d) investment property, or (e) letter of credit rights or letters of credit.
“ACH” means automated clearing house transfers.
“Acquisition” means, with respect to any Person (a) an Investment in or a purchase of a fifty percent (50%) or greater interest in the Equity Interests of any other Person, (b) a purchase or other acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or properties of another Person, (c) a purchase or acquisition of a Real Estate portfolio or stores from any other Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of any other Person, (d) any merger or consolidation of such Person with any other Person or other transaction or series of transactions resulting in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets, or greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests, of any Person, in each case, in any transaction or group of transactions which are part of a common plan.
“Additional Commitment Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.15(c).
“Adjustment Date” means the first day of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the first day of the first Fiscal Quarter following the Borrower’s delivery (after the Closing Date) of two consecutive Compliance Certificates pursuant to Section 6.02(b) with respect to annual or quarterly financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), each demonstrating that the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the four Fiscal Quarter period covered thereby is at least equal to 1.0 to 1.0.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Agent.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, in either case whether by contract or otherwise.
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“Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor thereto.
“Agent Parties” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c).
“Agent’s Office” means the Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders. As of the Closing Date, the Aggregate Commitments equal $85,000,000.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.
“Amended or Refinanced” means, in respect of any obligation, or the agreement or contract pursuant to which such obligation is incurred, (a) such obligation (or any portion thereof) or related agreement or contract as extended, renewed, defeased, amended, amended and restated, supplemented, modified, restructured, consolidated, refinanced, replaced, refunded or repaid from time to time and (b) any other obligation issued in exchange or replacement for or to refinance such obligation, in whole or in part, whether with same or different lenders, arrangers and/or agents and whether with a larger or smaller aggregate principal amount and/or a shorter or longer maturity, in each case to the extent not prohibited under the terms of the Loan Documents then in effect. “Amend or Refinance” and “Amendment or Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.
“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any and all laws, judgments, orders, executive orders, decrees, ordinances, rules, regulations, statutes, case law or treaties applicable to a Loan Party, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, related to terrorism financing or money laundering including any applicable provision of Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA PATRIOT Act) of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56) and The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act”, 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959).
“Applicable Lenders” means the Required Lenders, the Required Supermajority Lenders, all affected Lenders, or all Lenders, as the context may require.
“Applicable Margin” means:
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Level |
Average Daily Excess Availability |
Term SOFR Loan Margin |
Base Rate Loan Margin |
SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan Margin |
I |
Greater than 66.7% of the Loan Cap |
2.00% |
1.00% |
2.00%
|
II |
Greater than or equal to 33.3% of the Loan Cap but less than or equal to 66.7% of the Loan Cap |
2.25% |
1.25% |
2.25%
|
III |
Less than 33.3% of the Loan Cap |
2.50% |
1.50% |
2.50%
|
“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 2.16 and 10.06. If the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption or other instrument pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
“Applicable Rate” means, at any time of calculation, (a) with respect to Commercial Letters of Credit, a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin for Loans which are Term SOFR Loans less 0.50%, and (b) with respect to Standby Letters of Credit, a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin for Loans which are Term SOFR Loans.
“Appraised Value” means the appraised orderly liquidation value, net of costs and expenses to be incurred in connection with any such liquidation, which value is expressed as a percentage of Cost of Eligible Inventory, which value shall be determined from time to time by the most recent appraisal undertaken by an independent appraiser reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
“Approved Fund” means, with respect to any Lender, any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages such Lender.
“Arranger” means BofA Securities, Inc., in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner.
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“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06), and accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Agent.
“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of the Fiscal Year ended January 28, 2023 and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), of stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for such Fiscal Year, including the notes thereto.
“Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the Termination Date.
“Availability Reserves” means any Reserves established by the Agent in its Permitted Discretion which relate to any factor which the Agent reasonably determines, without duplication of any other Reserves or items that are otherwise addressed or excluded through eligibility criteria or factored into the advance rates (a) to reflect the impediments to the Agent’s ability to realize upon the Collateral, (b) to reflect claims and liabilities that the Agent determines will need to be satisfied in connection with the realization upon the Collateral, or (c) to reflect criteria, events, conditions, contingencies or risks which adversely affect any component of the Borrowing Base, the aggregate value of the Collateral reflected in the Borrowing Base or the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents or the material remedies of the Credit Parties thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Availability Reserves may include, in the Agent’s Permitted Discretion, (but are not limited to) reserves based on: (i) rent, (ii) customs duties, and other costs to release Inventory which is being imported into the United States, (iii) outstanding Taxes and other governmental charges, including, without limitation, ad valorem, real estate, personal property, sales, claims of the PBGC and other Taxes which may have priority over the interests of the Agent in the Collateral, (iv) salaries, wages, vacation pay and benefits due to employees of any Loan Party, (v) Customer Credit Liabilities, (vi) customer deposits, (viii) reserves for reasonably anticipated changes in the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory between appraisals, (viii) warehousemen’s, carrier’s or bailee’s charges and other Liens permitted under Section 7.01 which have priority over the interests of the Agent in the Collateral, (ix) amounts due to vendors on account of consigned goods, (x) Cash Management Reserves, (xi) Bank Products Reserves, (xii) obligations with respect to the Loan Parties’ self-insurance, (xiii) amounts due to vendors on account of Eligible In-Transit Inventory (but only to the extent such amounts are not supported by a Commercial Letter of Credit), (xiv) reserves for pension plan contributions, (xv) reserves based on dilution of Accounts, (xvi) reserves in the Agent’s Permitted Discretion for any non-retail third party location (including fulfillment centers) in which Collateral with a value in excess of $500,000 of inventory is maintained, whether or not such location is in a Landlord Lien State (or, to the extent that more than $2,500,000 of Collateral in the aggregate is maintained at all such locations, even if the value of the Collateral at any location is less than $500,000) (including based on fees charged by the operator of any such facility), and (xvii) the Vince License Agreement Reserves; provided, that (i) notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the Agent shall only be permitted to impose rent reserves with respect to any leased location of any Loan Party equal to one (1) month’s rent (plus any past due rent) if the Loan Parties do not deliver to the Agent a Collateral Access Agreement by the 90th day after the Closing Date for (x) any leased location of any Loan Party that is located in a Landlord Lien State, (y) any leased distribution center of any Loan Party in which Collateral with a value in excess of $500,000 of inventory is maintained at any time, whether or not such location is in a Landlord Lien State (or, to the extent that more than $2,500,000 of Collateral in the aggregate is maintained at all such leased distribution centers, even if the value of the
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Collateral at any leased distribution center is less than $500,000), and (z) the headquarters location, and (b) the Agent shall only be permitted to impose reserves equal to two (2) month’s fees (calculated based on the average monthly fees charged by the applicable third party warehouse location during the most recently completed twelve month period) or one (1) month’s rent (plus any past due fees or rent), as applicable, for any third party warehouse location (including any fulfillment center) not leased or owned by a Loan Party in which Collateral with a value in excess of $500,000 of inventory is maintained, whether or not such third party warehouse location is in a Landlord Lien State (or, to the extent that more than $2,500,000 of Collateral in the aggregate is maintained at all such third party warehouse locations, even if the value of the Collateral at any third party warehouse location is less than $500,000)), (ii) Bank Product Reserves in respect of Hedge Agreements secured by the Collateral shall require the consent of the Borrower, (iii) any Reserve with respect to Customer Credit Liabilities under clause (a) of the definition thereof shall not exceed 50% of such Customer Credit Liabilities, and (iv) any Reserve with respect to the Vince License Agreement Reserves shall not exceed the amounts set forth in the definition thereof.
“Average Daily Excess Availability” shall mean the average daily Excess Availability for the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Bank Products” means any services or facilities provided to any Loan Party by the Agent, any Lender, or any of their respective branches or Affiliates on account of (a) Hedge Agreements, (b) leasing, or (c) factoring (but only to the extent that the applicable Loan Party and the Credit Party furnishing such services or facilities notify the Agent in writing that such services or facilities are to be deemed Bank Products hereunder), but excluding Cash Management Services.
“Bank Product Reserves” means such reserves as the Agent from time to time determine in its Permitted Discretion as being appropriate to reflect the liabilities and obligations of the Loan Parties with respect to Bank Products then provided or outstanding.
“Banker’s Acceptance” means a time draft or bill of exchange or other deferred payment obligation relating to a Commercial Letter of Credit which has been accepted by an L/C Issuer.
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate”, (c) the SOFR Daily Floating Rate on such day, plus 1.00% and (d) 1.00%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business
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on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternative rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, then the Base Rate shall be the greater 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.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“Blocked Account” means any deposit account in which any funds of any of the Loan Parties from one or more DDAs (other than any Excluded DDA) are concentrated and with respect to which a Blocked Account Agreement has been, or is required to be, executed in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Blocked Account Agreement” means with respect to an account established by a Loan Party, an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, establishing control (as defined in the UCC) of such account by the Agent and whereby the bank maintaining such account agrees upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Event, to comply only with the instructions originated by the Agent without the further consent of any Loan Party.
“Blocked Account Bank” has the meaning provided in Section 6.12.
“Borrower” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors (or comparable managers) of such Person, or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board of directors (or comparable managers).
“Borrower Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified in Section 5.09.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing made to the Borrower, as the context may require.
“Borrowing Base” means, at any time of calculation, an amount equal to (but not less than zero):
(a) the face amount of Eligible Trade Receivables of the Loan Parties multiplied by 85%;
plus
(b) the face amount of Eligible Credit Card Receivables of the Loan Parties multiplied by 90%;
plus
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(c) 90% multiplied by the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory of the Loan Parties multiplied by the Cost of such Eligible Inventory, net of Inventory Reserves; provided, that the aggregate net amount of availability from Eligible In-Transit Inventory included in the Borrowing Base pursuant to this clause (c) (net of Inventory Reserves and after applying the foregoing advance rate and Appraised Value but, for avoidance of doubt, before giving effect to clause (d) below) shall not exceed 20% of the Borrowing Base;
minus
(d) the then amount of all Availability Reserves.
The amount of the Borrowing Base at any time shall be determined by reference to the then most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement, as adjusted to give effect to the establishment of (or any modifications to) any Reserves, or any eligibility determinations made by the Agent, following such delivery.
“Borrowing Base Assets” means Accounts, Credit Card Receivables and Inventory of the type included in the Borrowing Base, including all proceeds and products thereof.
“Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto (with such changes therein as may be reasonably required by the Agent to reflect the components of and Reserves against the Borrowing Base as provided for hereunder from time to time), executed and certified as accurate and complete in all material respects by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower which shall include appropriate exhibits, schedules, supporting documentation, and additional reports as reasonably requested by the Agent.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Term SOFR Loan or any SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan, in New York City.
“Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all cash expenditures by such Person for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to Capital Lease Obligations but excluding any amount representing capitalized interest) of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements during such period) which are required to be capitalized under GAAP on a balance sheet of such Person; provided that in any event the term “Capital Expenditures” shall exclude: (i) any Permitted Acquisition and any other Investment permitted hereunder; (ii) expenditures to the extent financed with the proceeds from any casualty insurance or condemnation or eminent domain, to the extent that the proceeds therefrom are utilized (or are contractually committed to be utilized) for capital expenditures within twelve (12) months of the receipt of such proceeds; (iii) expenditures for leasehold improvements for which such Person has been reimbursed or received a credit; and (iv) expenditures to the extent they are made with the proceeds of equity contributions (other than in respect of Disqualified Stock) made to the Borrower after the Closing Date, (v) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment solely to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time; (vi) without duplication of the provisions of clause (iii), above, expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures by the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and that actually are paid for by a Person other than the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and for which neither the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary has provided or is required to provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such Person or any other Person (whether before, during or after such period);
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(vii) expenditures that constitute operating lease expenses in accordance with GAAP; (viii) any capitalized interest expense reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment in the consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and (ix) any non-cash compensation or other non-cash costs reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment in the consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Capital Lease Obligations” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP, subject to Section 1.03(c).
“Cash Collateral Account” means, with respect to the L/C Obligations, an account (which may, in accordance with Section 2.03(g) and at the Borrower’s option, be established as an interest-bearing account) established by the Borrower with Bank of America, and in the name of, the Agent (or as the Agent shall otherwise direct) and under the sole and exclusive dominion and control of the Agent, in which deposits are required to be made in accordance with Section 2.03 or Section 8.02.
“Cash Collateralize” means to deposit in the Cash Collateral Account or to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the Agent, the L/C Issuers or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances or, if the Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer and in an amount equal to 103% of the maximum stated amount of any such Letter of Credit, determined in the manner set forth in Section 1.07 hereof. “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support. Any such amounts on deposit may, at the option of the Agent after request by the Borrower, be invested in Cash Equivalents.
“Cash Dominion Event” means either (i) the occurrence and continuance of any Specified Event of Default, or (ii) the failure of the Borrower to maintain Excess Availability of at least the Cash Dominion Trigger Amount for three (3) consecutive Business Days. For purposes of this Agreement, the occurrence of a Cash Dominion Event shall be deemed continuing (i) so long as such Specified Event of Default has not been waived, and/or (ii) if the Cash Dominion Event arises as a result of the Borrower’s failure to achieve Excess Availability of at least the Cash Dominion Trigger Amount for three (3) consecutive Business Days, until the date Excess Availability shall have been at least equal to the Cash Dominion Trigger Amount for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days; provided that a Cash Dominion Event may be discontinued only three (3) times during any 365 day period. The termination of a Cash Dominion Event as provided herein shall in no way limit, waive or delay the occurrence of a subsequent Cash Dominion Event in the event that the conditions set forth in this definition again arise.
“Cash Dominion Trigger Amount” means, at any time of determination, the greater of (i) twelve and one half percent (12.5%) of the Loan Cap in effect at such time and (ii) $10,000,000.
“Cash Equivalents” means (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than
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$500,000,000; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-2 by S&P or P-2 by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (d) repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s; (f) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition; and (g) shares of money market mutual or similar funds which invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of any of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition; or (h) money market funds that (i) purport to comply generally with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000; or (i) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, (i) such local currencies in those countries in which such Foreign Subsidiary transacts business from time to time in the ordinary course of business and (ii) investments of comparable tenor and credit quality to those described above customarily utilized in the countries in which such Foreign Subsidiaries operate for short-term cash management purposes.
“Cash Management Reserves ” means such Reserves as the Agent, from time to time, after the occurrence and during the continuation of a Cash Dominion Event, determines in its Permitted Discretion as being appropriate to reflect the reasonably anticipated liabilities and obligations of the Loan Parties with respect to Cash Management Services then provided or outstanding.
“Cash Management Services” means any cash management services provided to any Loan Party by the Agent or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates, including, without limitation, (a) ACH transactions, (b) controlled disbursement services, treasury, depository, overdraft, and electronic funds transfer services, (c) credit card processing services, (d) credit or debit cards, (e) purchase cards, (f) supply chain finance services (including, without limitation, electronic trade payable services and supplier accounts receivable purchases), and (g) foreign exchange facilities (but only to the extent that the applicable Loan Party and the Credit Party furnishing such cash management services notify the Agent in writing that such cash management services are to be deemed Cash Management Services hereunder). For the avoidance of doubt, Cash Management Services do not include Hedge Agreements.
“CFC” means any Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.
“CFC Holdco” means any Domestic Subsidiary that has no material assets other than the Equity Interests of and, if applicable, Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.
“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 or in the implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for
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International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:
(a) the Parent shall cease directly or indirectly to own 100% of the Equity Interests of Holdings and the Borrower (except to the extent Holdings is permitted to merge with the Parent pursuant to Section 7.04); or
(b) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Investors shall be the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act) of Equity Interests having more, directly or indirectly, than 35% of the total voting power of all outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent in the election of directors, unless at such time the Permitted Investors are direct or indirect “beneficial owners” (as so defined) of Equity Interests of the Parent having a greater percentage of the total voting power of all outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent in the election of directors than that owned by each other “person” or “group” described above; or
(c) for any reason whatsoever, a majority of the Board of Directors of the Parent shall not be Continuing Directors; or
(d) a “Change of Control” (or comparable term) shall occur under any Junior Indebtedness or the documentation for any Amendment or Refinancing thereof, in each case, if the outstanding principal amount thereof is in excess of $10,000,000.
“China JV” means a joint venture to be established after the Closing Date for the purposes of facilitating operations in China.
“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01, which date is June 23, 2023.
“CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended and in effect.
“Collateral” means any and all “Collateral”, “Security Assets” or “Mortgaged Property” as defined in any applicable Security Document and all other property that is subject to Liens in favor of the Agent under the terms of the Security Documents.
“Collateral Access Agreement” means an agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent executed by (a) a bailee or other Person in possession of Collateral, or (b) any landlord of Real Estate leased by any Loan Party, pursuant to which such Person (i) acknowledges the Agent’s Lien on the Collateral, (ii) releases or subordinates such Person’s Liens in the Collateral held by such Person or located on such Real Estate, (iii) provides the Agent with access to the Collateral held by such bailee or other Person or located in or on such Real Estate, and (iv) makes such other agreements with the Agent as the Agent may reasonably require.
“Collection Account” has the meaning provided in Section 6.12.
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“Commercial Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit or similar instrument (including, without limitation, Bankers’ Acceptances) issued for the purpose of providing the primary payment mechanism in connection with the purchase of any materials, goods or services by a Loan Party in the ordinary course of business of such Loan Party.
“Commitments” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption or other instrument 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. As of the Closing Date, the total Commitments of all Lenders is $85,000,000.
“Commitment Fee Percentage” means, for any day, 0.50%.
“Committed Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Committed Loan” means any loan at any time made by any Lender pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a Conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Term SOFR Loans pursuant to Section 2.02(b), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 (Committed Loan Notice) or such other form as may be approved by the Agent, including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Agent, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
“Commonly Controlled Entity” means an entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the Parent within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA.
“Commonly Controlled Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(b).
“Communication” means this Agreement, any other Loan Document and any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to any Loan Document.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
“Conforming Changes” means, with respect to the use, administration of or any conventions associated with SOFR or any proposed Successor Rate or Term SOFR, as applicable, any conforming changes to the definitions of “Base Rate”, “SOFR”, “SOFR Daily Floating Rate”, “Term SOFR”, “Daily Simple SOFR”, and “Interest Period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definition of “Business Day” and “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Agent, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such applicable rate(s), and to permit the administration thereof by the Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such rate exists, in such other
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manner of administration as the Agent determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Document).
“Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
“Consent” means actual consent given by a Lender from whom such consent is sought; or the passage of seven (7) Business Days from receipt of written notice to a Lender from the Agent of a proposed course of action to be followed by the Agent without such Lender’s giving the Agent written notice of that Lender’s objection to such course of action.
“Consolidated” means, when used to modify a financial term, test, statement, or report of a Person, the application or preparation of such term, test, statement or report (as applicable) based upon the consolidation, in accordance with GAAP, of the financial condition or operating results of such Person and its Subsidiaries.
“Consolidated EBITDA” of any Person, means, of any Person for any period, Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (a) income tax (or any alternative tax in lieu thereof) expense (including state franchise and similar taxes), (b) Consolidated Net Interest Expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries, amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness (including commitment and administrative fees and charges with respect to this Agreement, any Junior Indebtedness and any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing of any of the foregoing), (c) depreciation and amortization expense, (d) amortization or impairment of intangibles (including, but not limited to, goodwill) and organization costs, (e) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), (f) stock-option based and other equity-based compensation expenses, (g) transaction costs, fees and expenses (including those relating to the transactions contemplated hereby (including any Amendment or Refinancing or waivers of the Loan Documents), and those payable in connection with the sale of Equity Interests (including any secondary or follow-on offerings), the incurrence, repayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, any disposition of Property permitted under Section 7.05 or any recapitalization or any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted under Section 7.02 or any other Specified Transaction (in each case whether or not successful)), (h) [reserved], (i) expenses or losses with respect to liability or casualty events and proceeds from any business interruption insurance, in each case, to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed or otherwise paid, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed or otherwise paid 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 or otherwise paid within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed or otherwise paid within such 365 days) (in the case of this clause (i) to the extent not reflected as revenue or income in such statement of such Consolidated Net Income), (j) to the extent actually reimbursed, expenses incurred to the extent covered by indemnification provisions in any agreement in connection with any Investment, Permitted Acquisition or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other Disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement, (k) any call premium, tender premium, original issue discount or expenses associated with the repurchase, redemption, defeasance, or repayment of Indebtedness, (l) the amount of any restructuring charges or reserves (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include retention, severance, systems establishment cost, excess pension charges, contract termination costs, future lease commitments, costs to consolidate facilities and relocate employees, costs related to the winddown of leases and costs related to store closures) deducted in such period in computing such Consolidated Net Income, (m) any
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non-cash charges, expenses or losses (including any impairment charges and the impact of purchase accounting, including, but not limited to, the amortization of inventory step-up) reducing such Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding any such charge that represents an accrual or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period, other than straight-line rent expense determined in accordance with GAAP) and (n) [reserved], minus, to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business) and (b) any non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such Person for such period (excluding any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges made in any prior period or which will result in the receipt of cash in a future period or the amortization of lease incentives), all as determined on a consolidated basis; provided that for purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, (A) the Consolidated EBITDA of any Person acquired by the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period shall be included on a pro forma basis for such period to give effect to any Specified Transactions (but assuming the consummation of such Specified Transaction and the incurrence or assumption of any Indebtedness in connection therewith occurred on the first day of such period, and assuming any synergies and cost savings to the extent certified by the Borrower as having been determined in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to be realizable within 12 months following such Specified Transaction and provided that the aggregate amount of synergies and costs savings included in Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters shall not exceed 10% off Consolidated EBITDA for such four Fiscal Quarter period (before giving effect to such adjustment), (B) the Consolidated EBITDA of any Person Disposed of by the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period shall be excluded for such period (assuming the consummation of such Disposition and the repayment of any Indebtedness in connection therewith occurred on the first day of such period), (C) to the extent included in such Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period any income (loss) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of (i) Indebtedness, (ii) obligations under any Hedge Agreements or (iii) other derivative instruments, (D) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period any net after-tax gain or loss resulting from Hedge Agreement or other derivative instruments and the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and International Accounting Standard No. 39 and their respective related pronouncements and interpretations, and (E) any gains or losses attributable to foreign currency translations, including those relating to mark-to-market of Indebtedness denominated in foreign currencies resulting from the application of GAAP, including FAS No. 52.
“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, at any date of determination, with respect to the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such period minus (ii) Capital Expenditures (other than Financed Capital Expenditures) made in cash during such period, minus (iii) the aggregate amount of federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, local and foreign income Taxes paid in cash during such period (but not less than zero) to (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Interest Expense for such period, plus (ii) scheduled payments of principal on Indebtedness during such period (after giving effect to any reduction thereof due to mandatory or permitted prepayments on such Indebtedness), plus (iii) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.06(e), (f) and (g) hereof during such period (including, on a pro forma basis, any Restricted Payment made or to be made following such period in reliance on the satisfaction of Payment Conditions determined with respect to such period), but excluding Restricted Payments to the extent funded by an issuance by the Borrower of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 hereof, a Permitted Equity Issuance or a capital contribution to the Borrower.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, of any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in
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accordance with GAAP; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary) in which the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions (which dividends and distributions shall be included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the effect of any non-cash items resulting from any amortization, write-up, write-down or write-off of assets or liabilities (including intangible assets, goodwill, deferred financing costs and the effect of straight-lining of rents as a result of purchase accounting adjustments) in connection with any future Permitted Acquisition, Investment permitted under Section 7.02, Disposition, merger, consolidation or similar transaction or any other non-cash impairment charges incurred subsequent to the Closing Date resulting from the application at SFAS Nos. 141, 142 or 144 (excluding any non-cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period except to the extent such item is subsequently reversed) shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income.
“Consolidated Net Interest Expense” means, of any Person for any period, (a) total cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, minus (b) the sum of (i) total cash interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP plus (ii) one-time financing fees (to the extent included in such Person’s consolidated interest expense for such period), including, those paid in connection with the transactions occurring on the Closing Date or in connection with any Amendment or Refinancing hereof. For purposes of the foregoing, interest expense of any Person shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by such Person with respect to interest rate Hedge Agreements (other than early termination payments) permitted hereunder.
“Continuing Directors” means the directors of the Parent on the ClosingFirst Amendment Effective Date, and each other director if, in each case, such other director’s nomination for election to the Board of Directors of the Parent is recommended by at least a majority of the then Continuing Directors or such other director receives the affirmative vote or consent of, or is appointed or otherwise approved by, the Sponsor, or those Permitted Investors which then hold a majority of the voting Equity Interests in the Parent then held by all Permitted Investors, in his or her election by the shareholders of the Parent.
“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Convert”, “Conversion” and “Converted” each refers to a conversion of Committed Loans of one Type into Committed Loans of another Type.
“Cost” means the cost of purchases of Inventory, based upon the Borrower’s accounting practices, known to the Agent, which practices are in effect on the Closing Date as such calculated cost is determined from invoices received by the Borrower, the Borrower’s purchase journals or the Borrower’s stock ledger. “Cost” does not include inventory capitalization costs or other non-purchase price charges (such as freight) used in the Borrower’s calculation of cost of goods sold.
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“Covered Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 10.29(b).
“Credit Card Issuer” shall mean any person (other than any Loan Party or its Affiliates) who issues or whose members issue credit cards, including, without limitation, MasterCard or VISA bank credit or debit cards or other bank credit or debit cards issued through MasterCard International, Inc., Visa, U.S.A., Inc. or Visa International and American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Carte Blanche, JCB, NYCE, Star/Mac, Tyme, Pulse, Accel, AFF, Shazam, CU244, Alaska Option, Maestro, Novus, Interac, Push Funds, Switch, Solo, Visa Delta and other non-bank credit or debit cards, including, without limitation, credit or debit cards issued by or through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., and Novus Services, Inc. and other issuers reasonably approved by the Agent.
“Credit Card Notifications” has the meaning provided in Section 6.12.
“Credit Card Processor” shall mean any servicing or processing agent or any factor or financial intermediary who facilitates, services, processes or manages the credit authorization, billing transfer and/or payment procedures with respect to any Loan Party’s sales transactions involving credit card or debit card purchases by customers using credit cards or debit cards issued by any Credit Card Issuer.
“Credit Card Receivables” means, collectively, (a) all present and future rights of the Borrower or a Guarantor to payment from any Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor arising from sales of goods or rendition of services to customers who have purchased such goods or services using a credit or debit card and (b) all present and future rights of the Borrower or a Guarantor to payment from any Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor in connection with the sale or transfer of Accounts arising pursuant to the sale of goods or rendition of services to customers who have purchased such goods or services using a credit card or a debit card, including, but not limited to, all amounts at any time due or to become due from any Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor under the Credit Card Agreements or otherwise, in each case above calculated net of prevailing interchange charges.
“Credit Extensions” mean each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.
“Credit Party” or “Credit Parties” means (a) individually, (i) each Lender and its Affiliates, (ii) the Agent and its Affiliates, (iii) each L/C Issuer, (iv) the Arranger, (v) each holder of any Other Liabilities, and (vi) each successor and permitted assign of each of the foregoing, and (b) collectively, all of the foregoing, in each case, to the extent relating to the services provided to, and obligations owing by or guaranteed by, the Loan Parties.
“Currency Due” has the meaning provided in Section 10.24.
“Customer Credit Liabilities” means at any time, the aggregate remaining balance at such time of (a) outstanding gift certificates and gift cards of the Loan Parties entitling the holder thereof to use all or a portion of the certificate or gift card to pay all or a portion of the purchase price for any Inventory, and (b) outstanding merchandise credits of the Loan Parties.
“Customs Broker/Carrier Agreement” means an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent among a Loan Party, a customs broker, freight forwarder, consolidator, or carrier, and the Agent, in which the customs broker, freight forwarder, consolidator, or carrier acknowledges that it has control over and holds the documents evidencing ownership of the subject Inventory for the benefit of the Agent and agrees, upon notice from the Agent (which notice shall be delivered only upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default), to hold and dispose of the subject Inventory solely as directed by the Agent.
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“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).
“DDA” means any checking, savings or other demand deposit account maintained by any of the Loan Parties. All funds in each DDA shall be conclusively presumed to be Collateral and proceeds of Collateral and the Agent and the Lenders shall have no duty to inquire as to the source of the amounts on deposit in any DDA.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means each of (i) the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and (ii) all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Requirement of Laws of the United States 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 (a) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2.00% per annum, (b) when used with respect to any Loan, a rate equal to 2.00% per annum plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan, and (c) when used with respect to any other Obligations, a rate equal to 2.00% per annum plus the rate otherwise applicable to Loans that are Base Rate Loans.
“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.17(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within one Business Day of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder, or (ii) pay to the Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans) within one Business Day of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Agent, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or (ii) been deemed insolvent or (iii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iv) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.17(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Agent to the Borrower, each L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.
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“Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory is the target of any comprehensive Sanction.
“Determination Date” shall mean the date upon which each of the following has occurred:
(a) the Commitments have been terminated by the Borrower or the Required Lenders (or are deemed terminated) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default; and
(b) the Obligations have been declared to be due and payable (or have become automatically due and payable) and have not been paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means with respect to any Property, any sale, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other effective disposition (in whole or in part) thereof by any Person (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise) (including any issuance of Equity Interests (other than by Parent)). The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.
“Disqualified Institution” means (a) those banks, financial institutions and other entities designated in writing by the Borrower to the Agent prior to the Closing Date, in each case, together with their respective Affiliates, and (b) any corporate competitors of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and the Affiliates of such corporate competitors (other than bona fide debt funds or investors) designated in writing by the Borrower to the Agent from time to time. The Agent will make the list of Disqualified Institutions available to any Lender upon request.
“Disqualified Stock” means any Equity Interest that (a) requires the payment of any dividends (other than dividends payable solely in shares of Qualified Stock), (b) matures or is mandatorily redeemable or subject to mandatory repurchase or redemption or repurchase at the option of the holders thereof, in each case in whole or in part and whether upon the occurrence of any event, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation on a fixed date or otherwise (including as the result of a failure to maintain or achieve any financial performance standards), prior to the date that is 91 days after the final scheduled maturity date of the Obligations (other than (i) upon Payment in Full of the Obligations or (ii) if the issuer has the option to settle for Qualified Stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares thereof in de minimis amounts)) or (c) are convertible or exchangeable, automatically or at the option of any holder thereof, into any Indebtedness, Equity Interest or other assets other than Qualified Stock; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower, or any Restricted Subsidiary or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability.
“Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it and the definition of “Division”.
“Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.
“Division Successor” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division. A Dividing Person which retains any of
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its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.
“Dollars” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary organized under the laws of United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Subsidiary organized under the laws of Puerto Rico or any other territory) other than (i) a Domestic Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or (ii) any CFC Holdco.
“Economic Sanctions Laws” means any and all laws, judgments, orders, executive orders, decrees, ordinances, rules, regulations, statutes, case law or treaties applicable to a Loan Party, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates relating to economic sanctions and terrorism financing, including any applicable provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 5(b) and 16, as amended), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1706, as amended) and Executive Order 13224 (effective September 24, 2001), as amended.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a Subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Electronic 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 (a) a Credit Party or any of its Affiliates under common control with such Credit Party; (b) a bank, insurance company, or company engaged in the business of making commercial loans, which Person, together with its Affiliates, has a combined capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural Person) satisfying the requirements of Section 10.06(b) hereof; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include a Disqualified Institution, a Permitted Investor, a Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
“Eligible Credit Card Receivables” means at the time of any determination thereof, each Credit Card Receivable that satisfies the following criteria at the time of creation and continues to satisfy such criteria at the time of such determination: such Credit Card Receivable (i) has been earned by performance and represents the bona fide amounts due to a Loan Party from a Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor, and in each case is originated in the ordinary course of business of such Loan Party, and (ii) in each case is not ineligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base, pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (g) below. Without limiting the foregoing, to qualify as an Eligible Credit Card Receivable, an Account shall indicate no Person other than a Loan Party as payee or remittance party. In determining the amount to be so included, the face amount of an Account shall be reduced by, without duplication, to the
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extent not reflected in such face amount, (i) the amount of all accrued and actual discounts, claims, credits or credits pending, promotional program allowances, price adjustments, finance charges or other allowances (including any amount that a Loan Party may be obligated to rebate to a customer, a Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor pursuant to the terms of any agreement or understanding (written or oral)) and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such Account but not yet applied by the Loan Parties to reduce the amount of such Credit Card Receivable. Except as otherwise agreed by the Agent, any Credit Card Receivable included within any of the following categories shall not constitute an Eligible Credit Card Receivable:
(a) Credit Card Receivables which do not constitute an Account or a payment intangible (as defined in the UCC);
(b) Credit Card Receivables that have been unpaid for more than five (5) Business Days from the date of sale (or such longer period(s) as may be approved by the Agent in its Permitted Discretion);
(c) Credit Card Receivables (i) that are not subject to a perfected first-priority security interest in favor of the Agent (subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01 having priority by operation of applicable Requirement of Law), for the benefit of itself and the other Credit Parties, or (ii) with respect to which a Loan Party does not have good and valid title thereto, free and clear of any Lien (other than Liens granted to the Agent pursuant to the Security Documents and other Liens permitted under Section 7.01 having priority by operation of applicable Requirement of Law);
(d) Credit Card Receivables which are disputed, are with recourse, or with respect to which a claim, counterclaim, offset or chargeback (other than chargebacks in the ordinary course by the Credit Card Processors) has been asserted (to the extent of such claim, counterclaim, offset or chargeback);
(e) Credit Card Receivables as to which a Credit Card Issuer or a Credit Card Processor has the right under certain circumstances to require a Loan Party to repurchase such Loan Party’s entire portfolio of Accounts from such Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor (it being acknowledged and understood that any right of a Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processors to chargeback a Credit Card Receivable shall not be deemed a right of such Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor to require a Loan Party to repurchase such Loan Party’s Accounts under this clause (e));
(f) Credit Card Receivables due from a Credit Card Issuer or a Credit Card Processor of the applicable credit card which is the subject of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings; or
(g) Credit Card Receivables which the Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion to be uncertain of collection or which do not meet such other reasonable eligibility criteria for Credit Card Receivables as the Agent may determine.
“Eligible In-Transit Inventory” means, as of any date of determination thereof, without duplication of other Eligible Inventory, In-Transit Inventory:
(i) which has been shipped from a foreign location for receipt by a Loan Party, but which has not yet been delivered to such Loan Party, which In-Transit Inventory has been in transit for sixty (60) days or less from the date of shipment of such Inventory;
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(ii) for which the purchase order is in the name of a Loan Party and title and risk of loss has passed to such Loan Party;
(iii) for which an Acceptable Document of Title has been issued and delivered to a Loan Party or to a customs broker thereof with which the Agent has entered into a Customs Broker/Carrier Agreement (provided, that this clause (iii) shall not apply until forty-five days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Agent in its Permitted Discretion));
(iv) which is insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, marine cargo insurance);
(v) unless the Agent shall otherwise agree in its Permitted Discretion, for which payment of the purchase price has been made by the applicable Loan Party or the purchase price is supported by a Commercial Letter of Credit; and
(vi) which otherwise would constitute Eligible Inventory;
provided that the Agent may, in its discretion, and upon notice to the Borrower, exclude any particular Inventory from the definition of “Eligible In-Transit Inventory” in the event the Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion that such Inventory is subject to any Person’s right of reclamation, repudiation, stoppage in transit, which is (or is capable of being) senior to, or pari passu with, the Lien of the Agent or may otherwise adversely impact the ability of the Agent to realize upon such Inventory.
“Eligible Inventory” means, as of the date of determination thereof, without duplication, (i) Eligible In-Transit Inventory of the Loan Parties and (ii) items of Inventory of a Loan Party that are finished goods, merchantable and readily saleable to the public in the ordinary course of such Loan Party’s business, in each case that is not excluded as ineligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base by virtue of one or more of the criteria set forth below. Except as otherwise agreed by the Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, the following items of Inventory shall not be included in Eligible Inventory:
(a) Inventory that is not solely owned by a Loan Party or a Loan Party does not have good and valid title thereto free and clear of any Lien, including any Inventory the subject of any retention of title arrangements (other than Liens granted to the Agent pursuant to the Security Documents and other Liens permitted by Section 7.01 having priority by operation of applicable Requirements of Law or other Liens of record by landlords permitted by Section 7.01 which have been subordinated to the Lien of the Agent pursuant to a subordination agreement on terms reasonable satisfactory to the Agent);
(b) Inventory that is leased by or is on consignment to or by a Loan Party, other than Inventory, not to exceed to $3,000,000 in value (valued at the lower of cost or market) in the aggregate at any time, of the Loan Parties on consignment to third parties and located at retail stores of such third parties, provided, that (i) such Loan Party shall have delivered to the Agent a written agreement relating to such Inventory between the Loan Party and such third party (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent), (ii) the Loan Parties shall have taken such actions as are required by the UCC or other applicable Requirements of Law to perfect, and maintain the first priority of, their Liens and security interest in such Inventory, including filing such financing statements and delivering proper notices to the applicable Persons (including other secured parties of the third party consignee) as the Agent may reasonably request, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, (iii) the Loan Parties shall have taken such actions as are required by the UCC or other applicable Requirements of Law to assign such Liens and security interests to the
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Agent, (iv) such Inventory shall be consigned by a Loan Party to a Person who is not a Loan Party and (v) the Loan Parties shall have provided evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Agent that clauses (i) through (iv) of the foregoing proviso are satisfied;
(c) Inventory (other than Eligible In-Transit Inventory) that is not located in the United States (excluding territories or possessions of the United States) at a location that is owned or leased by a Loan Party, provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items of Inventory shall be deemed eligible if all of the other eligibility criteria set forth in this definition are satisfied: (x) Inventory in transit between such owned or leased locations in the United States or (y) Inventory at any other location to the extent that (A) the Loan Parties have furnished the Agent with any UCC financing statement or other documents that the Agent may determine to be necessary to perfect its security interest in such Inventory at such location, and (B) (I) the Agent has obtained a Collateral Access Agreement covering all Inventory stored at such location, or (II) the Agent has established adequate Reserves covering such location in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
(d) Inventory that is comprised of goods which (i) are damaged, defective, or otherwise unmerchantable, (ii) are to be returned to the vendor, (iii) are obsolete or slow moving, or custom items, work-in-process, or that constitute samples, spare parts for equipment, promotional, marketing, labels, bags and other packaging and shipping materials or supplies used or consumed in a Loan Party’s business, (iv) are not in compliance in all material respects with all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Inventory, its use or sale, (v) are bill and hold goods or (vi) are raw materials;
(e) Inventory that is not subject to a perfected first-priority security interest in favor of the Agent (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01 which have priority by operation of applicable Requirements of Law);
(f) Inventory as to which casualty insurance in compliance with the provisions of Section 6.07 hereof is not in effect;
(g) Inventory that has been sold but not yet delivered or as to which a Loan Party has accepted a deposit;
(h) Inventory that is subject to any licensing, patent, royalty, trademark, trade name or copyright agreement (other than the Vince License Agreement) with any third party (x) from which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of a dispute in respect of any such agreement (but ineligibility shall be limited to the amount of such dispute) or (y) which would require any consent of any third Person for the sale or disposition of that Inventory (which consent has not been obtained) or the payment of any monies to any third party upon such sale or other disposition;
(i) Inventory that is subject to the Vince License Agreement, unless (A) the Vince License Agreement and the ABL License Agreement are each in full force and effect and (B) such Inventory constitutes (1) an approved “Licensed Product” (as defined in the Vince License Agreement), (2) a “Collaboration Product,” “Third-Party Retail Product” or “Third-Party E-Commerce Product” (each as defined in the Vince License Agreement) or (3) is otherwise permitted by the terms of the Vince License Agreement to be sold by the Loan Parties; or
(j) Inventory acquired outside of the ordinary course of the Loan Parties’ business (including, without limitation, in connection with any Permitted Acquisition), unless and until the Agent has completed or received (A) an appraisal of such Inventory from appraisers reasonably
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satisfactory to the Agent (which appraisal shall be at the Borrower’s expense and shall not count toward the number of appraisals that may be conducted pursuant to Section 6.10(b)) and establishes Inventory Reserves (if applicable) therefor, provided such Inventory is not otherwise ineligible as a result of any of clauses (a) to (i) above, and (B) such other due diligence as the Agent may reasonably require, all of the results of the foregoing to be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent in its Permitted Discretion; provided it is agreed that so long as the Agent has received reasonable prior notice of such Inventory acquisition and the Loan Parties reasonably cooperate (and cause the Person being acquired to reasonably cooperate) with the Agent, the Agent shall use reasonable best efforts to complete such due diligence and related appraisal on or prior to the closing date of such Inventory acquisition.
“Eligible Trade Receivables” means Accounts arising from the sale of the Loan Parties’ Inventory (other than those consisting of Credit Card Receivables) or rendition of services that satisfy the following criteria at the time of creation and meets the same at the time of such determination: such Account (i) has been earned by performance and represents the bona fide amounts due to a Loan Party from an account debtor, and in each case is originated in the ordinary course of business of such Loan Party, and (ii) is not ineligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (s) below. Without limiting the foregoing, to qualify as an Eligible Trade Receivable, an Account shall indicate no Person other than a Loan Party as payee or remittance party. In determining the amount to be so included, the face amount of an Account shall be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount, (i) the amount of all accrued and actual discounts, claims, credits or credits pending, promotional program allowances, shared advertising costs, price adjustments, finance charges or other allowances (including any amount that a Loan Party may be obligated to rebate to a customer pursuant to the terms of any agreement or understanding (written or oral)) (collectively “Account Allowances”) and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such Account but not yet applied by the Loan Parties to reduce the amount of such Eligible Trade Receivable. Except as otherwise agreed by the Agent, any Account included within any of the following categories shall not constitute an Eligible Trade Receivable:
(a) Accounts that are not evidenced by an invoice;
(b) Accounts that have been outstanding for more than (x) sixty (60) days from the due date or (y) ninety (90) days past the invoice date (or one hundred twenty (120) days past the invoice date for Accounts due from those account debtors agreed to in writing by the Agent from time to time acting in its Permitted Discretion);
(c) Accounts due from any account debtor fifty percent (50%) or more of whose Accounts are not eligible under clause (b), above.
(d) except as set forth in the proviso hereto, all Accounts owed by an account debtor and/or its Affiliates together exceed twenty percent (20%) (or any other percentage now or hereafter established by the Agent for any particular account debtor) of the amount of all Accounts at any one time (the “Concentration Limit”) (but the portion of the Accounts not in excess of the applicable percentage may be deemed Eligible Trade Receivables, in the Agent’s Permitted Discretion), provided that the Concentration Limit for Accounts due from (x) Nordstrom (and its affiliates) shall equal fifty percent (50%) and (y) Saks Global (and its Affiliates) shall equal thirty percent (30%);
(e) Accounts (i) that are not subject to a perfected first-priority security interest in favor of the Agent (other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01 which have priority by operation of applicable Requirements of Law), or (ii) with respect to which a Loan Party does not have good and valid title thereto, free and clear of any Lien (other than Liens granted to the Agent pursuant to
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the Security Documents and other Liens permitted by Section 7.01 which have priority by operation of applicable Requirements of Law);
(f) Accounts which are disputed or with respect to which a claim, counterclaim, offset or chargeback has been asserted, but only to the extent of such dispute, counterclaim, offset or chargeback;
(g) Accounts which arise out of any sale (i) not made in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) made on a basis other than upon credit terms usual to the business of the Loan Parties;
(h) Accounts which are owed by any Affiliate or any employee of a Loan Party (provided that this clause (h) shall not exclude any Account of any account debtor solely on the basis that it is a portfolio company of the Sponsor);
(i) Accounts for which all consents, approvals or authorizations of, or registrations or declarations with any Governmental Authority required to be obtained, effected or given in connection with the performance of such Account by the account debtor or in connection with the enforcement of such Account by the Agent have been duly obtained, effected or given and are in full force and effect;
(j) Accounts due from an account debtor which is the subject of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, has had a trustee or receiver appointed for all or a substantial part of its property, has made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or has suspended its business;
(k) Accounts due from any Governmental Authority except to the extent that the subject account debtor is the federal government of the United States and the Loan Parties have complied with the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 have been complied with;
(l) Accounts (i) owing from any Person that is also a supplier to, or creditor of, a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries unless such Person has waived any right of setoff in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Agent or (ii) representing any manufacturer’s or supplier’s credits, discounts, incentive plans or similar arrangements entitling a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to discounts on future purchase therefrom; provided, that the existence of any Account Allowance as described above with respect to an Account shall not cause the applicable account debtor to be a supplier to, or creditor of, a Loan Party for the purposes of subclause (l)(i) above;
(m) Accounts arising out of sales on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-or-return, sale on approval or consignment basis or subject to any right of return;
(n) Accounts owing from (i) any Embargoed Person, or (ii) any Person located in a foreign jurisdiction other than Canada; provided, that up to $4,000,000 in the aggregate of Accounts owing from Persons located in a foreign jurisdiction other than Canada shall constitute Eligible Trade Receivables, so long as such Accounts (x) would otherwise constitute Eligible Trade Receivables and (y) are covered by credit insurance in form, substance and amount, and by an insurer, satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion;
(o) Accounts evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument;
(p) Accounts consisting of amounts due from vendors as rebates or allowances;
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(q) Accounts which include extended payment terms (datings) beyond those generally furnished in the ordinary course of business;
(r) Accounts acquired in a Permitted Acquisition, unless and until the Agent has (A) completed or received such due diligence as the Agent may require with respect thereto, all of the results of the foregoing to be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, and (B) otherwise agrees that such Accounts shall be deemed Eligible Trade Receivables; or
(s) Accounts which are not (i) billed and collected in the United States; and (ii) payable in Dollars.
“Embargoed Person” means any party that (i) is publicly identified on the most current list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” published by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) or (ii) resides, is organized or chartered, or has a place of business in a country or territory that is the subject of OFAC comprehensive sanctions programs.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes or decrees (including, without limitation, common law) of any international authority, foreign government, the United States, or any state, provincial, local, municipal or other governmental authority, regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning protection of the environment, as has been, is now, or at any time hereafter is, in effect.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, claim, action, suit, judgment or order under or relating to any Environmental Law for any damages, injunctive relief, losses, fines, penalties, fees, expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and consultants) or costs, whether contingent or otherwise, including those arising from or relating to: (a) compliance or non-compliance with any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Materials of Environmental Concern, (c) exposure to any Materials of Environmental Concern, (d) the Release of any Materials of Environmental Concern or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Interests” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation).
“Equity Issuance” means any issuance by the Parent of its Qualified Stock in a public or private offering.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Loan Parties (as of any relevant time) within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
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“Excess Availability” means the difference, at any time of calculation, between the Loan Cap and the Total Outstandings.
“Excluded DDA” means (i) any deposit account exclusively used for payroll or employee benefits, and (ii) any deposit account which is a trust or fiduciary account.
“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not directly or indirectly a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Parent, (b) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (c) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Requirements of Law or, to the extent mutually agreed the same would prevent the granting thereof, Contractual Obligations that are in existence on the Closing Date or at the time of acquisition of such Subsidiary and not entered into in contemplation thereof from providing a Facility Guaranty or if providing a Facility Guaranty by such Subsidiary would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval license or authorization has been obtained), (d) any Foreign Subsidiary, (e) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (f) any Subsidiary that is a captive insurance company, and (g) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent and the Borrower, the burden or cost or other consequences of providing a Facility Guaranty shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Credit Parties therefrom and (h) solely prior to the First Amendment Effective Date, Rebecca Taylor, Inc., Parker Holding, LLC, Parker Lifestyle, LLC, Rebecca Taylor Retail Stores, LLC and Rebecca Taylor Design Limited. For the avoidance of doubt, each Excluded Subsidiary is a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary Guarantor that becomes an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to clause (a) of this definition shall be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary except as a result of a transaction permitted under this Agreement that was done for a bona fide business purpose and not in contemplation of adversely affecting the Secured Parties’ interests in the Facility Guaranty and the Collateral.
“Excluded Swap Obligations” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation (a “Swap Obligation”) to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act, if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee Obligation of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee Obligation with respect thereto) 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 not to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 2.8 of the Security Agreement) at the time the Guarantee Obligation 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” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any such rule, regulation or order at such time.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), Taxes imposed on or measured by net or gross profits, franchise or capital Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient’s being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, any withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender (or its assignor, if any) acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (or designates a new lending office) (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 10.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or (c), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either
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to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e), and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.
“Existing Revolver Tranche” has the meaning provided in Section 2.17(a).
“Extended Commitments” has the meaning provided in Section 2.17(a).
“Extending Lender” has the meaning provided in Section 2.17(b).
“Extension Amendment” has the meaning provided in Section 2.17(d).
“Extension Request” has the meaning provided in Section 2.17(a).
“Extension Election” has the meaning provided in Section 2.17(b).
“Extension Series” has the meaning provided in Section 2.17(a).
“Facility Guaranty” means a guarantee of the Obligations made by any Person in favor of the Agent and the other Credit Parties pursuant to the Security Agreement or in such other form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreement (and related fiscal or regulatory legislation, or related official rules or practices) implementing the foregoing.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Borrower and the Agent.
“Financed Capital Expenditures” shall mean Capital Expenditures made through purchase money financing (other than from Credit Extensions hereunder) or Capital Lease transactions permitted hereunder.
“First Amendment” means that certain First Amendment, dated as of the Consent and First Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors signatory thereto, the Lenders signatory thereto, each L/C Issuer signatory thereto and the Agent.
“First Amendment Effective Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4 of the First Amendment are satisfied or waived in accordance with the provisions set forth therein, which date is January 2122, 2025.
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“First Amendment Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, between the Borrower and the Agent.
“Fiscal Month” means one of the three fiscal periods in a Fiscal Quarter each of which is approximately one month in duration. There are 12 Fiscal Months in each Fiscal Year.
“Fiscal Quarter” means one of the four 13-week, or, if applicable, 14-week quarters in a Fiscal Year, with the first of such quarters beginning on the first day of a Fiscal Year and ending on a Saturday of the thirteenth (or fourteenth, if applicable) week in such quarter.
“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to January 31 in any calendar year.
“Flood Insurance Laws” means collectively, (i) National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (which comprehensively revised the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973) as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (ii) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iii) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state, province or other political subdivision thereof and any governmental entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government and, as to any Lender, any securities exchange and any self regulatory organization (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners).
“Guarantee Obligation” means, as to any Person (the “guaranteeing person”), any obligation of (a) the guaranteeing person or (b) another Person (including, without limitation, any bank under any letter of credit) to induce the creation of which the guaranteeing person has issued a guarantee, reimbursement,
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counterindemnity or similar obligation, in either case guaranteeing or by which such Person becomes contingently liable for any Indebtedness, net worth, working capital earnings, leases, dividends or other distributions upon the stock or equity interests (the “primary obligations”) of any other third Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any Property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase Property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business, guarantees of operating leases in the ordinary course of business, and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets or any Investment permitted under this Agreement. The amount of any Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
“Guarantor” means (i) the Parent, (ii) Holdings and (iii) each Subsidiary of the Parent that executes and delivers a Facility Guaranty pursuant hereto; provided that no Excluded Subsidiary shall be required to be a Guarantor hereunder.
“Hedge Agreements” means all interest rate swaps, caps or collar agreements or similar arrangements entered into by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries providing for protection against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates or the exchange of nominal interest obligations or the price of commodities, raw materials, utilities and energy, either generally or under specific contingencies.
“Holdings” means Vince Intermediate Holding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, on any date, any Subsidiary of the Borrower that (i) had less than 3% of consolidated assets and 3% of annual consolidated revenues of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as reflected on the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 prior to such date and (ii) has been designated as such by the Borrower in a written notice delivered to the Agent (other than any such Subsidiary as to which the Borrower has revoked such designation by written notice to the Agent so long as such Subsidiary either provides a Facility Guaranty upon such designation and complies with Section 6.11 or otherwise qualifies as an Excluded Subsidiary hereunder); provided that no Subsidiary with Property of the type included in the Borrowing Base may be designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary, and provided further that at no time shall all Immaterial Subsidiaries so designated by the Borrower have in the aggregate consolidated assets or annual consolidated revenues (as reflected on the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 prior to such time) in excess of 3% of consolidated assets or annual consolidated revenues, respectively, of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Increase Effective Date” shall have the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.15(d).
“Indebtedness” means, of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than (i) trade payables, current accounts and similar obligations incurred in the ordinary
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course of such Person’s business and not more than 90 days past due (unless being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings) and (ii) earn-outs and other contingent payments in respect of acquisitions except to the extent that the liability on account of any such earn-out or contingent payment becomes fixed), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to Property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such Property, in which case only the lesser of the amount of such obligation and the fair market value of such Property shall constitute Indebtedness), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under acceptance, letter of credit or similar facilities, (g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Stock, except for agreements with directors, officers and employees to acquire such Equity Interest upon the death or termination of employment of such director, officer or employee, (h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above, other than guarantees of operating leases in the ordinary course of business, and (i) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on Property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation (and in the event such Person has not assumed or become liable for payment of such obligation, only the lesser of the amount of such obligation and the fair market value of such Property shall constitute Indebtedness. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such person is liable therefore as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Insolvency” means, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.
“Insolvent” means pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.
“Intellectual Property” means the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise, including, without limitation, copyrights, domain names, social media accounts and usernames and account identifiers, patents, trademarks, trade names, technology, know-how and processes, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Term SOFR Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Term SOFR Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the first calendar day of each month and the Maturity Date; and (c) as to any SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan, the first calendar day of each month and the Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means as to each Term SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Loan is disbursed or Converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in a Committed Loan Notice; provided that:
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(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent Conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
“In-Transit Inventory” means Inventory of a Loan Party which is in the possession of a common carrier and is in transit from a foreign vendor of a Loan Party to a location of a Loan Party in the United States.
“Inventory” has the meaning given that term in the UCC or other applicable Requirement of Law, and shall also include, without limitation, all: (a) goods which (i) are leased by a Person as lessor, (ii) are held by a Person for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service, (iii) are furnished by a Person under a contract of service, or (iv) consist of raw materials, work in process, or materials used or consumed in a business; (b) goods of said description in transit; (c) goods of said description which are returned, repossessed or rejected; and (d) packaging, advertising, and shipping materials related to any of the foregoing.
“Inventory Reserves” means such reserves as may be established from time to time by the Agent in its Permitted Discretion, without duplication of any other Reserves or items that are otherwise addressed or excluded through eligibility criteria or factored into the advance rates, to reflect the changes in the determination of the saleability, at retail, of the Eligible Inventory or which reflect such other factors as negatively affect the market value of the Eligible Inventory.
“Investment” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.02 hereof.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“ISP” means the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).
“Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by an L/C Issuer and the Borrower or in favor of an L/C Issuer and relating to any such Letter of Credit.
“Joinder Agreement” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J.
“Judgment Currency” has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.24.
“Junior Indebtedness” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.03(m).
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“Landlord Lien State” means any state, province or territory in which a landlord’s claim for rent has priority by operation of applicable Requirement of Law over the Lien of the Agent in any of the Collateral.
“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 termination date of any Extended Commitment or New Commitment, as applicable, as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.
“L/C Advance” means with respect to each 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 or prior to the date required to be reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) or refinanced as a Committed Borrowing.
“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
“L/C Issuer” means (a) Bank of America, in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder and (b) one other Lender selected by the Borrower with the consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). Any 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.
“L/C Obligations” means, at any date of determination and without duplication, the aggregate Stated Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts under Letters of Credit, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amounts available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
“Lease” means any agreement pursuant to which a Loan Party is entitled to the use or occupancy of any real property for any period of time.
“Lenders” means the Lenders having Commitments from time to time or at any time and, unless the context requires otherwise, includes the Swing Line Lender. Any Lender may, in its reasonable discretion, arrange for one or more Loans to be made by Affiliates or branches of such Lender, in which case the term “Lender” shall include any such Affiliate or branch with respect to Loans made by such Affiliate or branch.
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“Lender Recipient Party” means, collectively, the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires each reference to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.
“Letter of Credit” means each Banker’s Acceptance, each Standby Letter of Credit and each Commercial Letter of Credit issued hereunder.
“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 applicable L/C Issuer.
“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
“Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i).
“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $10,000,000 plus the amount of any increase in the Aggregate Commitments made pursuant to Section 2.15 hereof; provided, further, that such amount may be increased with the consent of all of the L/C Issuers and the Agent. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments. A permanent reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall not require a corresponding pro rata reduction in the Letter of Credit Sublimit; provided, however, that if the Aggregate Commitments are reduced to an amount less than the Letter of Credit Sublimit, then the Letter of Credit Sublimit shall be reduced to an amount equal to (or, at Borrower’s option, less than) the Aggregate Commitments.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, collateral assignment, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any other security agreement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing). For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may grant non-exclusive licenses (or exclusive licenses within a specific or defined field of use, other than retail sales in the United States (through any channel) of Inventory of the type included in the Borrowing Base) to Intellectual Property owned or developed by, or licensed to, such entity and that, for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, such licenses shall not constitute a “Lien” on such Intellectual Property; provided, that the terms of such licenses shall not restrict the right of the Agent (x) to use such Intellectual Property in connection with the conduct of a Liquidation or other exercise of creditor remedies without the payment of royalty or other compensation or (y) other than with respect to any such exclusivity within a specific or defined field of use as permitted above, to dispose of such Intellectual Property in connection with the conduct of a Liquidation or other exercise of creditor remedies.
“Liquidation” means the exercise by the Agent of those rights and remedies accorded to the Agent under the Loan Documents and applicable Requirements of Laws as a creditor of the Loan Parties with respect to the realization on the Collateral, including (after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default) the conduct by the Loan Parties acting with the consent of the Agent, of any public, private or “going-out-of-business”, “store closing” or other similar sale or any other disposition of the Collateral for the purpose of liquidating the Collateral. Derivations of the word “Liquidation” (such as “Liquidate”) are used with like meaning in this Agreement.
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“Liquidation Percentage” shall mean, for any Lender, a fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of such Lender’s Commitment on the Determination Date and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Commitments on the Determination Date.
“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
“Loan Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11.
“Loan Cap” means, at any time of determination, the lesser of (a) the Aggregate Commitments and (b) the Borrowing Base.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Fee Letter, the First Amendment Fee Letter, all Borrowing Base Certificates, the Blocked Account Agreements, all Collateral Access Agreements, all Credit Card Notifications, the Security Documents, any Facility Guaranty, any Joinder Agreement, any Extension Amendment, the Third Lien Subordination Agreement and the ABL License Agreement.
“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors. “Loan Party” means any one of such Persons.
“Management Investors” means the directors, officers and other employees of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the operations, business, properties, or financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (ii) the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents or the material rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders thereunder, in each case, taken as a whole; or (iii) the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform any of its obligations under the Loan Documents in a manner that materially and adversely affects the Lenders.
“Material Indebtedness” means (a) the Subordinated Indebtedness described in Section 7.03(u) incurred pursuant to the Third Lien Credit Agreement and (b) any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) of the Loan Parties having an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000.
“Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary.
“Materials of Environmental Concern” means any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea-formaldehyde insulation, asbestos, pollutants, contaminants, radioactivity and any other substances that are defined as hazardous or toxic under any Environmental Law, that are regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Maturity Date” means the earlier of (a) the later of (i) June 23, 2028 and (ii) with respect to any Lender which participates in any Extension Series pursuant to Section 2.17, such extended maturity date relating to such Extension Series as determined pursuant to such Section 2.17 (such later date, the “Revolving Maturity Date”) and (b) 91 days prior to the earliest maturity date (or analogous term) of any Material Indebtedness (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the immediately preceding Business Day).
“Maximum Rate” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 10.09.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
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“Mortgages” means any mortgage, deed of trust, hypothec or other similar document made by any Loan Party in favor of, or for the benefit of, the Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Borrower (taking into account the law of the jurisdiction in which such mortgage, deed of trust, hypothec or similar document is to be recorded).
“Most Recently Ended” means, with respect to any period, the most recently ended period for which the financial statements required by Section 6.01(a), Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(c), as applicable, have been delivered or required to have been delivered.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.
“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.
“New Commitment” has the meaning provided in Section 2.17(c).
“New Commitment Lender” has the meaning provided in Section 2.17(c).
“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 10.01(c).
“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
“Non-Excluded Taxes” means all Taxes other than Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.
“Non-Extension Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).
“Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness (a) no default with respect to which would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity, and (b) as to which the lenders or holders thereof will not (and have been notified in writing that they do not) have any recourse to the Equity Interests or assets of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary which is the issuer or a guarantor or the direct or indirect parent of the issuer or guarantor of such indebtedness).
“Note” means a Revolving Note or a Swing Line Note, as applicable.
“Notice of Loan Prepayment” means a notice of prepayment with respect to a Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit L or such other form as may be approved by the Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer.
“Obligations” means (a) all advances to, and debts (including principal, interest, fees, and reasonable costs and expenses), liabilities, obligations, covenants, indemnities, and duties of, any Loan
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Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit (including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral therefor), 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 reasonable costs and expenses and indemnities that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, fees costs, expenses and indemnities are allowed claims in such proceeding, and (b) any Other Liabilities; provided that, without limiting the foregoing, the Obligations include the obligation to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit commissions, charges, expenses, fees, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party under any Loan Document; provided further that the Obligations shall exclude all Excluded Swap Obligations.
“OFAC” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Embargoed Person”.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
“Other Liabilities” means any obligation on account of (a) any Cash Management Services furnished to any of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and/or (b) any Bank Product furnished to any of the Loan Parties and/or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 10.13).
“Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of the aggregate outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.
“Overadvance” means a Credit Extension to the extent that, immediately after the making of such Credit Extension, the aggregate principal balance of all Credit Extensions then outstanding exceeds the Loan Cap as then in effect.
“P180” means P180 Vince Acquisition Co., a Delaware corporation.
“Parent” means Vince Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“Participant Register” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 10.06(d)(iii).
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“Payment Conditions” means, at the time of determination with respect to any specified transaction or payment, that (i) no Default or Event of Default exists or would arise as a result of entering into such transaction or the making of such payment, (ii) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction or payment and on a pro forma basis for the 30-day period immediately preceding such transaction or payment, Excess Availability shall be at least the greater of (x) 20% of the Loan Cap in effect as such time and (y) $15,000,000, (iii) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Most Recently Ended period of twelve months preceding such transaction or payment shall be greater than or equal to 1.0 to 1.0 (after giving pro forma effect to such transaction or payment as if such transaction or payment had been made as of the first day of such period), and (iv) the Borrower shall have delivered a Compliance Certificate to the Agent including a reasonably detailed calculation of such calculated Excess Availability and Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
“Payment in Full” means (a) the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and (b) the payment in Dollars in full in cash or immediately available funds of all outstanding Obligations (excluding contingent indemnification obligations for which a claim has not then been asserted) including, with respect to (i) amounts available to be drawn under outstanding Letters of Credit (or indemnities or other undertakings issued in respect of outstanding Letters of Credit), the cancellation of such Letters of Credit or the Cash Collateralization thereof or the delivery and provision of backstop letters of credit in respect thereof and (ii) outstanding Obligations with respect to Bank Products and Cash Management Services (or indemnities or other undertakings issued pursuant thereto in respect of outstanding Bank Products and Cash Management Services), the delivery or provision of cash collateral or backstop letters of credit in respect thereof other than (x) unasserted contingent indemnification Obligations, (y) any Obligations relating to Bank Products that, at such time, are allowed by the applicable Bank Product provider to remain outstanding without being required to be repaid or collateralized, and (z) any Obligations relating to Cash Management Services that, at such time, are allowed by the applicable provider of such Cash Management Services to remain outstanding without being required to be repaid or collateralized. “Paid in Full” shall have the correlative meaning.
“Payoff Indebtedness” means Indebtedness under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 7, 2021, among the Borrower, the other Loan Parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Citizens Bank, N.A., as administrative and collateral agent, as in effect immediately prior to the Closing Date.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.
“Permitted Acquisition” means (i) any acquisition (including, if applicable, in the case of any Intellectual Property, by way of license) approved by the Required Lenders or (ii) an Acquisition in which all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) Such Acquisition shall have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Person (or similar governing body if such Person is not a corporation) which is the subject of such Acquisition and such Person shall not have announced that it will oppose such Acquisition or shall not have commenced any action which alleges that such Acquisition shall violate any Requirements of Law;
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(b) in the event the purchase price for the Acquisition exceeds $10,000,000, (i) the Agent shall have received the then current drafts of the documentation to be executed in connection with such Acquisition (with final copies of such documentation to be delivered to the Agent promptly upon becoming available), including all schedules and exhibits thereto and (ii) the Agent shall have received notice of the closing date for such Acquisition; provided that such notice shall be given unless doing so would materially interfere with, or would cause materially adverse economic consequences with respect to, the consummation of such Acquisition;
(c) any Person or assets or division acquired is, at the time of such Acquisition, and shall be in the same business or lines of business, or business reasonably related, ancillary or complementary thereto, in which the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries are engaged as of the Closing Date;
(d) [Reserved];
(e) such Person shall have become a Restricted Subsidiary and, if such Person shall be a wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary (and not an Excluded Subsidiary), a Guarantor and the provisions of Section 6.11 shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate consideration expended in respect of Persons that shall not become Guarantors or wholly owned Subsidiaries may not exceed $10,000,000; and
(f) the Loan Parties shall have satisfied the Payment Conditions.
“Permitted Amendment or Refinancing” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any Amendment or Refinancing 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 Amended or Refinanced except (i) by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums and make whole amounts), thereon plus other reasonable and customary fees and expenses (including upfront fees, original issue discount and defeasance costs) incurred in connection with such Amendment or Refinancing and (ii) by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Amendment or Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(c), the Indebtedness resulting from such Amendment or Refinancing 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 Amended or Refinanced, (c) other than with respect to a Permitted Amendment or Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Sections 7.03(c), at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (d) if such Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced is Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(d), 7.03(i), 7.03(m), 7.03(n), 7.03(o) or 7.03(u), (i) to the extent such Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment or in lien priority to the Obligations, the Indebtedness resulting from such Amendment or Refinancing is subordinated in right of payment or in lien priority, as applicable, to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced, (ii) the terms and conditions of any such Amended or Refinanced Indebtedness under Section 7.03(m) or 7.03(o) shall be usual and customary for high yield securities of the type issued, and (iii) the other terms and conditions (including, if applicable, as to collateral but excluding as to subordination, pricing, premiums and optional prepayment or optional redemption provisions) of any such Amended or Refinanced 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 Amended or Refinanced, taken as a whole (provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Agent at least five Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description
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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 requirements of clause (ii) and this clause (iii) unless the Agent notifies the Borrower within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees)), (e) in the case of any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing that is secured, such Permitted Amendment or Refinancing is secured only by all or any portion of the collateral securing the Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced, and (f) the obligors (including any guarantors) in respect of the Indebtedness resulting from such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension shall be the same as the obligors (including any guarantors) of the Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced and (g) in the case of any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing under Section 7.03(u), all interest payments thereon shall continue to be paid in kind. When used with respect to any specified Indebtedness, “Permitted Amendment or Refinancing” shall mean the Indebtedness incurred to effectuate a Permitted Amendment or Refinancing of such specified Indebtedness.
“Permitted Discretion” means a determination made by the Agent, in the exercise of its reasonable credit judgment from the viewpoint of an asset based lender, exercised in good faith in accordance with customary business practices for comparable asset based lending transactions.
“Permitted Investors” means the collective reference to (i) the Sponsor and Sponsor Affiliates, (ii) the Management Investors, (iii) any Permitted Transferees of any of the foregoing Persons, and (iv) any ‘‘group’’ (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that in the case of such ‘‘group’’ and without giving effect to the existence of such ‘‘group’’ or any other ‘‘group,’’ such Persons specified in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, collectively, have beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock of Holdings held by such ‘‘group,” and provided further, that, in no event shall the Sponsor own a lesser percentage of voting stock than any other Person or group referred to in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv).
“Permitted Overadvance” means an Overadvance made by the Agent to the Borrower, in its discretion, which:
(a) is made to maintain, protect or preserve the Collateral and/or the Credit Parties’ rights under the Loan Documents or which is otherwise for the benefit of the Credit Parties; or
(b) is made to enhance the likelihood of, or to maximize the amount of, repayment of any Obligation;
(c) is made to pay any other amount chargeable to any Loan Party hereunder; and
(d) together with all other Permitted Overadvances then outstanding, shall not (i) exceed five percent (5%) of the Borrowing Base at any time or (ii) unless a Liquidation is occurring, remain outstanding for more than forty-five (45) consecutive Business Days, unless in each case, the Required Lenders otherwise agree.
provided however, that the foregoing shall not (i) modify or abrogate any of the provisions of Section 2.03 regarding the Lenders’ obligations with respect to Letters of Credit or Section 2.04 regarding the Lenders’ obligations with respect to Swing Line Loans, or (ii) result in any claim or liability against the Agent (regardless of the amount of any Overadvance) for Unintentional Overadvances, and such Unintentional Overadvances shall not reduce the amount of Permitted Overadvances allowed hereunder, and further provided that in no event shall the Agent make an Overadvance, if after giving effect thereto, the principal
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amount of the Credit Extensions would exceed the Aggregate Commitments (as in effect prior to any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof).
“Permitted Seller Note” means a promissory note containing subordination and other related provisions reasonably acceptable to the Agent, representing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries incurred in connection with any acquisition permitted under Section 7.02(f) and payable to the seller in connection therewith.
“Permitted Store Closings” means (a) store closures and related dispositions which do not exceed (i) in any Fiscal Year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the greater of five (5) stores and 15% of the total number of stores in existence on the first day of such Fiscal Year (net of new store openings), and (b) the related Inventory is disposed of at such stores in accordance with liquidation agreements and with professional liquidators acceptable to the Agent.
“Permitted Transferee” means (a) in the case of the Sponsor, (i) any Sponsor Affiliate, (ii) any managing director, general partner, limited partner, director, officer or employee of the Sponsor or any Sponsor Affiliate (collectively, the “Sponsor Associates”), (iii) the heirs, executors, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees or beneficiaries of any Sponsor Associate and (iv) any trust, the beneficiaries of which, or a corporation or partnership, the stockholders or partners of which, include only a Sponsor Associate, his or her spouse, parents, siblings, members of his or her immediate family (including adopted children and step children) and/or direct lineal descendants; and (b) in the case of any Management Investor, (i) his or her executor, administrator, testamentary trustee, legatee or beneficiaries, (ii) his or her spouse, parents, siblings, members of his or her immediate family (including adopted children and step children) and/or direct lineal descendants or (iii) a trust, the beneficiaries of which, or a corporation or partnership, the stockholders or partners of which, include only a Management Investor and his or her spouse, parents, siblings, members of his or her immediate family (including adopted children) and/or direct lineal descendants.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, limited partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means at a relevant time, any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA and in respect of which the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
“Pledged Securities” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Property” means any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, Equity Interests.
“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Qualified Stock” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock.
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“Real Estate” means all Leases and all land, together with the buildings, structures, parking areas, and other improvements thereon, now or hereafter owned by any Loan Party, including all easements, rights-of-way, and similar rights relating thereto and all leases, tenancies, and occupancies thereof.
“Recipient” means the 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 hereunder.
“Recovery Event” means any settlement of or payment in respect of any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
“Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified by the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as prescribed by the Securities Laws.
“Regulation U” means Regulation U of the FRB, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors, consultants, service providers and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the environment or within or upon any building, structure or facility.
“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.
“Reports” has the meaning provided in Section 9.16(c).
“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, Conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, at least two (2) Lenders (or one (1) Lender to the extent that there is only one (1) Lender) holding more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the 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.
“Required Supermajority Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding more than 66 2/3% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 66 2/3% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being
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deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the 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 Supermajority Lenders.
“Requirement of Law” or “Requirements of Law” means as to any Person, the certificate of incorporation and by-laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any Law or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
“Rescindable Amount” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.12(b)(ii).
“Reserves” means all Inventory Reserves and Availability Reserves. The Agent shall have the right, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date in its Permitted Discretion, to establish or modify Reserves upon three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower (during which period (x) the Agent shall be available to discuss any such proposed Reserve with the Borrower and the Borrower may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition or matter that is the basis for such Reserve no longer exists, in a manner and to the extent reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and (y) the Borrower shall not be permitted to make any Borrowing the effect of which would result in an Overadvance or Event of Default under Section 7.18 if such Reserve had been established or modified during such period), provided that no such prior notice shall be required for (1) changes to any Reserves resulting solely by virtue of mathematical calculations of the amount of the Reserve in accordance with the methodology of calculation previously utilized (such as, but not limited to, rent and Customer Credit Liabilities) or (2) if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided further that all such Reserves (including the amount of such Reserve) shall bear a reasonable relationship to the circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies that are the basis for such Reserve. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Reserves shall not duplicate eligibility criteria contained in the definition of Eligible Credit Card Receivables, Eligible In-Transit Inventory, Eligible Inventory, Eligible Trade Receivables or reserves criteria deducted in computing the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory. In the event the circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies underlying any such Reserve cease to exist or the liability that is the basis for any such Reserve has been reduced, such Reserve shall be rescinded or reduced by an amount as determined in the Agent’s Permitted Discretion.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer (or similar title), chief operating officer, controller or treasurer (or similar title) of the Parent, Holdings or the Borrower, as applicable, or (with respect to Section 6.03) any Restricted Subsidiary and, with respect to financial matters, the chief financial officer (or similar title) or treasurer (or similar title) of the Parent, Holdings or the Borrower, as applicable, and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Agent or any other officer of employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Agent.
“Restricted Payment” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.06 hereof.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Retail DDA” means a DDA of any Loan Party used solely in the operation of a store location.
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“Revolving Note” means the promissory note of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1, payable to each Lender, evidencing the Committed Loans made by such Lender from time to time.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a business of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.
“Sanction(s)” means any economic sanctions administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority of the United States, Canada or the European Union (including, without limitation, OFAC, the United States Department of State, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada or the Department of Public Safety Canada or His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”)).
“Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
“Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Secured Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.
“Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley, and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB.
“Security Agreement” means the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of the Closing Date among the Loan Parties and the Agent.
“Security Documents” means the Security Agreement, the Blocked Account Agreements, the Mortgages, the Third Lien Subordination Agreement, the Credit Card Notifications and each other security agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document granting or perfecting a Lien to secure any of the Obligations.
“Settlement Date” has the meaning provided in Section 2.14(a).
“Single Employer Plan” means any Plan that is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan.
“SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator).
“SOFR Adjustment” means 0.10% (10.00 basis points) per annum.
“SOFR Daily Floating Rate” means, for any interest calculation with respect to a SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan , on any day, a fluctuating rate of interest, which can change on each Business Day, equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, for a one (1) month Interest Period beginning on that date; provided, that, if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then SOFR Daily Floating Rate means the Term SOFR Screen Rate for a one (1) month Interest Period on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto plus the SOFR Adjustment; provided, further, if the SOFR Daily Floating Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.
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“SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the SOFR Daily Floating Rate.
“Solvent” means with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, (a) on a going concern basis the amount of the “fair value” of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such Person, contingent or otherwise”, as of such date, as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, local and foreign laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (c) such Person will not have, as of such date, an insufficient amount of capital with which to conduct its business, (d) such Person will be able to pay its debts as they mature, and (e) such Person is not "insolvent" within the meaning of Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code. For purposes of this definition, (i) “debt” means liability on a “claim”, (ii) “claim” means any (x) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured or (y) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured and (iii) except as otherwise provided by applicable Law, the amount of “contingent liabilities” at any time shall be the amount thereof which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, can reasonably be expected to become actual or matured liabilities.
“Specified Event of Default” means the occurrence of any Event of Default described in any of Sections 8.01(a), 8.01(b) (but only insofar as such an Event of Default arises from a breach of the provisions of Section 6.12 or Section 7.18 hereof), 8.01(b)(ii) (provided that, for purposes of this definition only, the grace period applicable thereto shall be five (5) Business Days), 8.01(d) (but only insofar as such Event of Default arises from a material misrepresentation contained in any Borrowing Base Certificate), or 8.01(f).
“Specified Transaction” means (a) any Investment that results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary, any Permitted Acquisition or any Disposition that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower, any Investment constituting an acquisition of assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of another Person or any Disposition of a business unit, line of business or division of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case whether by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise or (b) any incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility or line of credit), Restricted Payment, and New Commitments that by the terms of this Agreement requires such test to be calculated on a “pro forma basis” or after giving “pro forma effect”.
“Sponsor” means (a) prior to the First Amendment Effective Date, Sun Capital Partners V, L.P. and any Affiliates thereof (but excluding any portfolio companies of the foregoing) and (b) on and after the First Amendment Effective Date (after giving effect to the P180 Transactions (as defined in the First Amendment), P180 and any Affiliates thereof (but excluding any portfolio companies of the foregoing).
“Sponsor Affiliate” means the collective reference to any entities (other than a portfolio company) controlled directly or indirectly by the Sponsor.
“Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate determined by the Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign
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exchange computation is made; provided that the Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency.
“Standby Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit that is not a Commercial Letter of Credit and that (a) is used in lieu or in support of performance guaranties or performance, surety or similar bonds (excluding appeal bonds) arising in the ordinary course of business, (b) is used in lieu or in support of stay or appeal bonds, (c) supports the payment of insurance premiums for reasonably necessary casualty insurance carried by any of the Loan Parties, or (d) supports payment or performance for identified purchases or exchanges of products or services in the ordinary course of business.
“Stated Amount” means at any time the maximum amount for which a Letter of Credit may be honored.
“Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness which is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior Payment in Full of the Obligations and which is in form and on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
“Subordination Provisions” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(l).
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unlimited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body 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 Loan Parties.
“Subsidiary Guarantors” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Guarantor hereunder.
“Substantial Liquidation” means either (a) the Liquidation of substantially all of the Collateral, or (b) the sale or other disposition of substantially all of the Collateral by the Loan Parties.
“Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).
“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.
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“Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.
“Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 or such other form as approved by the Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as approved by the Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
“Swing Line Note” means the promissory note of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2, payable to the Swing Line Lender, evidencing the Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender.
“Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Commitments. A permanent reduction of the Commitments shall not require a corresponding pro rata reduction in the Swing Line Sublimit; provided, however, that if the Commitments are reduced to an amount less than the Swing Line Sublimit, then the Swing Line Sublimit shall be reduced to an amount equal to (or, at Borrower’s option, less than) the Commitments.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other similar fees or charges in the nature of a tax, levy, et cetera, imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Term SOFR” means, for any Interest Period with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto, in each case, plus the SOFR Adjustment; provided that if Term SOFR determined in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this definition would otherwise be less than zero, Term SOFR shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Term SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the definition of Term SOFR.
“Term SOFR Replacement Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).
“Term SOFR Screen Rate” means the forward-looking SOFR term rate administered by CME (or any successor administrator satisfactory to the Agent) and published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Agent from time to time).
“Termination Date” means the earliest to occur of (i) the Latest Maturity Date, (ii) the date on which the maturity of the Obligations is accelerated (or deemed accelerated) and the Commitments are irrevocably terminated (or deemed terminated) in accordance with Article VIII, or (iii) the termination of the Commitments in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.06 hereof.
“Third Lien Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as December 11, 2020, by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors named therein, SK Financial Services, LLC, as administrate
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agent and collateral agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended on the date hereoffrom time to time on or prior to the First Amendment Effective Date and as the same may be subsequently amended, amended and restated, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time hereafter to the extent permitted hereunder and in accordance with the Third Lien Subordination Agreement.
“Third Lien Loan Documents” means all “Loan Documents” as defined in the Third Lien Credit Agreement.
“Third Lien Subordination Agreement” means that certain Subordination Agreement dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Agent, the Loan Parties and SK Financial Services, LLC.
“Total Outstandings” means, without duplication, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.
“Trading with the Enemy Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.19.
“Type” means, (i) when used with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan, a Term SOFR Loan or a SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan, and (ii) when used with respect to commitments, refers to whether such commitment is a Commitment, an Extended Commitment of a given Extension Series or a New Commitment.
“UCC” or “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the New York; provided, however, that if a term is defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code differently than in another Article thereof, the term shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9; provided further that, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, perfection, or the effect of perfection or non-perfection, of a security interest in any Collateral or the availability of any remedy hereunder is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than New York, “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or effect of perfection or non-perfection or availability of such remedy, as the case may be.
“UCP” means the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).
“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 subject to IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“Unintentional Overadvance” means an Overadvance which, to the Agent’s knowledge, did not constitute a Overadvance when made but which has become a Overadvance resulting from changed circumstances beyond the control of the Credit Parties, including, without limitation, a reduction in the Appraised Value of property or assets included in the Borrowing Base or misrepresentation by any of the Loan Parties.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
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“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated as such and listed on Schedule 4.01 on the Closing Date and (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is designated by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only to the extent that, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), such Subsidiary: (a) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Borrower; (c) is a Person with respect to which neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interest or warrants, options or other rights to acquire Equity Interests or (y) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; (d) has not guaranteed or otherwise provided credit support at the time of such designation for any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (e) does not hold any assets constituting Borrowing Base Assets; (f) it does not own (and is not the licensee of) any Intellectual Property that is material to the business or operations of any Loan Party or may be necessary or desirable for the sale or Liquidation of the Collateral; (g) it does not own, directly or indirectly, any Equity Interests in a Loan Party or any other Restricted Subsidiary or hold any Indebtedness or any Lien on any Property of any Loan Party or any other Restricted Subsidiary; and (h) to the extent requested by the Agent, shall have entered into an agreement with the Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, allowing the use of the assets and other property of such Subsidiary as may be necessary or desirable for the Liquidation of the Collateral or such other assets. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes hereof. Subject to the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Borrower may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) such designation shall be permitted only if no Default or Event of Default exists and the Payment Conditions are satisfied, in each case on the date of such designation after giving pro forma effect thereto, (ii) any designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and (iii) any designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary and shall reduce amounts available for Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries permitted by Section 7.02 in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Subsidiary so designated; provided that the Borrower may subsequently redesignate any such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary so long as the Borrower does not subsequently re-designate such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary for a period of the succeeding four Fiscal Quarters.
“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 Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(B)(III).
“Vince License Agreement” means that certain License Agreement dated as of May 25, 2023, by and between the Borrower and ABG-Vince.
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“Vince License Agreement Reserves” means reserves in respect of any royalties or other amounts payable under the ABG Agreements, including, without limitation, (a) the reasonably estimated aggregate amount of royalty payments and any other amounts due under the Vince License Agreement for the period equal to the liquidation period (with respect to the Eligible Inventory subject to the Vince License Agreement) used to calculate the Appraised Value of the applicable Inventory that is subject to the Vince License Agreement under the most recently completed Inventory appraisal; provided, however, that such reserves under this clause (a) in respect of the royalty payments under the Vince License Agreement shall not be maintained to the extent such royalty payments are factored into the determination of the Appraised Value of such Inventory subject to the Vince License Agreement under the most recently completed Inventory appraisal, and (b) the aggregate amount of royalty payments and any other amounts due under the Vince License Agreement outstanding past the applicable due date for such payments under the Vince License Agreement.
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” shall mean, 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, that for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness that is being Amended or Refinanced (the “Applicable Indebtedness”), the effects of any amortization of or prepayments made on such Applicable Indebtedness prior to the date of the applicable Amendment or Refinancing shall be disregarded.
“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.
With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
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Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Loan Parties pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to two places 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).
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit as in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the maximum stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.
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The Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Agent have any liability with respect to, in each case, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the administration, submission or any other matter related to any reference rate referred to herein or with respect to any rate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the selection of such rate and any related spread or other adjustment) that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any such rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Conforming Changes. The 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,
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without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or any related spread or other adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any reference rate referred to herein or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing), in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to 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.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make Committed Loans to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the lesser of (x) the amount of the Commitment of such Lender, and (y) such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Borrowing Base; subject in each case to the following limitations:
Within the limits of the Commitment for each Lender, 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.
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The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of non-compliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.
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The Borrower shall repay to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, on the Termination Date the aggregate amount of Obligations (including the Loans, but excluding contingent indemnification obligations for which a claim has not then been asserted) outstanding on such date.
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In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of Section 2.03:
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(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Agent. Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the Parent or the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Agent for the account of the Lenders or any L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the applicable Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuers, as the case may be, the amount due. With respect to any payment that the Agent makes for the account of the Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder as to which the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (1) the Borrower has not in fact made such payment; (2) the Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by the Borrower (whether or not then owed); or (3) the Agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment, then each of the applicable Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuers, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender or L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
A notice of the Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
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If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Credit Party shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of, interest on, or other amounts with respect to the Obligations resulting in such Credit Party’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Obligations, greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein (including as in contravention of the priorities of payment set forth in Section 8.03), then the Credit Party receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Obligations of the other Credit Parties, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Credit Parties ratably and in the priorities set forth in Section 8.03, provided that:
Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Requirement of Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.
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(I) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
(II) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(III) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign
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corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable); or
(IV) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2 or Exhibit E-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
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If any Lender reasonably determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to SOFR or Term SOFR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR or Term SOFR, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower (through the Agent), (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term SOFR Loans or SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans or to Convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans or SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be 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 SOFR Daily Floating Rate 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 Agent without reference to the SOFR Daily Floating Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Agent), prepay or, if applicable, Convert all Term SOFR Loans or SOFR Daily Floating Rate 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 Agent without reference to the SOFR Daily Floating Rate component of the Base Rate), (x) in the case of SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, immediately and (y) in the case of Term SOFR Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loans, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon SOFR, the Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the SOFR Daily Floating Rate component thereof until the Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or Conversion of Term SOFR Loans, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or Converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.
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then, on a date and time determined by the Agent (any such date, the “Term SOFR Replacement Date”), which date shall be at the end of an Interest Period or on the relevant interest payment date (or, in the case of a daily floating interest rate, upon the effectiveness of such amendment), as applicable, for interest calculated and, solely with respect to clause (ii) above, no later than the Scheduled Unavailability Date, Term SOFR will be replaced hereunder and under any Loan Document with Daily Simple SOFR plus the SOFR Adjustment for any payment period for interest calculated that can be determined by the Agent, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (the “Successor Rate”).
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If the Successor Rate is Daily Simple SOFR plus the SOFR Adjustment, all interest payments will be payable on a quarterly basis.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) if the Agent determines that Daily Simple SOFR is not available for Term SOFR or the SOFR Daily Floating Rate, as applicable, on or prior to the Term SOFR Replacement Date, or (ii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(b)(i) or (ii) have occurred with respect to the Successor Rate then in effect, then in each case, the Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing Term SOFR or any then current Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 3.03 at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period (or, in the case of a daily floating interest rate, upon the effectiveness of such amendment) for interest calculated, as applicable, with an alternate benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such alternative benchmark and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such benchmark. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments shall constitute a “Successor Rate”. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.
The Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Borrower and each Lender of the implementation of any Successor Rate.
Any Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Agent, such Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower.
Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any Successor Rate so determined would otherwise be less than zero, the Successor Rate will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
In connection with the implementation of a Successor Rate, the Agent will have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
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and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, within fifteen (15) days after demand therefor by such Lender or L/C Issuer setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs, the Loan Parties will pay to such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
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Upon written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Agent) from time to time, which such 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 incurred by it as a result of:
including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to the Borrower through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material economic, legal or regulatory respect. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Agent.
The agreement of each Lender and L/C Issuer to make the initial Credit Extension requested to be made by it is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver), prior to or concurrently with the making of such extension of credit on the Closing Date, of the following conditions precedent:
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The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a Conversion of Committed Loans to another Type, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans) and of each L/C Issuer to issue each Letter of Credit is subject to the following conditions precedent:
Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a Conversion of Committed Loans to another Type or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the conditions specified in Section 4.02 have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension. The conditions set forth in this Section 4.02 are for the sole benefit of the Credit Parties but until the Required Lenders otherwise direct the Agent to cease making Loans and issuing Letters of Credit, the applicable Lenders will fund their Applicable Percentage of all Loans and L/C Advances and participate in all Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit whenever made or issued, which are requested by the Borrower and which, notwithstanding the failure of the Loan Parties to comply with the provisions of this Article IV, are agreed to by the Agent, provided, however, the making of any such Loans or the issuance of any Letters of Credit shall not be deemed a modification or waiver by any Credit Party of the provisions of this Article IV on any future occasion or a waiver of any rights or the Credit Parties as a result of any such failure to comply.
To induce the Credit Parties to enter into this Agreement and to make Loans and to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Agent and the other Credit Parties that:
The (i) audited consolidated balance sheets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of the Fiscal Years ended January 30, 2021, January 29, 2022 and January 28, 2023 and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), of stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for such Fiscal Years, including the notes thereto, reported on by and accompanied by an unqualified report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and (ii) unaudited financial statements of the Parent as at and for the Fiscal Quarter ended on April 29, 2023, present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at such dates, and the results of their consolidated operations and its cash flows (as applicable) for the respective periods then ended. All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto and normal year end adjustments, have been prepared in
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accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as approved by the aforementioned firm of accountants and disclosed therein and, in the case of such unaudited financial statements, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes). Except as set forth on Schedule 5.01, as of the Closing Date, none of Parent or its Subsidiaries (i) has any material Guarantee Obligations, contingent liabilities or material liabilities for taxes, or any long-term leases or unusual forward or long-term commitments, including, without limitation, any interest rate or foreign currency swap or exchange transaction or other obligation in respect of derivatives, which are not reflected in the most recent financial statements referred to in this paragraph but which would in accordance with GAAP be so reflected in a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and (ii) is party to any arrangement to pay principal or interest with respect to any Indebtedness of any Person which is not reflected in the most recent financial statements referred to in this paragraph, (x) which was incurred by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or guaranteed by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries at any time or the proceeds of which are or were transferred to or used by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and (y) the payments in respect of which are intended to be made with the proceeds of payments to such Person by the Parent or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries or with any Indebtedness or Equity Interests issued by the Parent or any such Subsidiary.
There has been no event, circumstance, development, change or effect since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had a Material Adverse Effect.
Each of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) (i) is duly organized (or incorporated), validly existing and in good standing (or, only where if applicable, the equivalent status in any foreign jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation, (ii) has the corporate or organizational power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its Property, to lease the Property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged except, in each case, to the extent that any such failure to have such power, authority or right would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or limited liability company and in good standing (where such concept is relevant) under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of Property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or in good standing (where such concept is relevant) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (b) is in compliance with all applicable Requirements of Law except to the extent that any such failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each Loan Party has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to borrow hereunder. Each Loan Party has taken all necessary corporate or other action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to authorize the extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the extensions of credit hereunder or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except (i) consents, authorizations, filings and notices, which consents, authorizations, filings and notices have been obtained or, within any period set forth in the relevant Security Document, will be obtained or made and are or will be in full force and effect or the failure to obtain which
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would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) filings to perfect the Liens created by the Security Documents, (iii) filings pursuant to the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 3727 et seq.), in respect of Accounts of the Parent and its Subsidiaries the obligor in respect of which is the United States or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, and (iv) the filings referred to in Section 5.17. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of each Loan Party that is a party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document upon execution will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party that is a party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law) and the implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not (a) violate the organizational or governing documents of any of the Loan Parties, (b) violate, in any material respect, any applicable Requirement of Law or any material Contractual Obligation of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (c) result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any applicable Requirement of Law or any such Contractual Obligation (other than Liens required to be granted in favor of the Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents).
No litigation, proceeding or, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, investigation of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, likely to be commenced within a reasonable time period against the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their Properties or revenues which, taken as a whole, (a) are material and adverse with respect to any of the Loan Documents or (b) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Except as set forth in Schedule 5.08(a), each of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries has good and marketable title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in or in the case of real property subject to a license, a right to use, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use, all its other Property (other than Intellectual Property), in each case, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of such Property is subject to any Lien other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01. Schedule 5.08(b) lists all real property which is owned, leased or licensed to use by any Loan Party as of the Closing Date.
Each of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its respective Restricted Subsidiaries owns, or has a valid license to use, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted free and clear of all Liens, except for Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and except where the
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failure to so own or have a license to use would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Parent’s, Holdings’, and the Borrower’s knowledge, no holding, injunction, decision or judgment has been rendered by any Governmental Authority and none of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has entered into any settlement stipulation or other agreement (except (x) license agreements in the ordinary course of business and (y) the ABG Purchase Agreement, provided that such Intellectual Property included in the ABG IP Sale is at all times subject to the ABL License Agreement and the Vince License Agreement in each case in full force and effect) which would cancel the validity of the Parent’s, Holdings’, the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s rights in any Intellectual Property owned by the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (the “Borrower Intellectual Property”) in any respect that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Parent’s, Holdings’ and the Borrower’s knowledge, no pending claim has been asserted or threatened in writing by any Person challenging the use by the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries of any Borrower Intellectual Property or the validity of any Borrower Intellectual Property, except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Parent’s, Holdings’ and the Borrower’s knowledge, the use of any Borrower Intellectual Property by the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any other Person in a manner that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have taken all commercially reasonable actions that in the exercise of their reasonable business judgment should be taken to protect the Borrower Intellectual Property, including Borrower Intellectual Property that is confidential in nature, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed or caused to be filed all federal, state, provincial, territorial and other Tax returns that are required to be filed by it, and (ii) has duly and timely paid all Taxes due and payable and all other Taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its Property, assets, income, businesses and franchises by any Governmental Authority responsible for administering Taxes (other than any the amount or validity of which are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which any reserves required in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be), except in each case where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no current, proposed or, to the knowledge of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, pending Tax assessments, deficiencies or audits against the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, except those that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which any reserves required in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, or that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
No part of the proceeds of any Loans, and no other extensions of credit hereunder, will be used for “buying” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U as now and from time to time hereafter in effect or for any purpose that violates the provisions of the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board. If requested by any Lender (through the Agent) or the Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form G-3 or FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U.
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No Loan Party is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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Other than exceptions to any of the following that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: none of the Parent, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law for the operation of the business; or (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability.
No statement or information (excluding the projections and pro forma financial information referred to below and information of a general economic or general industry nature) contained in this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any certificate furnished to the Agent or the Lenders or any of them, by or on behalf of any Loan Party for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents when taken as a whole, contained as of the date such statement, information, or certificate was so furnished, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements contained therein. The projections and pro forma financial information contained in the materials referenced above are based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by management of the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such financial information as it relates to future events is not to be viewed as fact, that such financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties, that no assurance can be given that the projected results will be realized, and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections and financial information may differ significantly from the projected results set forth therein by a material amount. There is no fact known to any Loan Party that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been expressly disclosed herein, in the other Loan Documents or in any other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Agent and the Lenders for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents.
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After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and before and after giving effect to each Credit Extension, the Loan Parties, on a Consolidated basis, are and will be Solvent.
All Borrowings permitted under this Agreement are, and when incurred or issued will be, permitted under (and shall give rise to no breach or violation of) any Junior Indebtedness or any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing thereof (or under the definitive documentation relating thereto).
There are no strikes or other labor disputes against the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent or the Borrower, threatened that (individually or in the aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Hours worked by and payment made to employees of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Requirement of Law dealing with such matters that (individually or in the aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All payments due from the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on account of employee health and welfare insurance that (individually or in the aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if not paid have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary.
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No Mortgage encumbers improved real property that is located in an area that has been identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance has been made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.
The properties of the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks (including, without limitation, workmen’s compensation, public liability, business interruption, property damage and directors and officers liability insurance) as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Loan Parties or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary operates. Schedule 5.23 sets forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, each insurance policy listed on Schedule 5.23 is in full force and effect and all premiums in respect thereof that are due and payable have been paid.
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Until the Payment in Full of the Obligations, each Loan Party shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:
Furnish to the Agent for delivery to each Lender (which may be delivered via posting on the Platform):
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If the Parent has filed (within the time period required above) a Form 10-Q or 10-K, as applicable, with the SEC for any Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year described above, then to the extent that such quarterly or annual report on Form 10-Q or 10-K contains any of the foregoing items, the Lenders will accept such Form 10-Q or 10-K in lieu of such items; provided that such filings shall be delivered to the Agent and each Lender in the same manner as set forth below. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 6.01 may be delivered by posting such documents electronically with notice of such posting to the Agent and each Lender and if so posted, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on 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 the Platform or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Agent have been granted access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Agent).
Furnish to the Agent, in form and detail reasonably, satisfactory to the Agent, for delivery to each Lender, or, in the case of clause (h), to the relevant Lender:
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a certificate of the independent certified public accountants of the Parent in customary form reporting on such financial statements stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default or Event of Default, except as specified in such certificate (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines and will not be required if such accountants no longer provide such certificates to its customers (or their lenders) generally);
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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a), (b), or (c) or Section 6.02(d) or (j) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on 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 an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Agent).
The Loan Parties hereby acknowledge that (a) the Agent and/or the Arranger may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Loan Parties hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar, or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Loan Parties or their securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Loan Parties hereby agree that they will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Loan Parties shall be deemed to have authorized the Agent, the Arranger, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Loan Parties or their securities for purposes of United States Securities Laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and (z) the Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor”.
Promptly upon a Responsible Officer of the Parent or any Loan Party obtaining knowledge thereof, give notice to the Agent of:
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Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto.
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Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all its Taxes, governmental assessments and governmental charges, except (i) where the amount or validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves required in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation, or (ii) to the extent that failure to pay or satisfy such obligations could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Agent with respect to determining Reserves pursuant to this Agreement.
(a) (i) Preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its corporate or other existence and (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights (other than Intellectual Property rights, the maintenance of which is addressed in Section 6.06(c)), privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except, in each case, as otherwise permitted by Section 7.04 or except, in the case of clause (ii) above, to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) comply with all applicable Requirements of Law except to the extent that failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Comply in all material respects with the Requirements of Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except if the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Notwithstanding any provision set forth herein or in any other Loan Documents to the contrary, in no event shall (x) any Foreign Subsidiary be required to guarantee the obligations of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary, (y) the assets of any Foreign Subsidiary constitute security or secure, or such assets
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or the proceeds of such assets be required to be available for, payment of the obligations of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary, or (z) more than 65% of the voting stock of any Foreign Subsidiary directly held by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries be required to be pledged to secure the obligations of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary.
In no event shall compliance with this Section 6.11 waive or be deemed a waiver or Consent to any transaction giving rise to the need to comply with this Section 6.11 if such transaction was not otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement or constitute or be deemed to constitute, with respect to any Subsidiary, an approval of such Person as the Borrower or permit the inclusion of any acquired assets in the computation of the Borrowing Base.
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The Loan Parties shall undertake all action which may be necessary to effectuate the foregoing ACH and wire transfers as and when required hereunder.
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Cause cycle counts to be undertaken, at the expense of the Loan Parties, consistent with past practices, following such methodology as is consistent with the past business practices of the Loan Parties. Cause a physical count of the Inventory to be undertaken, at the expense of the Loan Parties, no less than one time per Fiscal Year. Upon the Agent’s reasonable request therefor, the Borrower shall provide the Agent with the results of any such cycle count and/or physical count.
Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (a) comply, and take all reasonable actions to cause any lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and environmental permits; (b) obtain and renew all environmental permits necessary for its operations and properties; and, (c) in each case to the extent required by applicable Environmental Laws, conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Materials of Environmental Concern from any of its properties, in accordance with the requirements of all applicable Environmental Laws.
Maintain the security interest created by the Security Documents as a perfected security interest having at least the priority described herein (if applicable, to the extent such security interest can be perfected through the filing of UCC-1, financing statements and other filings required under applicable Requirement of Law, the Intellectual Property filings to be made pursuant to the Security Documents or the delivery of Pledged Securities required to be delivered under the Security Documents), subject to the rights of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents to dispose of the Collateral. From time to time the Loan Parties shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional instruments, certificates or documents, and take all such actions, as the Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of implementing or effectuating the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or of renewing the rights of the Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as to which the Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, has a perfected Lien pursuant hereto or thereto, including, without limitation, filing any financing or continuation statements or financing change statements under the Uniform Commercial Code or other similar laws) in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby.
Perform all actions identified on Schedule 6.16 by the deadlines set forth therein as such deadlines may be extended by the Agent in its reasonable discretion.
Until the Payment in Full of the Obligations, no Loan Party shall, nor shall it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
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It is further understood and agreed that for purposes of determining the value of any Investment outstanding for purposes of this Section 7.02, such amount shall deemed to be the amount of such Investment when made, purchased or acquired less any returns on such Investment (not to exceed the original amount invested).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any such Investment otherwise permitted under Section 7.02(h), (m), (n), (o), (p), (s), or (u) includes Intellectual Property that may be necessary or desirable for the Liquidation of the Collateral, either (x) such Intellectual Property shall be subject to (1) an irrevocable license in favor of the Agent (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) permitting the Liquidation of the Collateral without payment of royalty or other compensation or (2) the ABL License Agreement or (y) prior to any such Investment, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent an updated Borrowing Base Certificate eliminating the Collateral subject to such Intellectual Property from the calculation of the Borrowing Base and, after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default or Overadvance shall exist.
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Consummate any merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or Dispose of all or substantially all of its Property or business (including, in each case, pursuant to a Division), except that:
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any sales, transfers or dispositions otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05(c), (d), (e), (j), (k), (m), (n), (o), (q), or (r) include the sales, transfers or dispositions of Intellectual Property that may be necessary or desirable for the Liquidation of the Collateral, either (x) such Intellectual Property shall be subject to (1) an irrevocable license in favor of the Agent (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) permitting the Liquidation of the Collateral without payment of royalty or other compensation or (2) the ABL License Agreement or (y) prior to any such sale, transfer or disposition, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent an updated Borrowing Base Certificate eliminating the Collateral subject to such Intellectual Property from the calculation of the Borrowing Base and, after giving effect thereto (including the application of the proceeds from such sales, transfers or dispositions that are received and so applied substantially concurrently with such sales, transfers or dispositions), no Event of Default or Overadvance shall exist.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event that, since the most recent delivery of a Borrowing Base Certificate hereunder, the Loan Parties (or any of them) consummate any transaction or transactions (other than Dispositions in the ordinary course of business or to a Loan Party) that results in the Disposition of, subordination of the Agent’s Liens on, or release of a
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Loan Party owning, Collateral (whether as part of a Disposition of Equity Interests or otherwise) or assets included in the Borrowing Base ceasing to eligible, in each case, with a value, individually for such transaction or in the aggregate for all transactions since the most recent delivery of a Borrowing Base Certificate, in excess of 5% of the Borrowing Base at such time, then as a condition to the permissibility of the consummation of such transaction or transactions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 7.01, 7.02 or 7.06 or this Section 7.05), (A) the Borrower shall have provided to the Agent an updated Borrowing Base Certificate (giving effect to such transaction or transactions) prior to the consummation of such transaction or transactions and (B) after giving effect to any prepayment of Revolving Loans occurring on or prior to the consummation of such transaction or transactions, no Overadvance or Event of Default under Section 7.18 shall exist after giving effect to such transaction or transactions. For avoidance of doubt, any transaction described in Article VII of this Agreement shall be subject to the requirements of this paragraph if applicable to such transaction.
Declare or pay any dividend on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement, cancellation, termination or other acquisition of, any Equity Interests of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or enter into any derivatives or other transaction with any financial institution, commodities or stock exchange or clearinghouse (a “Derivatives Counterparty”), obligating the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to make payments to such Derivatives Counterparty as a result of any change in market value of any such Equity Interests (collectively, “Restricted Payments”), except that:
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.06, (i) Holdings shall not make any Restricted Payments consisting of Intellectual Property that is material to the business of any Loan Party or is necessary or desirable for the Liquidation of Collateral and (ii) Holdings shall not make any Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06(g), until the earlier of (x) the date that is eighteen (18) month anniversary of the First Amendment Effective Date, which date is July 21, 2026 and (y) the first date following the twelve (12) month anniversary of the First Amendment Effective Date on which the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 1.0 to 1.0.
Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner any Indebtedness, or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Junior Indebtedness, except:
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(d) (iv) during the period beginning [on or around the First Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower may prepay and ending on January 24, 2025, Indebtedness owing under the Third Lien Credit Agreement, provided, however, that (x) the principal amount of Indebtedness prepaid under the Third Lien Credit Agreement shall be prepaid at least a 25% discount to the face amount thereof and (y) the aggregate cash payments permitted pursuant to this Section 7.07(dc)(iv) shall not exceed $20,200,000].1 (it being understood and agreed that the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness being prepaid shall be higher); and
1 Note to Borrower: Confirm mechanics described in this Section 7.07(d).
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Enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate (other than the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) unless such transaction is (a) otherwise not prohibited under this Agreement and (b) upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may without being subject to the terms of this Section 7.09, (i) enter into any transaction with any Person which is an Affiliate of the Parent only by reason of such Person and the Parent having common directors; (ii) enter into and perform its or their obligations under the agreements set forth on Schedule 7.09, as in effect on the Closing Date or as the same may be amended, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner that does not materially increase the obligations of the Loan Parties thereunder, and (iii) enter into transactions with Affiliates permitted by Sections 7.02(c), 7.02(o), 7.02(s), 7.03(h), 7.03(i), 7.03(r), 7.04(c), 7.05(e), 7.05(k)(ii) and 7.06 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.09 shall not apply to employment arrangements with, and payments of compensation, indemnification payments, expense reimbursement or benefits to or for the benefit of, current or former employees, officers or directors of the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Enter into any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure the Obligations or, in the case of any Guarantor, its obligations under the Security Documents, other than (a) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, any agreement related to any Junior Indebtedness, and any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing thereof, (b) any agreements governing any secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby and the proceeds thereof), (c) software and other Intellectual Property licenses pursuant to which the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary is the licensee or licensor of the relevant software or Intellectual Property, as the case may be, (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall relate only to the assets subject of the applicable license), (d) Contractual Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and on customary terms which limit Liens on the assets subject of the applicable Contractual Obligation or impose restrictions on cash or other deposits with respect thereto, (e) any agreements regarding Indebtedness of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary not prohibited under Section 7.02 (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets of such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), (f) prohibitions and limitations in effect on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.10, (g) customary provisions contained in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business, (h) customary provisions restricting the subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest, (i) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to an asset sale permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05 (j)
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any agreement in effect at the time any Person becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary, and (k) any restrictions on Liens imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (f) and (j) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (a) to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund Indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, or (b) for any purposes other than (i) the acquisition of working capital assets in the ordinary course of business, (ii) to finance Capital Expenditures of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, and (iii) for general corporate purposes (including Permitted Acquisitions), in each case to the extent expressly permitted under Requirements of Law and the Loan Documents.
Amend, modify, waive or otherwise change, or consent or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or other change to, (i) any agreement or instrument governing or evidencing Junior Indebtedness in any manner that is materially adverse to the Lenders without the prior consent of the Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (ii) any of its organizational documents, other than amendments, modifications or waivers that could not reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Lenders or Agent, (iii) any of the Third Lien Loan Documents, if such modification is in violation of the terms of the Third Lien Subordination Agreement, or (iv) any of the ABG Agreements in any manner that is materially adverse to the Lenders without the prior consent of the Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
Change the Fiscal Year of any Loan Party, or, other than as permitted pursuant to Section 1.03, the accounting policies or reporting practices of the Loan Parties, except as required by GAAP.
Open new DDAs (other than Excluded DDAs and Retail DDAs) unless the Loan Parties shall have delivered to the Agent appropriate Blocked Account Agreements consistent with the provisions of Section 6.12 and otherwise satisfactory to the Agent. No Loan Party shall maintain any bank accounts or enter into any agreements with Credit Card Issuers or Credit Card Processors other than the ones expressly contemplated herein or in Section 6.12 hereof.
. Enter into any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of real or personal property which is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (a) to such Person or (b) to any other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property or rental obligations of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, except for (i) sales or transfers that do not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any
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one time outstanding, (ii) sales or transfers by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) sales or transfers by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.
Enter into any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (a) make Restricted Payments in respect of any Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary held by, or pay any Indebtedness owed to, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) make Investments in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) any restrictions existing under the Loan Documents, (ii) any restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with the Disposition of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) any restrictions set forth in the documentation for any Junior Indebtedness or any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing thereof, (iv) any restrictions contained in agreements related to Indebtedness of (A) the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the disposition of assets securing such Indebtedness (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby and the proceeds thereof) and (B) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary not prohibited under Section 7.02 (in which case such restriction shall relate only to such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), (v) any restrictions regarding licenses or sublicenses by the Borrower and its respective Restricted Subsidiaries of Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of business (in which case such restriction shall relate only to such Intellectual Property), (vi) Contractual Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business which include customary provisions restricting the assignment of any agreement relating thereto, (vii) customary provisions contained in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business, (viii) customary provisions restricting the subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest, (ix) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to an asset sale permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05, (x) any agreement in effect at the time any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (xi) such restrictions in effect on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.16, (xii) negative pledges and restrictions on Liens and asset dispositions in favor of any holder of Indebtedness for borrowed money permitted under Section 7.03 but only if such negative pledge or restriction expressly permits Liens for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders with respect to the credit facilities established hereunder and the Obligations under the Loan Documents on a senior basis and without a requirement that such holders of such Indebtedness be secured by such Liens equally and ratably or on a junior basis and (xiii) negative pledges and restrictions on Liens and asset dispositions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (x) and (xi) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
Enter into any Hedge Agreement other than Hedge Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business or as required hereby, and not for speculative purposes, to protect against changes in interest rates or foreign exchange rates or commodity, raw material, energy or utility prices.
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Any of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default”:
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If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Agent may, or, at the request of the Required Lenders shall, take any or all of the following actions:
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default with respect to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof under Section 8.01(f), the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued thereon and all other Obligations shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Loan Parties to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Agent or any Lender.
No remedy herein is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or any other Requirement of Law.
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First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Agent, in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting indemnities, expenses, and other amounts (other than principal, interest and fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers (on account of Letters of Credit) (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and L/C Issuers (on account of Letters of Credit) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to the extent not previously reimbursed by the Lenders, to payment to the Lenders of that portion of the Obligations constituting principal and accrued and unpaid interest on any Permitted Overadvances, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Borrower have not been refinanced by a Committed Loan, payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Swing Line Loans made to the Borrower;
Fifth, to the extent that Swing Line Loans made to the Borrower have not been refinanced by a Committed Loan, payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal on the Swing Line Loans made to the Borrower;
Sixth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations (excluding the Other Liabilities) constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations (excluding the Other Liabilities), and fees (including Letter of Credit Fees), ratably among the Lenders and L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Sixth payable to them;
Seventh, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, and to the 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, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Seventh held by them;
Eighth, to payment of all other Obligations (excluding the Other Liabilities, but including without limitation the cash collateralization of unliquidated indemnification obligations for which a claim has been made as provided in Section 10.04), ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Eighth held by them;
Ninth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations of the Loan Parties arising from Cash Management Services, ratably among the Lenders and their Affiliates in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Ninth held by them;
Tenth, to payment of all other Obligations of the Loan Parties arising from Bank Products, ratably among the Lenders and their Affiliates in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Tenth held by them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been Paid in Full, to the Loan Parties or as otherwise required by Requirement of Law.
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Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Seventh 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.
The Agent may execute any of its duties under the applicable Loan Documents by or through sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Agent. The Agent shall
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not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents or attorneys in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.
The Agent or the Arranger, as applicable, shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Agent nor the Arranger, as applicable, nor any of their officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall:
The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the Consent or at the request of the Applicable Lenders (as the Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Security Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) 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 Agent.
The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall not incur any liability for relying, upon any instrument, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order 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
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(including counsel to the Parent and the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Agent. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or L/C Issuer, the Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or L/C Issuer unless the Agent shall have received written notice to the contrary from such Lender or L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
Each Lender and L/C Issuer expressly acknowledges that none of the Agent nor the Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Agent or the Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party of any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Agent or the Arranger to any Lender or L/C Issuer as to any matter, including whether the Agent or the Arranger have disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender and L/C Issuer represents to the Agent and the Arranger that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Arranger, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder. Each Lender and L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Arranger, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties. Each Lender and L/C Issuer represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender or L/C Issuer for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or L/C Issuer, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender and L/C Issuer agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender and L/C Issuer represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make,
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acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.
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The Credit Parties irrevocably authorize the Agent, at its option and in its discretion,
Upon request by the Agent at any time, the Applicable Lenders will confirm in writing the 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 its Facility Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.12. In each case as specified in this Section 9.12, the Agent will, at the Loan Parties’ expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under its Facility Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.12.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Arranger, listed on the cover page hereof shall not have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity as the Agent, a Lender or an L/C Issuer hereunder.
In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
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and any custodian, receiver, interim receiver, assignee, trustee, monitor, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Agent and if the Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Credit Party any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Credit Party or to authorize the Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Credit Party or in any such proceeding.
The Agent may deem and treat a Lender party to this Agreement as the owner of such Lender’s portion of the Obligations for all purposes, unless and until, and except to the extent, an Assignment and Acceptance shall have become effective as set forth in Section 10.06.
By signing this Agreement, each Lender:
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Each Credit Party hereby appoints each other Credit Party as agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens for the benefit of the Credit Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable Requirement of Law can be perfected only by possession or control. Should any Credit Party (other than the Agent) obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, such Credit Party shall notify the Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Agent's request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Agent's instructions.
The Lenders are not partners or co-venturers, and no Lender shall be liable for the acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in case of the Agent) authorized to act for, any other Lender.
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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, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuers under this Agreement or any Issuer Document 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 Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or Consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of any Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto, and (v) [reserved]. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting
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Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended and the maturity date of any of its Loans may not be extended, the rate of interest on any of its Loans may not be reduced and the principal amount of any of its Loans may not be forgiven, in each case without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment, consent or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.
Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Section 2 unless otherwise agreed by the Agent and the applicable Lender, as the case may be. The Agent, the Parent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
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Unless the Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
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No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Agent or any Credit Party, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Loan Documents 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 are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether any Credit Party may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the other Credit Parties; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, or (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13); and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
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To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Loan Parties is made to any Credit Party, or any Credit Party 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 Credit Party in its discretion) to be repaid to a receiver, interim receiver, trustee, monitor, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer, 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 Credit Party severally agrees to pay to the Agent upon demand its Applicable Percentage (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Credit Parties under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the Payment in Full of the Obligations.
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Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, 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, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, the Borrower (at their expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.06(d).
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(ii) 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 any 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 clauses (i) through (iv) of the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Loan Parties agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the limitations and requirements of Section 3.01 and Section 3.06) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.06(b). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.02 as though it were a Lender.
(iii) Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant's interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish in connection with a Tax audit or other proceeding that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2), and 881(c)(2) of the Code. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Agent (in its capacity as Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
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Each of the Credit Parties agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates, Approved Funds, and to its and its Affiliates’ and Approved Funds’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, funding sources, attorneys, advisors, auditors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority), (c) to the extent required by Requirement of Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, provided that the Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of
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any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement (including any electronic agreement contained in any Platform) containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be an Additional Commitment Lender; or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Hedge Agreement relating to any Loan Party and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, (h) 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) or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section, (y) becomes available to any Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Loan Parties and which source is not known by such Agent or Lender to be subject to a confidentiality restriction in respect thereof in favor of any of the Credit Parties or any Affiliate of the Credit Parties or (z) is independently discovered or developed by a party hereto without utilizing any Information received from the Borrower or violating the terms of this Section 10.07. In addition, the Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.
For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof relating to the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to any Credit Party on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof, provided that, in the case of information received from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Credit Parties acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Loan Parties or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with Requirement of Law, including the Securities Laws.
If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or if any Lender shall have been served with a trustee process or similar attachment relating to property of a Loan Party, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Agent or the Required Lenders, to the fullest extent permitted by Requirement of Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) or other property at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the Obligations now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or L/C Issuer, regardless of the adequacy of the Collateral, and irrespective of whether or not such Lender or L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of
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setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.16 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Agent and the other Credit Parties, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by Requirement of Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans and other Obligations (other than Other Liabilities not then due and owing) or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by Requirement of Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Agent and when the Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Credit Parties, regardless of any investigation made by any Credit Party or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Credit Party may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of 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. Further, the provisions of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 10.04 and Article IX shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the repayment of the Obligations, the expiration of the Letters of Credit or the termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
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If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Agent, each L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or ceases to make Term SOFR Loans or SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 3.01 and 3.05) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
Each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 10.13 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Agent and the assignee and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof;
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provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided, further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.13 to the contrary, (i) any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements satisfactory to such Lender (including the furnishing of a backstop standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer, reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer or the depositing of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to such outstanding Letter of Credit and (ii) the Lender that acts as the Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.11.
EACH OF THE PARENT, HOLDINGS, THE BORROWER, THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN
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ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Loan Parties each acknowledge and agree that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Loan Parties, on the one hand, and the Credit Parties, on the other hand, and each of the Loan Parties is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, each Credit Party is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) none of the Credit Parties has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Loan Parties with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether any of the Credit Parties has advised or is currently advising any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Credit Parties has any obligation to any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Credit Parties and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and none of the Credit Parties has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Credit Parties have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and each of the Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. Each of the Loan Parties hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against each of the Credit Parties with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.
Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and the Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. Each Loan Party is in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA PATRIOT Act. No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used by the Loan Parties, directly or indirectly, for any purpose which would contravene or breach the Proceeds of Crime Act or for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
Neither of the advance of the Loans nor the use of the proceeds of any thereof will violate the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., as amended) (the "Trading With the Enemy Act") or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B,
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Chapter V, as amended) (the "Foreign Assets Control Regulations") or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto (which for the avoidance of doubt shall include, but shall not be limited to (a) Executive Order 13224 of September 21, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)) (the "Executive Order") and (b) the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-56)). Furthermore, none of the Borrower or its Affiliates (a) is or will become a "blocked person" as described in the Executive Order, the Trading With the Enemy Act or the Foreign Assets Control Regulations or (b) engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or be otherwise associated, with any such "blocked person" or in any manner violative of any such order.
Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.
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If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court in any jurisdiction with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, it becomes necessary to convert into a particular currency (the “Judgment Currency”) any amount due under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document in any currency other than the Judgment Currency (the “Currency Due”), then conversion shall be made at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Business Day before the day on which judgment is given. For this purpose “rate of exchange” means the rate at which the Agent is able, on the relevant date, to purchase the Currency Due with the Judgment Currency in accordance with its normal practice for the applicable currency conversion in the wholesale market. In the event that there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the conversion date and the date of actual payment of the amount due, the Loan Parties will pay such additional amount (if any, but in any event not a lesser amount) as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of Currency Due which could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment
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or judicial order at the rate of exchange prevailing on the conversion date. If the amount of the Currency Due which the applicable Agent is so able to purchase is less than the amount of the Currency Due originally due to it, the applicable Loan Party shall indemnify and save the Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders harmless from and against all loss or damage arising as a result of such deficiency. This indemnity shall constitute an obligation separate and independent from the other obligations contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, shall apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by any Agent from time to time and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order for a liquidated sum in respect of an amount due under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or under any judgment or order.
The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.
The exhibits, schedules and annexes attached to this Agreement are incorporated herein and shall be considered a part of this Agreement for the purposes stated herein, except that in the event of any conflict between any of the provisions of such exhibits and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.
This Agreement, any other 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 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 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 Agent, nor any L/C Issuer nor Swing Line Lender is under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Agent, any L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the 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,
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and (b) upon the request of the Agent or any Credit Party, any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart.
Neither the Agent, nor any L/C Issuer nor Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Agent’s, any L/C Issuer’s or Swing Line Lender’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means). The Agent, L/C Issuers and Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any Communication or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
Each of the 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 or any other Loan Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement or such other Loan Document, and (ii) any claim against the Agent, each Credit Party and each Related Party for any liabilities arising solely from the 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.
Solely to the extent any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an Affected Financial Institution is a party to this Agreement and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent 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
(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.
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To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
“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).
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Schedule 2.01
to Credit Agreement
Commitments and Applicable Percentages
Lender |
Commitment |
Applicable Percentage |
Bank of America, N.A. |
$85,000,000 |
100.000000000% |
TOTAL |
$85,000,000 |
100.000000000% |
ANNEX B
Fifth Amendment to Third Lien Credit Agreement
[see attached]
Exhibit 10.2
Execution Version
FIFTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
This FIFTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is entered into as of January 22, 2025, by and among V OPCO, LLC (F/K/A VINCE, LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors signatory hereto, SK FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC (in its individual capacity, “SK Financial”), as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents (in such capacities, the “Agent”), and each of the Lenders party hereto.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the Agent, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2020 (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 7, 2021, that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2022, that certain Consent and Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2023, that certain Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2023 and as further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, modified, or otherwise in effect from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”; the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, the “Amended Credit Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Borrower has advised the Agent that P180 Vince Acquisition Co., a Delaware corporation (“P180”) will be purchasing (x) all of the Equity Interests of the Parent owned by Sun Capital Partners V, L.P. (and its Affiliates) and (y) all or a portion of the Term Loans (and certain accrued and unpaid interest thereon) from SK Financial Services, LLC, in each case, pursuant to (and in accordance with) that certain Stock and Loan Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “SLPA”), by and among P180, as purchaser, and Sun Cardinal, LLC, SCSF Cardinal, LLC and SK Financial Services, LLC, as sellers (the transactions contemplated pursuant to the SLPA being hereinafter referred to as the “P180 Transactions”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the P180 Transactions, the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Agent and the Lenders wish to amend the Credit Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is agreed as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions.
Unless otherwise indicated, all capitalized terms used herein (including the preamble and the recitals) and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings provided to such terms in the Amended Credit Agreement.
SECTION 2. Fifth Amendment Effective Date Composite Amendments. On the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete the bold, stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and to add the bold, double-under lined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) as set forth in the pages of the Amended Credit Agreement attached as Annex A hereto.
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SECTION 3. Conditions to Effectiveness of Fifth Amendment Effective Date. Section 2 to this Amendment shall become effective on the date that each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived in writing by the Agent) (the “Fifth Amendment Effective Date”):
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SECTION 4. Representations and Warranties. To induce the Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Amendment, the Borrower and each other Loan Party represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders on and as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date that, in each case:
(a) all of the representations and warranties contained in the Amended Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date both immediately before and after giving effect to this Amendment, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (it being understood that (x) any representation or warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be required to be true and correct in all respects after taking into account such qualification and (y) any representation or warranty made as of a specific date shall be true and correct in all material respects (or all respects after taking into account such qualification, as the case may be) as of such date); and
(b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date or would result from the transactions contemplated by this Amendment.
SECTION 5. Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents; Ratification.
(a) On and after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.
(b) The Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, as specifically amended by this Amendment, are and shall continue to be in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Security Documents and all of the Collateral described therein do and shall continue to secure the payment of all Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents, in each case, as amended by this Amendment.
(c) The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) there has not been, and this Amendment does not constitute or establish, a novation with respect to the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, or a mutual departure from the strict terms, provisions, and conditions thereof, other than as explicitly set forth herein, and (ii) nothing in this Amendment shall affect or limit Agent’s or the Lenders’ right to demand payment of liabilities owing from Borrower to Agent or the Lenders under, or to demand strict performance of the terms, provisions and conditions of, the Amended Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, to exercise any and all rights, powers, and remedies under the Amended Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents or at law or in equity, or to do any and all of the foregoing, immediately at any time after the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default under the Amended Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents.
(d) Each Loan Party hereby ratifies, and reaffirms each and every term, covenant, and condition set forth in the Amended Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party effective as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.
(e) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Agent under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents.
SECTION 6. Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
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CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 7. Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page counterpart hereof by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic association of signatures and records on electronic platforms, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Uniform Commercial Code, each as amended, and the parties hereto hereby waive any objection to the contrary, provided that (x) nothing herein shall require Agent to accept electronic signature counterparts in any form or format and (y) Agent reserves the right to require, at any time and at its sole discretion, the delivery of manually executed counterpart signature pages to this Amendment and the parties hereto agree to promptly deliver such manually executed counterpart signature pages.
SECTION 8. Miscellaneous. Sections 10.04, 10.10, 10.12, 10.15 and 10.16 of the Amended Credit Agreement are incorporated herein mutatis mutandis. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document.
[The remainder of the page is intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly authorized officers to execute and deliver this Amendment as of the date first above written.
V OPCO, LLC (F/K/A VINCE, LLC), as Borrower
By: _/s/ David Stefko___________________
Name: David Stefko
Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer
VINCE INTERMEDIATE HOLDING, LLC, as a Guarantor
By: _/s/ David Stefko___________________
Name: David Stefko
Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer
VINCE HOLDING CORP., as a Guarantor
By: _/s/ David Stefko____________________
Name: David Stefko
Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer
[Signature Page to Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement (3L)]
SK FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC, as Agent and a Lender
By: _/s/ M. Joseph Politoski II_____________
Name: M. Joseph Politoski II
Title: Vice President and Assistant Treasurer
[Signature Page to Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement (3L)]
ANNEX A
Fifth Amendment Effective Date Composite Credit Agreement
[see attached]
Conformed through FourthFifth Amendment
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 11, 2020,
as amended by that certain (i) First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 7, 2021, (ii) Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2022, (iii) Consent and Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2023 and, (iv) Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2023, and
(v) Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of January 22, 2025
among
V OPCO, LLC (F/K/A Vince, LLC),
as the Borrower,
The Guarantors Named Herein,
SK FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC,
as Agent
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS 1
1.01 Defined Terms. 1
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. 30
1.03 Accounting Terms. 30
1.04 [Reserved]. 31
1.05 Rounding. 31
1.06 Times of Day. 31
1.07 [Reserved]. 31
1.08 Currency Equivalents Generally. 31
1.09 Divisions. 32
1.10 Rates. 32
ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS 32
2.01 Term Loans. 32
2.02 Borrowings of Term Loans. 32
2.03 [Reserved]. 32
2.04 [Reserved]. 32
2.05 Voluntary Prepayments. 32
2.06 Mandatory Prepayments. 33
2.07 Repayment of Obligations; Amortization. 34
2.08 Interest. 34
2.09 [Reserved]. 35
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. 35
2.11 Evidence of Debt. 35
2.12 Payments Generally; Agent’s Clawback. 36
2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. 36
2.14 Settlement Amongst Lenders. 37
ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY 37
3.01 Taxes. 37
3.02 [Reserved]. 40
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates; Illegality; Replacement of Daily Simple SOFR Rate. 40
3.04 Increased Costs. 41
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3.05 Compensation for Losses. 42
3.06 Mitigation Obligations. 42
3.07 Survival. 42
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWING 43
4.01 Conditions to Borrowing. 43
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 44
5.01 Financial Condition. 44
5.02 No Change. 45
5.03 Existence, Compliance with Requirements of Law. 45
5.04 Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. 45
5.05 No Legal Bar. 46
5.06 No Material Litigation. 46
5.07 No Default. 46
5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. 46
5.09 Intellectual Property. 46
5.10 Taxes. 47
5.11 Federal Regulations. 47
5.12 ERISA and Non-U.S. Plans. 48
5.13 Investment Company Act. 49
5.14 Subsidiaries. 49
5.15 Environmental Compliance. 49
5.16 Accuracy of Information, Etc. 49
5.17 Security Documents. 50
5.18 Solvency. 50
5.19 Senior Indebtedness. 50
5.20 Labor Matters. 50
5.21 Regulation H 51
5.22 Anti-Money Laundering and Economic Sanctions Laws. 51
5.23 Insurance. 51
5.24 [Reserved] 52
5.25 EEA Financial Institution. 52
5.26 Casualty, Etc. 52
ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 52
6.01 Financial Statements. 52
6.02 Certificates; Other Information. 53
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6.03 Notices. 54
6.04 Payment of Obligations. 55
6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. 56
6.06 Maintenance of Properties. 56
6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. 56
6.08 Compliance with Requirements of Laws. 57
6.09 Designation as Senior Indebtedness. 57
6.10 Inspection Rights. 57
6.11 Additional Collateral and Additional Loan Parties. 58
6.12 [Reserved] 60
6.13 [Reserved] 60
6.14 Environmental Laws. 60
6.15 Further Assurances. 60
6.16 Post-Closing Obligations. 60
6.17 Use of Proceeds. 60
ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS 61
7.01 Liens 61
7.02 Investments 63
7.03 Indebtedness 65
7.04 Fundamental Changes. 68
7.05 Dispositions 69
7.06 Restricted Payments. 70
7.07 Prepayments of Indebtedness. 72
7.08 Change in Nature of Business. 72
7.09 Transactions with Affiliates. 73
7.10 Burdensome Agreements. 73
7.11 Use of Proceeds. 74
7.12 Amendment of Material Documents. 74
7.13 Fiscal Year. 74
7.14 [Reserved] 74
7.15 Sales and Leasebacks. 74
7.16 Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions. 75
7.17 Limitation on Hedge Agreements. 75
7.18 [Reserved]. 76
7.19 Tax Receivable Agreement.[Reserved] 76
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7.20 Sanctions. 76
ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES 76
8.01 Events of Default. 76
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. 79
8.03 Application of Funds 80
8.04 [Reserved] 80
ARTICLE IX THE AGENT 80
9.01 Appointment. 80
9.02 [Reserved] 81
9.03 [Reserved]. 81
9.04 Delegation of Duties. 81
9.05 Exculpatory Provisions. 81
9.06 Reliance by Agent. 82
9.07 Notice of Default 82
9.08 Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders. 83
9.09 Indemnification 83
9.10 Rights as a Lender 83
9.11 Successor Agent; Removal of Agent. 84
9.12 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. 84
9.13 [Reserved]. 85
9.14 Agent May File Proofs of Claim. 85
9.15 Notice of Transfer. 85
9.16 Reports and Financial Statements. 85
9.17 Agency for Perfection. 86
9.18 Relation Among Lenders. 86
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS 86
10.01 Amendments and Waivers. 86
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications. 88
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. 89
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. 90
10.05 Payments Set Aside. 91
10.06 Successors and Assigns. 91
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. 95
10.08 Right of Setoff. 96
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. 96
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10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. 96
10.11 Survival. 97
10.12 Severability. 97
10.13 Replacement of Lenders. 97
10.14 GOVERNING LAW 98
10.15 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVERS 98
10.16 Waivers of Jury Trial. 98
10.17 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. 99
10.18 USA PATRIOT Act; Proceeds of Crime Act. 99
10.19 Foreign Asset Control Regulations. 99
10.20 Time of the Essence. 100
10.21 [Reserved]. 100
10.22 Press Releases. 100
10.23 Additional Waivers. 100
10.24 Judgment Currency. 101
10.25 No Strict Construction. 102
10.26 Attachments. 102
10.27 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. 102
10.28 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. 102
10.29 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. 103
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SCHEDULES
1.01(a) Guarantors
2.01 Commitments and Applicable Percentages
4.01 Unrestricted Subsidiaries
5.01(a) Contingent Obligations; Certain Indebtedness
5.08(a) Excepted Property
5.08(b) Owned and Leased Real Estate
5.14 Subsidiaries
5.17 Filing Jurisdictions
6.02 Financial and Collateral Reporting
6.16 Post-Closing Obligations
7.01(f) Existing Liens
7.02 Existing Investments
7.03(d) Existing Indebtedness
7.09 Affiliate Transactions
7.10 Existing Burdensome Agreements
7.16 Existing Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions
10.02 Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
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EXHIBITS
Form of
A Committed Loan Notice
B Note
C Compliance Certificate
D Assignment and Assumption
E-1 Foreign Lender Exemption Certificate
E-2 Foreign Lender U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
E-3 Alternative Form Foreign Lender U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
E-4 Foreign Partnership U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
F Closing and Solvency Certificate
G Representations and Warranties Certificate
H Subordination Agreement
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CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CREDIT AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”) is entered into as of December 11, 2020, among V OPCO, LLC (F/K/A VINCE, LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors named on Schedule 1.01(a) hereto, each Lender from time to time party hereto, and SK FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as administrative agent and collateral agent.
The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term loan credit facility, and the Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend term loans to the Borrower on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“ABG Agreements” means, collectively, the ABG Purchase Agreement, the ABL License Agreement and the Vince License Agreement.
“ABG IP Sale” means the sale of substantially all of certain Loan Parties’ Intellectual Property pursuant to the ABG Purchase Agreement.
“ABG Purchase Agreement” means that certain Intellectual Property Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2023 by and among the Borrower, ABG-VikingABG-VIKING, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the other parties thereto (if any).
“ABG-VikingABG-Vince” means ABG-VIKINGABG-Vince, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“ABL License Agreement” means that certain Licensor Consent Letter Agreement, dated as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, by and among ABG Viking, the Borrower and the ABL Agent.
“ABL Agent” means Bank of America, N.A.
“ABL Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors named therein, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent and the other lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date and as the same may be further amended from time to time hereafter to the extent permitted hereunder.
“ABL Debt” means all “Obligations” (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) owing to the ABL Secured Parties under the ABL Loan Documents.
“ABL Loan Documents” means all “Loan Documents” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.
“ABL Loans” means “Loans” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.
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“ABL Payment Conditions” means “Payment Conditions” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.
“ABL Secured Parties” means the “Secured Parties” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.
“Account” means “accounts” as defined in the UCC and also means a right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, (a) for property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered, or (c) arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card. The term “Account” does not include (a) rights to payment evidenced by chattel paper or an instrument, (b) commercial tort claims, (c) deposit accounts, (d) investment property, or (e) letter of credit rights or letters of credit.
“Acquisition” means, with respect to any Person (a) an Investment in or a purchase of a fifty percent (50%) or greater interest in the Equity Interests of any other Person, (b) a purchase or other acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or properties of another Person, (c) a purchase or acquisition of a Real Estate portfolio or stores from any other Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of any other Person, (d) any merger or consolidation of such Person with any other Person or other transaction or series of transactions resulting in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets, or greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests, of any Person, in each case, in any transaction or group of transactions which are part of a common plan.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Agent.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, in either case whether by contract or otherwise.
“Agent” means SK Financial Services, LLC in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor thereto.
“Agent’s Office” means the Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.
“Amended or Refinanced” means, in respect of any obligation, or the agreement or contract pursuant to which such obligation is incurred, (a) such obligation (or any portion thereof) or related agreement or contract as extended, renewed, defeased, amended, amended and restated, supplemented, modified, restructured, consolidated, refinanced, replaced, refunded or repaid from time to time and (b) any other obligation issued in exchange or replacement for or to refinance such obligation, in whole or in part, whether with same or different lenders, arrangers and/or agents and whether with a larger or smaller aggregate principal amount and/or a shorter or longer maturity, in each case to the extent not prohibited under the terms of the Loan Documents then in effect. “Amend or Refinance” and “Amendment or Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.
“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any and all laws, judgments, orders, executive orders, decrees, ordinances, rules, regulations, statutes, case law or treaties applicable to a Loan Party, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, related to terrorism financing or money laundering including any applicable provision of Title
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III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA PATRIOT Act) of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56) and The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act”, 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959).
“Applicable Lenders” means the Required Lenders, all affected Lenders, or all Lenders, as the context may require.
“Applicable Margin” means 9.00%.
“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of such Lender’s Commitment or the Total Outstandings at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10.06. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption or other instrument pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
“Approved Fund” means, with respect to any Lender, any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages such Lender.
“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06), and accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Agent.
“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended January 30, 2021, the related audited consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows, and the footnotes thereto.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Blocked Account” means any deposit account in which any funds of any of the Loan Parties from one or more DDAs (other than any Excluded DDA) are concentrated and with respect to which a Blocked Account Agreement has been, or is required to be, executed in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Blocked Account Agreement” means with respect to an account established by a Loan Party, an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, establishing control (as defined in the UCC) of such account by the Agent and whereby the bank or intermediary maintaining such account agrees, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Event (as defined in the ABL Credit
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Agreement) to comply only with the instructions originated by the Agent without the further consent of any Loan Party.
“Blocked Account Bank” has the meaning provided in Section 6.12.
“Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors (or comparable managers) of such Person, or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board of directors (or comparable managers).
“Borrower Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified in Section 5.09.
“Borrower” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Borrowing” means the borrowing of Term Loans made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01 to the Borrower on the Closing Date.
“Borrowing Base” has the meaning specified in the ABL Credit Agreement.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Requirements of Law of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Agent’s Office in the applicable jurisdiction is located.
“Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all cash expenditures by such Person for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to Capital Lease Obligations but excluding any amount representing capitalized interest) of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements during such period) which are required to be capitalized under GAAP on a balance sheet of such Person; provided that in any event the term “Capital Expenditures” shall exclude: (i) any Permitted Acquisition and any other Investment permitted hereunder; (ii) expenditures to the extent financed with the proceeds from any casualty insurance or condemnation or eminent domain, to the extent that the proceeds therefrom are utilized (or are contractually committed to be utilized) for capital expenditures within twelve (12) months of the receipt of such proceeds; (iii) expenditures for leasehold improvements for which such Person has been reimbursed or received a credit; and (iv) expenditures to the extent they are made with the proceeds of equity contributions (other than in respect of Disqualified Stock) made to the Borrower after the Closing Date, (v) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment solely to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time; (vi) without duplication of the provisions of clause (iii), above, expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures by the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and that actually are paid for by a Person other than the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and for which neither the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary has provided or is required to provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such Person or any other Person (whether before, during or after such period); (vii) expenditures that constitute operating lease expenses in accordance with GAAP; (viii) any capitalized interest expense reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment in the consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and (ix) any non-cash compensation or other non-cash costs reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment in the consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Capital Lease Obligations” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and
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accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Cash Equivalents” means (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-2 by S&P or P-2 by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (d) repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s; (f) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition; and (g) shares of money market mutual or similar funds which invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of any of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition; or (h) money market funds that (i) purport to comply generally with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000; or (i) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, (i) such local currencies in those countries in which such Foreign Subsidiary transacts business from time to time in the ordinary course of business and (ii) investments of comparable tenor and credit quality to those described above customarily utilized in the countries in which such Foreign Subsidiaries operate for short-term cash management purposes.
“CFC” means any Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.
“CFC Holdco” means any Domestic Subsidiary that has no material assets other than the Equity Interests of and, if applicable, Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.
“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 or in the implementation thereof 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, issued or implemented.
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“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:
“China JV” means a joint venture to be established after the First Amendment Effective Date for the purposes of facilitating operations in China.
“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01, which date is December 11, 2020.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended and in effect.
“Collateral” means any and all “Collateral”, “Security Assets” or “Mortgaged Property” as defined in any applicable Security Document and all other property that is subject to Liens in favor of the Agent under the terms of the Security Documents.
“Collateral Access Agreement” means an agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent executed by (a) a bailee or other Person in possession of Collateral, or (b) any landlord of Real Estate leased by any Loan Party, pursuant to which such Person (i) acknowledges the Agent’s Lien on the Collateral, (ii) releases or subordinates such Person’s Liens in the Collateral held by such Person or located on such Real Estate, (iii) provides the Agent with access to the Collateral held by such bailee or other Person or located in or on such Real Estate, and (iv) makes such other agreements with the Agent as the Agent may reasonably require.
“Commitments” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make its pro rata portion of the Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 on the Closing Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01. As of the Closing Date, the total Commitments of all Lenders is $20,000,000.
“Committed Loan Notice” means the notice of Borrowing, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A (Committed Loan Notice).
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“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).
“Commonly Controlled Entity” means an entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the Parent within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA.
“Commonly Controlled Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(b).
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, executed and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
“Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of Daily Simple SOFR, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including, for example and not by way of limitation or prescription, changes to the definition of “Business Day,” the addition of a concept of “interest period” or any similar or analogous definition, the definition of “Government Securities Business Day,” or the modification of the definition of “interest period” or any similar or analogous definition, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 3.05 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that Agent decides may be appropriate in connection with the use or administration of Daily Simple SOFR or to permit the use and administration thereof by Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).
“Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
“Consent” means actual consent given by a Lender from whom such consent is sought; or the passage of seven (7) Business Days from receipt of written notice to a Lender from the Agent of a proposed course of action to be followed by the Agent without such Lender’s giving the Agent written notice of that Lender’s objection to such course of action.
“Consolidated” means, when used to modify a financial term, test, statement, or report of a Person, the application or preparation of such term, test, statement or report (as applicable) based upon the consolidation, in accordance with GAAP, of the financial condition or operating results of such Person and its Subsidiaries.
“Consolidated Current Assets” means, at any date of determination, all amounts (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date.
“Consolidated Current Liabilities” means, at any date of determination, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, but excluding (a) the current portion of any Indebtedness of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) without duplication, all Indebtedness consisting of ABL Indebtedness, to the extent otherwise included therein.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, of any Person for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of
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such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, there shall be excluded: (a) the income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary) in which the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions (which dividends and distributions shall be included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income), minus (c) any non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such Person for such period (excluding any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges made in any prior period or which will result in the receipt of cash in a future period or the amortization of lease incentives), all as determined on a Consolidated basis, (d) the Consolidated Net Income of any Person Disposed of by the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period, (e) all deferred financing costs written off or amortized 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, (f) any unrealized gains or losses in respect of Swap Obligations or any ineffectiveness recognized in earnings related to qualifying 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 Swap Obligations, (g) any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early retirement, extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness or Swap Obligations or other derivative instruments and the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and International Accounting Standard No. 39 and their respective related pronouncements and interpretations, and (h) any unrealized gains or losses attributable to foreign currency translations not entered into for speculative purposes, including those relating to mark-to-market of Indebtedness denominated in foreign currencies resulting from the application of GAAP, including FAS No. 52.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the effect of any non-cash items resulting from any amortization, write-up, write-down or write-off of assets or liabilities (including intangible assets, goodwill, deferred financing costs and the effect of straight-lining of rents as a result of purchase accounting adjustments) in connection with any future Permitted Acquisition, Investment permitted under Section 7.02, Disposition, merger, consolidation or similar transaction or any other non-cash impairment charges incurred subsequent to the Closing Date resulting from the application at SFAS Nos. 141, 142 or 144 (excluding any non-cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period except to the extent such item is subsequently reversed) shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income.
“Consolidated Net Interest Expense” means, of any Person for any period, (a) total cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, minus (b) the sum of (i) total cash interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP plus (ii) one-time financing fees (to the extent included in such Person’s consolidated interest expense for such period), including, those paid in connection with the transactions occurring on the Closing Date or in connection with any Amendment or Refinancing hereof. For purposes of the foregoing, interest expense of any Person shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by such Person with respect to interest rate Hedge Agreements (other than early termination payments) permitted hereunder.
“Consolidated Working Capital” means at any date, the difference of (a) Consolidated Current Assets on such date less (b) Consolidated Current Liabilities on such date.
“Continuing Directors” means the directors of the Parent on the ClosingFifth Amendment Effective Date,
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and each other director if, in each case, such other director’s nomination for election to the Board of Directors of the Parent is recommended by at least a majority of the then Continuing Directors or such other director receives the affirmative vote or consent of, or is appointed or otherwise approved by, the Sponsor, or those Permitted Investors which then hold a majority of the voting Equity Interests in the Parent then held by all Permitted Investors, in his or her election by the shareholders of the Parent.
“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Controlled Affiliate” means as to any Person, any other Person that (a) directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person and (b) is organized by such Person (or any other Person referred to in clause (a) of this definition) primarily for the purpose of making equity or debt investments in one or more companies. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.
“Credit Party” or “Credit Parties” means (a) individually, (i) each Lender and its Affiliates, (ii) the Agent and its Affiliates and (iii) each successor and permitted assign of each of the foregoing, and (b) collectively, all of the foregoing, in each case, to the extent relating to the services provided to, and obligations owing by or guaranteed by, the Loan Parties.
“Cure Date” has the meaning provided in Section 8.04.
“Currency Due” has the meaning provided in Section 10.24.
“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the sum of (i) SOFR for the day (such day, the “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five (5) Government Securities Business Days prior to (A) if such SOFR Rate Day is a Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (B) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a Government Securities Business Day, the Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s website, and (ii) the Daily Simple SOFR Adjustment, and (b) 1.00%. If by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the second (2nd) Government Securities Business Day immediately following any SOFR Determination Date, the SOFR in respect of such SOFR Determination Date has not been published on the SOFR Administrator’s website and one of the events set forth in Section 3.03 shall not have occurred with respect to Daily Simple SOFR, then the SOFR for such SOFR Determination Date will be the SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding Government Securities Business Day for which such SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s website; provided that any SOFR determined pursuant to this sentence shall be utilized for purposes of calculation of Daily Simple SOFR for no more than five (5) consecutive SOFR Rate Days. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to Borrower or any other Person.
“Daily Simple SOFR Adjustment” means 0.10%.
“DDA” means any checking, savings or other demand deposit account maintained by any of the Loan Parties. All funds in each DDA shall be conclusively presumed to be Collateral and proceeds of Collateral
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and the Agent and the Lenders shall have no duty to inquire as to the source of the amounts on deposit in any DDA.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means each of (i) the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and (ii) all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Requirement of Laws of the United States from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Declined Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06.
“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 two percent (2%) per annum in excess of the rate then applicable to such Obligation.
“Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory is the target of any comprehensive Sanction.
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means with respect to any Property, any sale, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other effectively completeeffective disposition (in whole or in part) thereof by any Person (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise)(including any issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary of such Person). The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.
“Disqualified Institution” means (a) those banks, financial institutions and other entities designated in writing by the Borrower to the Agent prior to the Closing Date, in each case, together with their respective Affiliates, and (b) any corporate competitors of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and the Affiliates of such corporate competitors (other than bona fide debt funds or investors) designated in writing by the Borrower to the Agent prior to the Closing Date. The Agent will make the list of Disqualified Institutions available to any Lender upon request.
“Disqualified Stock” means any Equity Interest that (a) requires the payment of any dividends (other than dividends payable solely in shares of Qualified Stock), (b) matures or is mandatorily redeemable or subject to mandatory repurchase or redemption or repurchase at the option of the holders thereof, in each case in whole or in part and whether upon the occurrence of any event, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation on a fixed date or otherwise (including as the result of a failure to maintain or achieve any financial performance standards), prior to the date that is 91 days after the final scheduled maturity date of the Obligations (other than (i) upon Payment in Full of the Obligations or (ii) if the issuer has the option to settle for Qualified Stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares thereof in de minimis amounts)) or (c) are convertible or exchangeable, automatically or at the option of any holder thereof, into any Indebtedness, Equity Interest or other assets other than Qualified Stock; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of Holdings, the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower, or any Restricted Subsidiary or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability.
“Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it and the definition of “Division”.
“Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing
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Person”) among two or more Persons, whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or any similar provision under the laws of any other applicable jurisdiction and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.
“Dollars” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary organized under the laws of United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Subsidiary organized under the laws of Puerto Rico or any other territory) other than (i) a Domestic Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or (ii) any CFC Holdco.
“Economic Sanctions Laws” means any and all laws, judgments, orders, executive orders, decrees, ordinances, rules, regulations, statutes, case law or treaties applicable to a Loan Party, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates relating to economic sanctions and terrorism financing, including any applicable provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 5(b) and 16, as amended), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1706, as amended) and Executive Order 13224 (effective September 24, 2001), as amended.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Credit Party or any of its Affiliates under common control with such Credit Party; (b) a bank, insurance company, or company engaged in the business of making commercial loans, which Person, together with its Affiliates, has a combined capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural Person) satisfying the requirements of Section 10.06(b) hereof; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include a Disqualified Institution (with respect to clause (a) of the definition thereof, unless an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(a) or (f) has occurred and is continuing), a Permitted Investor, a Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
“Embargoed Person” means any party that (i) is publicly identified on the most current list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” published by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) or (ii) resides, is organized or chartered, or has a place of business in a country or territory that is the subject of OFAC comprehensive sanctions programs.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes or decrees (including, without limitation, common law) of any international authority, foreign government, the United States, or any state, provincial, local, municipal or other governmental authority, regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning protection of the
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environment, as has been, is now, or at any time hereafter is, in effect.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, claim, action, suit, judgment or order under or relating to any Environmental Law for any damages, injunctive relief, losses, fines, penalties, fees, expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and consultants) or costs, whether contingent or otherwise, including those arising from or relating to: (a) compliance or non-compliance with any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Materials of Environmental Concern, (c) exposure to any Materials of Environmental Concern, (d) the Release of any Materials of Environmental Concern or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Interests” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation).
“Equity Issuance” means any issuance by the Parent of its Qualified Stock in a public or private offering.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Loan Parties within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Excluded DDA” means (i) any deposit account exclusively used for payroll or employee benefits, and (ii) any deposit account which is a trust or fiduciary account.
“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not directly or indirectly a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Parent, (b) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (c) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Requirements of Law or, to the extent mutually agreed the same would prevent the granting thereof, Contractual Obligations that are in existence on the Closing Date or at the time of acquisition of such Subsidiary and not entered into in contemplation thereof from providing a Facility Guaranty or if providing a Facility Guaranty by such Subsidiary would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval license or authorization has been obtained), (d) any Foreign Subsidiary, (e) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (f) any Subsidiary that is a captive insurance company, (g) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent and the Borrower, the burden or cost or other consequences of providing a Facility Guaranty shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Credit Parties therefrom, and (h) solely prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, each of the Taylor/Parker Companies. For the avoidance of doubt, each Excluded Subsidiary is a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary Guarantor that becomes an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to clause (a) of this definition shall be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary except as a result of a transaction permitted under this Agreement that was done for a bona fide business purpose and not in contemplation of adversely affecting the Secured Parties’ interests in the Facility Guaranty and the Collateral.
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“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net or gross income (however denominated), Taxes imposed on or measured by net or gross profits, franchise or capital Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient’s being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, any withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Term Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender (or its assignor, if any) acquires such interest in the Term Loan or Commitment (or designates a new lending office) (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 10.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or (c), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.
“Facility Guaranty” means a guarantee of the Obligations made by any Person in favor of the Agent and the other Credit Parties pursuant to the Security Agreement or in such other form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code.
“Fifth Amendment” means that certain Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, among the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, the Agent and the Lenders.
“Fifth Amendment Effective Date” means January 22, 2025.
“Financed Capital Expenditures” shall mean Capital Expenditures made through purchase money financing (other than from the Term Loans hereunder or any Senior Debt) or Capital Lease transactions permitted hereunder.
“Financial Performance Projections” means (i) the projected consolidated balance sheets and statements of income and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, (ii) the projected Borrowing Base and ABL Borrowing Base and (iii) ABL Excess Availability forecasts, in each case, prepared by management of the Parent and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
“First Amendment Effective Date” means September 7, 2021.
“Fiscal Month” means one of the three fiscal periods in a Fiscal Quarter each of which is approximately one month in duration. There are 12 Fiscal Months in each Fiscal Year.
“Fiscal Quarter” means one of the four 13-week, or, if applicable, 14-week quarters in a Fiscal Year, with the first of such quarters beginning on the first day of a Fiscal Year and ending on a Saturday of the thirteenth (or fourteenth, if applicable) week in such quarter.
“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to January 31 in any calendar year.
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“Flood Insurance Laws” means collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.
“Foreign Lender” means any Recipient that is not a U.S. Person.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“Fourth Amendment Effective Date” means June 23, 2023.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
“Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (or any successor thereto) recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state, province or other political subdivision thereof and any governmental entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government and, as to any Lender, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners).
“Guarantee Obligation” means, as to any Person (the “guaranteeing person”), any obligation of (a) the guaranteeing person or (b) another Person (including, without limitation, any bank under any letter of credit) to induce the creation of which the guaranteeing person has issued a guarantee, reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation, in either case guaranteeing or by which such Person becomes contingently liable for any Indebtedness, net worth, working capital earnings, leases, dividends or other distributions upon the stock or equity interests (the “primary obligations”) of any other third Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any Property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase Property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business, guarantees of operating leases in the ordinary course of business, and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or
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entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets or any Investment permitted under this Agreement. The amount of any Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
“Guarantor” means (i) the Parent, (ii) Holdings and (iii) each Subsidiary of the Parent that executes and delivers a Facility Guaranty pursuant hereto; provided that no Excluded Subsidiary shall be required to be a Guarantor hereunder.
“Hedge Agreements” means all interest rate swaps, caps or collar agreements or similar arrangements entered into by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries providing for protection against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates or the exchange of nominal interest obligations or the price of commodities, raw materials, utilities and energy, either generally or under specific contingencies.
“Holdings” means Vince Intermediate Holding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, on any date, any Subsidiary of the Borrower that (i) had less than 3.0% of consolidated assets and 3.0% of annual consolidated revenues of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as reflected on the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 prior to such date and (ii) has been designated as such by the Borrower in a written notice delivered to the Agent (other than any such Subsidiary as to which the Borrower has revoked such designation by written notice to the Agent so long as such Subsidiary either provides a Facility Guaranty upon such designation and complies with Section 6.11 or otherwise qualifies as an Excluded Subsidiary hereunder); provided that no Subsidiary with Property of the type included in the Borrowing Base may be designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary, and provided, further, that at no time shall all Immaterial Subsidiaries so designated by the Borrower have in the aggregate consolidated assets or annual consolidated revenues (as reflected on the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 prior to such time) in excess of 3.0% of consolidated assets or 3.0% of annual consolidated revenues, respectively, of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Indebtedness” means, of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than (i) trade payables, current accounts and similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business and not more than 90 days past due (unless being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings) and (ii) earn-outs and other contingent payments in respect of acquisitions except to the extent that the liability on account of any such earn-out or contingent payment becomes fixed), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to Property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such Property, in which case only the lesser of the amount of such obligation and the fair market value of such Property shall constitute Indebtedness), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under acceptance, letter of credit or similar facilities, (g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Stock, except for agreements with directors, officers and employees to acquire such Equity Interest upon the death or termination of employment of such director, officer or employee, (h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above, other than guarantees of operating leases in the ordinary course of business, and (i) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on Property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment
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of such obligation (and in the event such Person has not assumed or become liable for payment of such obligation, only the lesser of the amount of such obligation and the fair market value of such Property shall constitute Indebtedness. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such person is liable therefore as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Insolvency” means, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.
“Insolvency Proceeding” means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any Debtor Relief Laws or under any other provincial, state or federal bankruptcy or insolvency law, each as now and hereafter in effect, any successors to such statutes, and any similar laws in any jurisdiction including, without limitation, any laws relating to assignments for the benefit of creditors, formal or informal moratoria, compositions, extensions generally with creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other similar relief and any law permitting a debtor to obtain a stay or a compromise of the claims of its creditors.
“Insolvent” means pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.
“Intellectual Property” means the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise, including, without limitation, copyrights, domain names, social media accounts and usernames and account identifiers, patents, trademarks, trade names, technology, know-how and processes, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom.
“Interest Payment Date” means within five days of the end of each Fiscal Month, and the Maturity Date.
“Internally Generated Cash” means cash generated from the operations of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, “Internally Generated Cash” shall not include (i) the proceeds of any Indebtedness (excluding any Senior Debt), (ii) the proceeds of the issuance of any Equity Interests or (iii) the proceeds of any insurance (other than business interruption insurance), indemnification or other payments from non-Loan Party Affiliates.
“Inventory” has the meaning given that term in the UCC or other applicable Requirement of Law, and shall also include, without limitation, all: (a) goods which (i) are leased by a Person as lessor, (ii) are held by a Person for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service, (iii) are furnished by a Person under a contract of service, or (iv) consist of raw materials, work in process, or materials used or consumed in a business; (b) goods of said description in transit; (c) goods of said description which are returned, repossessed or rejected; and (d) packaging, advertising, and shipping materials related to any of the foregoing.
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“Investment” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.02.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Judgment Currency” has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.24.
“Junior Indebtedness” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.03(m).
“Lease” means any agreement pursuant to which a Loan Party is entitled to the use or occupancy of any real property for any period of time.
“Lenders” means the Lenders having Commitments or Term Loans from time to time or at any time. Any Lender may, in its reasonable discretion, arrange for one or more Term Loans to be made by Affiliates or branches of such Lender, in which case the term “Lender” shall include any such Affiliate or branch with respect to Term Loans made by such Affiliate or branch.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Agent.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, collateral assignment, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any other security agreement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing). For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may grant non-exclusive licenses (or exclusive licenses within a specific or defined field of use, other than retail sales in the United States (through any channel) of Inventory of the type included in the Borrowing Base) to Intellectual Property owned or developed by, or licensed to, such entity and that, for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, such licenses shall not constitute a “Lien” on such Intellectual Property; provided, that the terms of such licenses shall not restrict the right of the Agent (x) to use such Intellectual Property in connection with the conduct of a Liquidation or other exercise of creditor remedies without the payment of royalty or other compensation or (y) other than with respect to any such exclusivity within a specific or defined field of use as permitted above, to dispose of such Intellectual Property in connection with the conduct of a Liquidation or other exercise of creditor remedies.
“Liquidation” means the exercise by the Agent of those rights and remedies accorded to the Agent under the Loan Documents and applicable Requirements of Laws as a creditor of the Loan Parties with respect to the realization on the Collateral, including (after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default) the conduct by the Loan Parties acting with the consent of the Agent, of any public, private or “going-out-of-business”, “store closing” or other similar sale or any other disposition of the Collateral for the purpose of liquidating the Collateral. Derivations of the word “Liquidation” (such as “Liquidate”) are used with like meaning in this Agreement.
“Loan Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, the Committed Loan Notices, all Compliance Certificates, the Security Documents, any Facility Guaranty, the Subordination Agreement, and the ABL License Agreement, each as amended and in effect from time to time, and any and all other agreements, certificates, notices, instruments and documents now or hereafter executed by any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party and delivered to the Agent or any Lender in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors. “Loan Party” means any one of such Persons.
“Management Investors” means the directors, officers and other employees of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the operations, business, properties, or financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (ii) the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents or the material rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders thereunder, in each case, taken as a whole; or (iii) the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform any of its obligations under the Loan Documents in a manner that materially and adversely affects the Lenders.
“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness under the ABL Credit Agreement and other Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) of the Loan Parties having an aggregate principal amount exceeding $12,000,000.
“Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary.
“Materials of Environmental Concern” means any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea-formaldehyde insulation, asbestos, pollutants, contaminants, radioactivity and any other substances that are defined as hazardous or toxic under any Environmental Law, that are regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Maturity Date” means the earlier of (a) September 30, 2028 and (b) 91 days prior to the earliest maturity date (or analogous term) of any Material Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under the ABL Credit Agreement) (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the immediately preceding Business Day).
“Maximum Rate” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 10.09.
“Measurement Period” means, at any date of determination, the most recently completed twelve Fiscal Months of the Borrower.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.
“Mortgages” means any mortgage, deed of trust, hypothec or other similar document made by any Loan Party in favor of, or for the benefit of, the Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Borrower (taking into account the law of the jurisdiction in which such mortgage, deed of trust, hypothec or similar document is to be recorded), as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Most Recently Ended” means, with respect to any period, the most recently ended period for which the financial statements required by Section 6.01(a), Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(c), as applicable, have been delivered or required to have been delivered.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.
“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.
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“Net Cash Proceeds” means:
“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 10.01(c).
“Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness (a) no default with respect to which would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity, and (b) as to which the lenders or holders thereof will not (and have been notified in writing that they willdo not) have any recourse to the Equity Interests or assets of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary which is the issuer or a guarantor or the direct or indirect parent of the issuer or guarantor of such indebtedness).
“Non-U.S. Plan” means any plan, fund (including, without limitation, any superannuation fund) or other similar program established or maintained outside of the United States of America by the Borrower or any one or more of its Subsidiaries primarily for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or such Subsidiaries residing outside of the United States of America, which plan, fund or other similar program provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral of income in contemplation of retirement or payments to be made upon termination of employment, and which plan is not subject to ERISA or the Code.
“Note” means the promissory note of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit B, payable to the order of each Lender, evidencing the Term Loan made by such Lender from time to time.
“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts (including principal, interest, fees, and reasonable costs and expenses), liabilities, obligations, covenants, indemnities, and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Term Loan, 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 reasonable costs and expenses and indemnities that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, fees costs, expenses and indemnities are allowed claims in such proceeding.
“OFAC” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Embargoed Person”.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations
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under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 10.13), or from such Recipient having sold or assigned an interest in any Term Loan or in any Loan Document).
“P180” means P180 Vince Acquisition Co., a Delaware corporation.
“Parent” means Vince Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation.
“Parker Intellectual Property Assets” means the Intellectual Property owned by Parker Holding, LLC and Parker Lifestyle, LLC.
“Parker Intellectual Property Sale” means the sale of Parker Intellectual Property Assets in accordance with Section 5 of the Second Amendment and on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Agent.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“Participant Register” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 10.06(d)(ii).
“Payment in Full” means the payment in Dollars in full in cash or immediately available funds of all outstanding Obligations (excluding contingent indemnification obligations for which a claim has not then been asserted). “Paid in Full” shall have the correlative meaning.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to (or to which there is an obligation to contribute) by the Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code, and each such plan for the five-year period immediately following the latest date on which the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate maintained, contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to such plan.
“Permitted Acquisition” means (i) any acquisition (including, if applicable, in the case of any Intellectual Property, by way of license) approved by the Required Lenders or (ii) an Acquisition in which all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) Such Acquisition shall have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Person (or similar governing body if such Person is not a corporation) which is the subject of such Acquisition and such Person shall not have announced that it will oppose such Acquisition or shall not have commenced any action which alleges that such Acquisition shall violate any Requirements of Law;
(b) in the event the purchase price for the Acquisition exceeds $10,000,000, (i) the Agent shall have received the then current drafts of the documentation to be executed in connection
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with such Acquisition (with final copies of such documentation to be delivered to the Agent promptly upon becoming available), including all schedules and exhibits thereto and (ii) the Agent shall have received notice of the closing date for such Acquisition; provided that such notice shall be given unless doing so would materially interfere with, or would cause materially adverse economic consequences with respect to, the consummation of such Acquisition;
(c) any Person or assets or division acquired is, at the time of such Acquisition, and shall be in the same business or lines of business, or business reasonably related, ancillary or complementary thereto, in which the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries are engaged as of the Closing Date;
(d) [Reserved];
(e) such Person shall have become a Restricted Subsidiary and, if such Person shall be a wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary (and not an Excluded Subsidiary), a Guarantor and the provisions of Section 6.11 shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate consideration expended in respect of Persons that shall not become Guarantors or wholly owned Subsidiaries may not exceed $10,000,000; and
(f) the Loan Parties shall have satisfied the ABL Payment Conditions.
“Permitted Amendment or Refinancing” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any Amendment or Refinancing of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) other than with respect to a Permitted Amendment or Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness of the Loan Parties under the ABL Credit Agreement, the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so Amended or Refinanced except (i) by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums and make whole amounts), thereon plus other reasonable and customary fees and expenses (including upfront fees, original issue discount and defeasance costs) incurred in connection with such Amendment or Refinancing and (ii) by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Amendment or Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(c), the Indebtedness resulting from such Amendment or Refinancing 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 Amended or Refinanced, (c) other than with respect to a Permitted Amendment or Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Sections 7.03(c), at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (d) if such Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced is Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(d), 7.03(i), 7.03(m), 7.03(n), or 7.03(o), (i) to the extent such Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment or in lien priority to the Obligations, the Indebtedness resulting from such Amendment or Refinancing is subordinated in right of payment or in lien priority, as applicable, to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced, (ii) the terms and conditions of any such Amended or Refinanced Indebtedness under Section 7.03(m) or 7.03(o) shall be usual and customary for high yield securities of the type issued, (iii) the other terms and conditions (including, if applicable, as to collateral but excluding as to subordination, pricing, premiums and optional prepayment or optional redemption provisions) of any such Amended or Refinanced 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 Amended or Refinanced, taken as a whole (provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Agent at least five Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness
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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 requirements of clause (ii) and this clause (iii) unless the Agent notifies the Borrower within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees)) and (iv) the obligors (including any guarantors) in respect of the Indebtedness resulting from such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension shall be the same as the obligors (including any guarantors) of the Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced, (e) in the case of any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing that is secured, (x) such Permitted Amendment or Refinancing is secured only by all or any portion of the collateral securing the Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced and (y) [reserved] and (f) in the case of any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing that is guaranteed (including in respect of the ABL Credit Agreement) or secured by all or any portion of the collateral securing the Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced, such Permitted Amendment or Refinancing is guaranteed only by the Guarantors guaranteeing and secured only by all or any portion of the collateral securing the Indebtedness being Amended or Refinanced. When used with respect to any specified Indebtedness, “Permitted Amendment or Refinancing” shall mean the Indebtedness incurred to effectuate a Permitted Amendment or Refinancing of such specified Indebtedness.
“Permitted Discretion” means a determination made by the Agent, in the exercise of its reasonable credit judgment from the viewpoint of an asset based lender, exercised in good faith in accordance with customary business practices for comparable asset based lending transactions.
“Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01.
“Permitted Investors” means the collective reference to (i) the Sponsor and Sponsor Affiliates, (ii) the Management Investors, (iii) any Permitted Transferees of any of the foregoing Persons, and (iv) any ‘‘group’’ (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that in the case of such ‘‘group’’ and without giving effect to the existence of such ‘‘group’’ or any other ‘‘group,’’ such Persons specified in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, collectively, have beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock of Holdings held by such ‘‘group,” and provided further, that, in no event shall the Sponsor own a lesser percentage of voting stock than any other Person or group referred to in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv).
“Permitted Seller Note” means a promissory note containing subordination and other related provisions reasonably acceptable to the Agent, representing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries incurred in connection with any acquisition permitted under Section 7.02(f) and payable to the seller in connection therewith.
“Permitted Store Closings” means (a) store closures and related dispositions which do not exceed (i) in any Fiscal Year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the greater of five (5) stores and 15% of the total number of stores in existence on the first day of such Fiscal Year (net of new store openings), and (b) the related Inventory is disposed of at such stores in accordance with liquidation agreements and with professional liquidators acceptable to the Agent.
“Permitted Transferee” means (a) in the case of the Sponsor, (i) any Sponsor Affiliate, (ii) any managing director, general partner, limited partner, director, officer or employee of the Sponsor or any Sponsor Affiliate (collectively, the “Sponsor Associates”), (iii) the heirs, executors, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees or beneficiaries of any Sponsor Associate and (iv) any trust, the beneficiaries of which, or a corporation or partnership, the stockholders or partners of which, include only a Sponsor Associate, his or her spouse, parents, siblings, members of his or her immediate family (including adopted children
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and step children) and/or direct lineal descendants; and (b) in the case of any Management Investor, (i) his or her executor, administrator, testamentary trustee, legatee or beneficiaries, (ii) his or her spouse, parents, siblings, members of his or her immediate family (including adopted children and step children) and/or direct lineal descendants or (iii) a trust, the beneficiaries of which, or a corporation or partnership, the stockholders or partners of which, include only a Management Investor and his or her spouse, parents, siblings, members of his or her immediate family (including adopted children) and/or direct lineal descendants.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, limited partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means at a relevant time, any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA and in respect of which the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
“Pledged Securities” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.
“Property” means any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, Equity Interests.
“Qualified Stock” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock.
“Real Estate” means all Leases and all land, together with the buildings, structures, parking areas, and other improvements thereon, now or hereafter owned by any Loan Party, including all easements, rights-of-way, and similar rights relating thereto and all leases, tenancies, and occupancies thereof.
“Recipient” means the Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.
“Recovery Event” means any settlement of or payment in respect of any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
“Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified by the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as prescribed by the Securities Laws.
“Rejection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06.
“Regulation U” means Regulation U of the FRB, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors, consultants, service providers and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the environment or within or upon any building, structure or facility.
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“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.
“Reports” has the meaning provided in Section 9.16(c).
“Representations and Warranties Certificate” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit G.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, at least two (2) Lenders (or one (1) Lender to the extent that there is only one (1) Lender) holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings.
“Requirement of Law” means as to any Person, the certificate of incorporation and by-laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer (or similar title), chief operating officer, controller or treasurer (or similar title) of the Parent, Holdings or the Borrower, as applicable, or (with respect to Section 6.03) any Restricted Subsidiary and, with respect to financial matters, the chief financial officer (or similar title) or treasurer (or similar title) of the Parent, Holdings or the Borrower, as applicable.
“Restricted Payment” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.06 hereof.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Retail DDA” means a DDA of any Loan Party used solely in the operation of a store location.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
“Sanction(s)” means any economic sanctions administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority of the United States, Canada or the European Union (including, without limitation, OFAC, the United States Department of State, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada or the Department of Public Safety Canada or His Majesty’s Treasury).
“Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Second Amendment” means the Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of the Second Amendment Effective Date, by and among, the Loan Parties, the Lenders party thereto and the Agent.
“Second Amendment Effective Date” means September 30, 2022.
“Secured Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.
“Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley,
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and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB.
“Security Agreement” means the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of the Closing Date among the Loan Parties and the Agent.
“Security Documents” means the Security Agreement, the Blocked Account Agreements, the Mortgages and each other security agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document granting or perfecting a Lien to secure any of the Obligations.
“Senior Debt” means the ABL Debt.
“Settlement Date” has the meaning provided in Section 2.14(a).
“Single Employer Plan” means any Pension Plan, but excluding any Multiemployer Plan.
“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate published by the SOFR Administrator on the website of the SOFR Administrator, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org (or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time).
“SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
“SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.
“SOFR Loan” means a Term Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Daily Simple SOFR.
“SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.
“Solvent” means with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, (a) on a going concern basis the amount of the “fair value” of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such Person, contingent or otherwise”, as of such date, as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, local and foreign laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (c) such Person will not have, as of such date, an insufficient amount of capital with which to conduct its business, (d) such Person will be able to pay its debts as they mature, and (e) such Person is not “insolvent” within the meaning of Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code. For purposes of this definition, (i) “debt” means liability on a “claim”, (ii) “claim” means any (x) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured or (y) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured and (iii) except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the amount of “contingent liabilities” at any time shall be the amount thereof which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, can reasonably be expected to become actual or matured liabilities.
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“Specified Contribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04.
“Specified Event of Default” means the occurrence of any Event of Default described in any of Sections 8.01(a) (Non-Payment) or 8.01(f) (Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.).
“Sponsor” means (a) prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, Sun Capital Partners V, L.P. and any Controlled Affiliates thereof (but excluding any portfolio companies of the foregoing) and (b) on and after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (after giving effect to the P180 Transactions (as defined in the Fifth Amendment)), P180 and any Affiliates thereof (but excluding any portfolio companies of the foregoing).
“Sponsor Affiliate” means the collective reference to any entities (other than a portfolio company) controlled directly or indirectly by the Sponsor.
“Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate determined by the Agent to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Agent may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Agent if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency.
“Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness which is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior Payment in Full of the Obligations and which is in form and on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
“Subordination Agreement” means the Subordination Agreement, dated as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, by and among Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as agent for the ABL Secured Parties (as defined therein), Sun Finco, in its capacity as holder of the Subordinated Debt (as defined therein), the Borrower and the Guarantors party thereto.
“Subordination Provisions” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(l).
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unlimited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body 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 Loan Parties.
“Subsidiary Guarantors” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Guarantor hereunder.
“Sun Finco” means SK Financial Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions
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of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
“Tax Receivable Agreement” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement dated as of November 27, 2013 by and among the Parent, the stockholders of the Parent party thereto and Sun Cardinal LLC, as stockholder representative, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time not in violation of this Agreement.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other similar fees or charges in the nature of a tax, levy, et cetera, imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Taylor Intellectual Property Assets” means the Intellectual Property owned by Rebecca Taylor, Inc., Rebecca Taylor Retail Stores, LLC and Rebecca Taylor Design Limited.
“Taylor Intellectual Property Sale” means the sale of Taylor Intellectual Property Assets in accordance with each of the Taylor Liquidation Agreement and Section 5 of the Second Amendment and otherwise on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Agent.
“Taylor Liquidation” means the sale of all inventory and furniture, fixtures and equipment owned by Rebecca Taylor, Inc., Rebecca Taylor Retail Stores, LLC and Rebecca Taylor Design Limited pursuant to and in accordance with the Taylor Liquidation Agreement and on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Agent.
“Taylor Liquidation Agreement” means that certain letter agreement dated on or about the Second Amendment Effective Date between certain of the Loan Parties and Hilco Merchant Resources, LLC.
“Taylor Liquidation Budget” means that certain “Rebecca Taylor Wind Down Budget Summary” delivered to the Agent on or prior to the Second Amendment Effective Date prepared by Berkeley Research Group, in form and substance (and with detail) reasonably satisfactory to Agent.
“Taylor/Parker Companies” means, collectively, Rebecca Taylor, Inc., Parker Holding, LLC, Parker Lifestyle, LLC, Rebecca Taylor Retail Stores, LLC and Rebecca Taylor Design Limited.
“Term Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.
“Termination Date” means the earliest to occur of (i) the Maturity Date or (ii) the date on which the maturity of the Obligations is accelerated (or deemed accelerated) in accordance with Article VIII.
“Third Amendment” means the Consent and Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of the April 21, 2023, by and among the Loan Parties, the Lenders party thereto and the Agent.
“Third Amendment Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the Third Amendment.
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“Total Outstandings” means, without duplication, the aggregate principal balance of the Term Loan owing to all Lenders.
“Trading with the Enemy Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.19.
“UCC” or “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the New York; provided, however, that if a term is defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code differently than in another Article thereof, the term shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9; provided further that, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, perfection, or the effect of perfection or non-perfection, of a security interest in any Collateral or the availability of any remedy hereunder is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than New York, “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or effect of perfection or non-perfection or availability of such remedy, as the case may be.
“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.
“Unaudited Financial Statements” means the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for (a) the Fiscal Quarter ended May 1, 2021 and (b) the Fiscal Months ended July 3, 2021.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated as such and listed on Schedule 4.01 on the First Amendment Effective Date and (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is designated by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only to the extent that, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), such Subsidiary: (a) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Borrower; (c) is a Person with respect to which neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interest or warrants, options or other rights to acquire Equity Interests or (y) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; (d) has not guaranteed or otherwise provided credit support at the time of such designation for any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (e) does not hold any assets constituting Borrowing Base Assets (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement); (f) it does not own (and is not the licensee of) any Intellectual Property that is material to the business or operations of any Loan Party or may be necessary or desirable for the sale or Liquidation of the Collateral; (g) it does not own, directly or indirectly, any Equity Interests in a Loan Party or any other Restricted Subsidiary or hold any Indebtedness or any Lien on any Property of any Loan Party or any other Restricted Subsidiary; and (h) to the extent requested by the Agent, shall have entered into an agreement with the Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, allowing the use of the assets and other property of such Subsidiary as may be necessary or desirable for the Liquidation of the Collateral. If, at any time, any
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Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes hereof. Subject to the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Borrower may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) such designation shall only be permitted if no Default or Event of Default exists and the ABL Payment Conditions are satisfied and the Loan Parties would be in compliance with Section 7.18, in each case, on the date of such designation after giving pro forma effect to such designation, (ii) any designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and (iii) any designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary and shall reduce amounts available for Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries permitted by Section 7.02 in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Subsidiary so designated; provided that the Borrower may subsequently redesignate any such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary so long as the Borrower does not subsequently re-designate such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary for a period of the succeeding four Fiscal Quarters.
“U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(B)(III).
“Vince License Agreement” means that certain License Agreement, dated as of the Third Amendment Effective Date by and between the Borrower and ABG-VikingABG-Vince, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” shall mean, 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, that for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness that is being Amended or Refinanced (the “Applicable Indebtedness”), the effects of any amortization of or prepayments made on such Applicable Indebtedness prior to the date of the applicable Amendment or Refinancing shall be disregarded.
“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.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any reference to a defined term as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement or any other ABL Loan Document shall refer to the definition of such term as in effect on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, except with respect to any amendment or modification thereto permitted under the Subordination Agreement or otherwise consented to by the
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Agent and the Lenders party hereto.
With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
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Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Loan Parties pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to two places 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).
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
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For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with a Division: (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.
The Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Agent have any liability with respect to, in each case, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, 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 (or any component of any of the foregoing) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Conforming Changes. The 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 (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 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 (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.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, on the Closing Date, each Lender shall make to the Borrower a term loan in the principal amount equal to its pro rata share of Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) (together with any amounts constituting interest or fees paid in kind and added to the principal amount thereof, the “Term Loans”), provided that, in no event shall the Term Loan (excluding any amounts paid in kind) made by any Lender exceed such Lender’s Commitment. The Term Loan is not a revolving credit facility and may not be repaid and redrawn and any repayments or prepayments of principal (including, without limitation, amounts constituting interest paid in kind and added to the principal amount of the Term Loans) on a Term Loan shall permanently reduce such Term Loan. The Borrower irrevocably authorizes the Agent and the Lenders to disburse the proceeds of the Term Loans on the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the making of the Term Loans on the Closing Date, the Commitments shall be irrevocably terminated.
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Subject to the terms of the Subordination Agreement, the Borrower may, upon irrevocable notice from the Borrower to the Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Term Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that, (A) such notice must be received by the Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. on the day prior to any date of prepayment of such Term Loans; (B) any prepayment of Term Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. The Agent will promptly notify each 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 SOFR Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.
Subject to any limitations contained in the Subordination Agreement:
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Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.06 to the contrary, until the Full Payment (as defined in the Subordination Agreement) of the “Obligations” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement, or except as otherwise permitted in accordance with the terms of the Subordination Agreement, no prepayments of outstanding Term Loans that would otherwise be required to be made under this Section 2.06 shall be required to be made.
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Except as provided in Section 2.08(b)(ii), interest on each Term Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date and shall be paid in kind in arrears and added to the principal amount outstanding hereunder on each Interest Payment Date.
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The Term Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by the Agent (the “Loan Account”) in the ordinary course of business. In addition, each Lender may record in such Lender’s internal records, an appropriate notation evidencing the date and amount of each Term Loan from such Lender, each payment and prepayment of principal of any such Term Loan, and each payment of interest, fees and other amounts due in connection with the Obligations due to such Lender. The accounts or records maintained by the Agent and each Lender acting solely as a non-fiduciary agent for the Borrower, shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of the Term Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the 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 accounts and records of the Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Term Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Term Loans and payments with respect thereto. Upon receipt of an affidavit of a Lender as to the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of such Lender’s Note and upon cancellation of such Note, the Borrower will issue, in lieu thereof, a replacement Note in favor of such Lender, in the same principal amount thereof and otherwise of like tenor.
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If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Credit Party shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of, interest on, or other amounts with respect to the Obligations resulting in such Credit Party’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Obligations, greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein (including as in contravention of the priorities of payment set forth in Section 8.03), then the Credit Party receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Obligations of the other Credit Parties, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Credit Parties ratably and in the priorities set forth in Section 8.03, provided that:
Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Requirement of Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.
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If the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that for any reason that (a) [reserved], (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the “Daily Simple SOFR” with respect to a SOFR Loan (including, without limitation, because a Governmental Authority has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which SOFR shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans), (c) Daily Simple SOFR with respect to a SOFR Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding or maintaining such Term Loan, (d) any Requirement of Law or Change in Law has made it, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is, unlawful for any Lender to make, maintain or fund SOFR Loans or to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR or (e) a specific date after which the Daily Simple SOFR rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Agent and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to Daily Simple SOFR that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for loans similar to the Term Loans in the United States at such time, and shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.01, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date notice of such alternate rate of interest is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.
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and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of maintaining any SOFR Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, within fifteen (15) days after demand therefor by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs, the Loan Parties will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
In the event of (a) the payment or prepayment of any principal of any SOFR Loan other than on
an Interest Payment Date therefor whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the failure to borrow or prepay any SOFR Loan on the
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date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be and is revoked to the extent permitted hereunder and in accordance herewith), or (c) the assignment of any SOFR Loan other than on an Interest Payment Date therefor or maturity date applicable thereto as a result of a request by Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13, then, in any such event, Borrower shall compensate each Lender for any loss, cost and expense attributable to such event, including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss, cost or expense arising from the liquidation or redeployment of funds or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Term Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material economic, legal or regulatory respect. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the repayment of all Obligations hereunder and the resignation of the Agent.
The agreement of each Lender to make the Term Loans on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver), prior to or concurrently with the making of such Term Loans, of the following conditions precedent:
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To induce the Credit Parties to enter into this Agreement and to make the Term Loans hereunder, each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Agent and the other Credit Parties that:
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There has been no event, circumstance, development, change or effect since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had a Material Adverse Effect.
Each of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) (i) is duly organized (or incorporated), validly existing and in good standing (or, only where if applicable, the equivalent status in any foreign jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation, (ii) has the corporate or organizational power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its Property, to lease the Property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged except, in each case, to the extent that any such failure to have such power, authority or right would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or limited liability company and in good standing (where such concept is relevant) under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of Property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or in good standing (where such concept is relevant) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (b) is in compliance with all applicable Requirements of Law except to the extent that any such failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each Loan Party has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to borrow hereunder. Each Loan Party has taken all necessary corporate or other action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to authorize the extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the extensions of credit hereunder or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except (i) consents, authorizations, filings and notices, which consents, authorizations, filings and notices have been obtained or, within any period set forth in the relevant Security Document, will be obtained or made and are or will be in full force and effect or the failure to obtain which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) filings to perfect the Liens created by the Security Documents, (iii) filings pursuant to the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 3727 et seq.), in respect of Accounts of the Parent and its Subsidiaries the obligor in respect of which is the United States of America or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, and (iv) the filings referred to in Section 5.17. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of each Loan Party that is a party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document upon execution will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party that is a party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law) and the implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not (a) violate the organizational or governing documents of any of the Loan Parties, (b) violate, in any material respect, any applicable Requirement of Law or any
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material Contractual Obligation of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (c) result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any applicable Requirement of Law or any such Contractual Obligation (other than Liens required to be granted in favor of the Agent and the ABL Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents).
No litigation, proceeding or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, investigation of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, likely to be commenced within a reasonable time period against the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their Properties or revenues which, taken as a whole, (a) are material and adverse with respect to any of the Loan Documents or (b) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Except as set forth in Schedule 5.08(a), each of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries has good and marketable title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in or in the case of real property subject to a license, a right to use, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use, all its other Property (other than Intellectual Property), in each case, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of such Property is subject to any Lien other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01. Schedule 5.08(b) lists all real property which is owned, leased or licensed to use by any Loan Party as of the First Amendment Effective Date.
Each Loan Party and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries owns, or has a valid license to use, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted free and clear of all Liens, except for Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and except where the failure to so own or have a license to use would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To each Loan Party’s knowledge, no holding, injunction, decision or judgment has been rendered by any Governmental Authority and no Loan Party nor any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries has entered into any settlement stipulation or other agreement (except license agreements in the ordinary course of business) which would cancel the validity of such Loan Party’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s rights in any Intellectual Property owned by such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Intellectual Property included in the ABG IP Sale, provided that such Intellectual Property is at all times subject to the ABL License Agreement and the Vince License Agreement in each case in full force and effect) (the “Borrower Intellectual Property”) in any respect that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To each Loan Party’s knowledge, no pending claim has been asserted or threatened in writing by any Person challenging the use by such Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Borrower Intellectual Property or the validity of any Borrower Intellectual Property , except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To each Loan Party’s knowledge, the use of any Borrower Intellectual Property by such Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any other Person in a manner that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Loan Party and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries have taken all commercially reasonable actions that in the exercise of their reasonable business judgment should be taken to protect the Borrower Intellectual
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Property, including Borrower Intellectual Property that is confidential in nature, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each Loan Party and each of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed or caused to be filed all federal, state, provincial, territorial and other Tax returns that are required to be filed by it, and (ii) has duly and timely paid all Taxes due and payable and all other Taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its Property, assets, income, businesses and franchises by any Governmental Authority responsible for administering Taxes (other than any the amount or validity of which are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which any reserves required in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be), except in each case where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no current, proposed or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries, pending Tax assessments, deficiencies or audits against any Loan Party or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, except those that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which any reserves required in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, or that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
No part of the proceeds of any Term Loans, and no other extensions of credit hereunder, will be used for “buying” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U as now and from time to time hereafter in effect or for any purpose that violates the provisions of the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board. If requested by any Lender (through the Agent) or the Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form G-3 or FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U.
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No Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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Other than exceptions to any of the following that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: no Loan Party nor any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law for the operation of the business or (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability.
No statement or information (excluding the projections and pro forma financial information referred to below and information of a general economic or general industry nature) contained in this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any report or certificate furnished to the Agent or the Lenders or any of them, by or on behalf of any Loan Party for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents when taken as a whole, contained as of the date such statement, information, or certificate was so furnished, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements contained therein. The projections and pro forma financial information contained in the materials referenced above are based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by management of the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such financial information as it relates to future events, including the Financial Performance Projections, is not to be viewed as fact, that such financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties, that no assurance can be given that the projected results will be realized, and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections and financial information may differ significantly from the projected results set forth therein by a material amount. There is no fact known to any Loan Party that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been expressly disclosed herein, in the other Loan Documents or in any other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Agent and the Lenders for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents.
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After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and before and after giving effect to each Borrowing, the Loan Parties, on a Consolidated basis, are and will be Solvent.
All Borrowings permitted under this Agreement are, and when incurred or issued will be, permitted under (and shall give rise to no breach or violation of) the ABL Credit Agreement, any other Junior Indebtedness (as such term was defined in this Agreement immediately prior to the Third Amendment Effective Date) or any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing of any of the foregoing (or under the definitive documentation relating thereto).
There are no strikes or other labor disputes against any Loan Party or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened that (individually or in the aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Hours worked by and payment made to employees of any Loan Party and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Requirement of Law dealing with such matters that (individually or in the aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All payments due from each Loan Party or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries on account of employee health and welfare insurance that (individually or in the aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if not paid have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of such Loan Party or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary.
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The properties of the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards) which are not Affiliates of the Loan Parties, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks (including, without limitation, workmen’s compensation, public liability, business interruption, property damage and directors and officers liability insurance) as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Loan Parties or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary operates.
No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.
Neither the business nor the properties of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either individually or in the aggregate, has had a Material Adverse Effect.
Until the Payment in Full of the Obligations, each Loan Party shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:
Furnish to the Agent for delivery to each Lender (which may be electronically delivered):
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If the Parent has filed (within the time period required above) a Form 10-Q or 10-K, as applicable, with the SEC for any fiscal quarter or fiscal year described above, then to the extent that such quarterly or annual report on Form 10-Q or 10-K contains any of the foregoing items, the Lenders will accept such Form 10-Q or 10-K in lieu of such items. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 6.01 may be delivered by posting such documents electronically with notice of such posting to the Agent and each Lender and if so posted, such documents shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Borrower posts such documents or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website listed on Schedule 10.02 or another public website (including EDGAR or any successor system thereto) to which the Borrower may so direct the Agent and the Lenders.
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Furnish to the Agent, in form and detail reasonably, satisfactory to the Agent, for delivery to each Lender, or, in the case of Section 6.02(h), to the relevant Lender:
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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a), (b), or (c) or Section 6.02(d) or (j) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on 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 an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Agent).
Promptly upon a Responsible Officer of the Parent or any other Loan Party obtaining knowledge thereof, give notice to the Agent of:
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Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all its Taxes, governmental assessments and governmental charges, except (i) where the amount or validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves required in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation or (ii) to the extent that failure to pay or satisfy such obligations could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Comply in all material respects with the Requirements of Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except if the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Designate all Obligations as “Designated Senior Indebtedness” (or such similar term) under, and defined in, any documents, agreements, or indentures relating to or evidencing any Junior Indebtedness that is subordinated Indebtedness and all supplements thereto.
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Notwithstanding any provision set forth herein or in any other Loan Documents to the contrary, in no event shall (x) any Foreign Subsidiary be required to guarantee the obligations of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary, (y) the assets of any Foreign Subsidiary constitute security or secure, or such assets or the proceeds of such assets be required to be available for, payment of the obligations of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary, or (z) more than 65% of the voting stock of any Foreign Subsidiary directly held by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries be required to be pledged to secure the obligations of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary.
In no event shall compliance with this Section 6.11 waive or be deemed a waiver or Consent to any transaction giving rise to the need to comply with this Section 6.11 if such transaction was not otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement.
Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (a) comply, and take all reasonable actions to cause any lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and environmental permits; (b) obtain and renew all environmental permits necessary for its operations and properties; and, (c) in each case to the extent required by applicable Environmental Laws, conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Materials of Environmental Concern from any of its properties, in accordance with the requirements of all applicable Environmental Laws.
Maintain the security interest created by the Security Documents as a perfected security interest having at least the priority described herein (if applicable, to the extent such security interest can be perfected through the filing of UCC-1, financing statements and other filings required under applicable Requirement of Law, the Intellectual Property filings to be made pursuant to the Security Documents or the delivery of Pledged Securities required to be delivered under the Security Documents), subject to the rights of the Loan Parties
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under the Loan Documents to dispose of the Collateral. From time to time the Loan Parties shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional instruments, certificates or documents, and take all such actions, as the Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of implementing or effectuating the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or of renewing the rights of the Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as to which the Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, has a perfected Lien pursuant hereto or thereto, including, without limitation, filing any financing or continuation statements or financing change statements under the Uniform Commercial Code or other similar laws) in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby.
Perform all actions identified on Schedule 6.16 by the deadlines set forth therein as such deadlines may be extended by the Agent in its reasonable discretion.
Until the Payment in Full of the Obligations, no Loan Party shall, nor shall it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
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It is further understood and agreed that for purposes of determining the value of any Investment outstanding for purposes of this Section 7.02, such amount shall deemed to be the amount of such Investment when made, purchased or acquired less any returns on such Investment (not to exceed the original amount invested).
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Consummate any merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or Dispose of all or substantially all of its Property or business (including, in each case, pursuant to a Division), except that:
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Declare or pay any dividend on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement, cancellation, termination or other acquisition of, any Equity Interests of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or enter into any derivatives or other transaction with any financial institution, commodities or stock exchange or clearinghouse (a “Derivatives Counterparty”), obligating the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to make payments to such Derivatives Counterparty as a result of any change in market value of any such Equity Interests (collectively, “Restricted Payments”), except that:
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(e) the Borrower may make other Restricted Payments to Holdings who, in turn, may make other Restricted Payments to the Parent to permit the Parent to make payments required under the Tax Receivable Agreement;
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.06, (i) Holdings shall not make any Restricted Payments consisting of Intellectual Property that is material to the business of any Loan Party or is necessary or desirable for the Liquidation of Collateral. and (ii) Holdings shall not make any Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06(f), until the earlier of (x) the date that is eighteen (18) month anniversary of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, which date is July 21, 2026 and (y) the first date following the
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twelve (12) month anniversary of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date on which the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) is greater than or equal to 1.0 to 1.0.
Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner any Indebtedness (other than any Senior Debt and, for the avoidance of doubt, any Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement), or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Indebtedness (other than any Senior Debt and, for the avoidance of doubt, any Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement), except:
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Enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate (other than the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) unless such transaction is (a) otherwise not prohibited under this Agreement and (b) upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may without being subject to the terms of this Section 7.09, (i) enter into any transaction with any Person which is an Affiliate of the Parent only by reason of such Person and the Parent having common directors; (ii) enter into and perform its or their obligations under the agreements set forth on Schedule 7.09, as in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date or as the same may be amended, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner that does not materially increase the obligations of the Loan Parties thereunder, and (iii) enter into transactions with Affiliates permitted by Sections 7.02(c), 7.02(o), 7.02(s), 7.03(h), 7.03(i), 7.03(r), 7.04(c), 7.05(e), 7.05(k)(ii) and 7.06 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.09 shall not apply to employment arrangements with, and payments of compensation, indemnification payments, expense reimbursement or benefits to or for the benefit of, current or former employees, officers or directors of the Parent, Holdings the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Enter into any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure the Obligations or, in the case of any Guarantor, its obligations under the Security Documents, other than (a) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, any agreement related to any Junior Indebtedness, the ABL Loan Documents, and any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing thereof, (b) any agreements governing any secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby and the proceeds thereof), (c) software and other Intellectual Property licenses expressly permitted hereunder pursuant to which the Parent, Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary is the licensee or licensor of the relevant software or Intellectual Property, as the case may be, (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall relate only to the assets subject of the applicable license), (d) Contractual Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and on customary terms which limit Liens on the assets subject of the applicable Contractual Obligation or impose restrictions on cash or other deposits with respect thereto, (e) any agreements regarding Indebtedness of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary not prohibited under Section 7.02 (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets of such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), (f) prohibitions and limitations in effect
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on the First Amendment Effective Date and listed on Schedule 7.10, (g) customary provisions contained in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business, (h) customary provisions restricting the subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest, (i) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to an asset sale permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05, (j) any agreement in effect at the time any Person becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary, and (k) any restrictions on Liens imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (f) and (j) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
Use the proceeds of any Borrowing, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (a) to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund Indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, or (b) for any purposes other than the repayment of the ABL Loans, for general corporate purposes, and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the Loan Documents and the ABL Loan Documents.
Amend, modify, waive or otherwise change, or consent or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or other change to (i) any agreement or instrument governing or evidencing Junior Indebtedness in any manner that is materially adverse to the Lenders without the prior consent of the Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (ii) any of its organizational documents, other than amendments, modifications or waivers that could not reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Lenders or Agent; or (iii) any of the ABG Agreements in any manner that is materially adverse to the Lenders without the prior consent of the Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided that the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agent a copy of all such amendments, modifications or waivers promptly after the execution and delivery thereof to the extent not filed publicly.
Change the Fiscal Year of any Loan Party, or, other than as permitted pursuant to Section 1.03, the accounting policies or reporting practices of the Loan Parties, except as required by GAAP.
Enter into any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of real or personal property which is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (a) to such Person or (b) to any other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property or rental obligations of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, except for (i) sales or transfers that do not exceed $6,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding, (ii) sales or transfers by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Borrower or any
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other Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) sales or transfers by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.
Enter into any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (a) make Restricted Payments in respect of any Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary held by, or pay any Indebtedness owed to, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) make Investments in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) any restrictions existing under the Loan Documents, (ii) any restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with the Disposition of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent permitted hereunder, (iii) any restrictions set forth in the documentation for any Junior Indebtedness, the ABL Credit Agreement or any Permitted Amendment or Refinancing of any of the foregoing, (iv) any restrictions contained in agreements related to Indebtedness of (A) the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the disposition of assets securing such Indebtedness (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby and the proceeds thereof) and (B) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary not prohibited under Section 7.02 (in which case such restriction shall relate only to such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), (v) any restrictions regarding licenses or sublicenses by the Borrower and its respective Restricted Subsidiaries of Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of business (in which case such restriction shall relate only to such Intellectual Property), (vi) Contractual Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business which include customary provisions restricting the assignment of any agreement relating thereto, (vii) customary provisions contained in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business, (viii) customary provisions restricting the subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest, (ix) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to an asset sale permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05, (x) any agreement in effect at the time any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (xi) such restrictions in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date and listed on Schedule 7.16, (xii) negative pledges and restrictions on Liens and asset dispositions in favor of any holder of Indebtedness for borrowed money permitted under Section 7.03 but only if such negative pledge or restriction expressly permits Liens for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders with respect to the credit facilities established hereunder and the Obligations under the Loan Documents on a senior basis and without a requirement that such holders of such Indebtedness be secured by such Liens equally and ratably or on a junior basis and (xiii) negative pledges and restrictions on Liens and asset dispositions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (x) and (xi) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
Enter into any Hedge Agreement other than Hedge Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business or as required hereby, and not for speculative purposes, to protect against changes in interest rates or foreign exchange rates or commodity, raw material, energy or utility prices.
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Terminate, or agree to the termination of, the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Borrowing, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the target of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Agent, or otherwise) of Sanctions.
Any one or more of the following events shall constitute an event of default (each, an “Event of Default”):
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If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Agent may, or, at the request of the Required Lenders shall, take any or all of the following actions:
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default with respect to any Loan
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Party or any Subsidiary thereof under Section 8.01(f), the obligation of each Lender to make Term Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Term Loans, all interest accrued thereon and all other Obligations shall automatically become due and payable as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Agent or any Lender.
No remedy herein is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or any other Requirement of Law.
After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Term Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received from any Loan Party, from the liquidation of any Collateral of any Loan Party, or on account of the Obligations, shall be applied by the Agent against the Obligations in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Agent, in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting indemnities, expenses, and other amounts (other than principal, interest and fees) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders 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 on the Term Loans and other Obligations, and fees (including any Early Termination Fee), ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Term Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
Fifth, to payment of all other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fifth held by them;
Last, the balance, if any, after Payment in Full of all of the Obligations, to the Loan Parties or as otherwise required by Requirement of Law.
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The Agent may execute any of its duties under the applicable Loan Documents by or through sub‑agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub‑agent and to the Related Parties of the Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Agent. The Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents or attorneys in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.
The Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall:
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The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the Consent or at the request of the Applicable Lenders (as the Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Security Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) 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 Agent.
The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall not incur any liability for relying, upon any instrument, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order 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 the Parent, Holdings and the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Agent. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Term Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Agent shall have received written notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Term Loan. The Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
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Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates have made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of a Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their affiliates and made its own decision to make its Term Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender, 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 the applicable Loan Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their affiliates. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Agent hereunder, the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of any Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party that may come into the possession of the Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.
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The Credit Parties irrevocably authorize the Agent, at its option and in its discretion,
Upon request by the Agent at any time, the Applicable Lenders will confirm in writing the 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 its Facility Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.12. In each case as specified in this Section 9.12, the Agent will, at the Loan Parties’ expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under its Facility Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.12.
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In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Term Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Credit Party any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Credit Party or to authorize the Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Credit Party or in any such proceeding.
The Agent may deem and treat a Lender party to this Agreement as the owner of such Lender’s portion of the Obligations for all purposes, unless and until, and except to the extent, an Assignment and Assumption shall have become effective as set forth in Section 10.06.
By signing this Agreement, each Lender:
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Each Credit Party hereby appoints each other Credit Party as agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens for the benefit of the Credit Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable Requirement of Law can be perfected only by possession or control. Should any Credit Party (other than the Agent) obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, such Credit Party shall notify the Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Agent’s instructions.
The Lenders are not partners or co-venturers, and no Lender shall be liable for the acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in case of the Agent) authorized to act for, any other Lender.
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and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or Consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of any Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (ii) [reserved], and (iii) no Consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to the Subordination Agreement, (A) that is solely for the purpose of adding the holders of Indebtedness incurred or issued pursuant to an Amendment or Refinancing of the ABL Credit Agreement (or any agent or trustee of such holders) as parties thereto, as permitted under Section 7.03(n) (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the Subordination Agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing and provided that such other changes are not adverse to the interests of the Lenders) or (B) that is expressly contemplated by the Subordination Agreement with respect to an Amendment or Refinancing
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of the ABL Credit Agreement permitted under Section 7.03(u) (or the comparable provisions, if any, of any successor intercreditor agreement with respect to an Amendment or Refinancing of the ABL Credit Agreement permitted under Section 7.03(u); provided further that no such agreement shall, pursuant to this clause (v), amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Agent.
Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Section 2 unless otherwise agreed by the Agent and the applicable Lender, as the case may be. The Agent, the Parent, Holdings or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the 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
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by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Agent or any Credit Party, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Loan Documents 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 are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Term Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether any Credit Party may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the other Credit Parties; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents or (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13); and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and
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subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
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To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Loan Parties is made to any Credit Party, or any Credit Party 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 Credit Party in its discretion) to be repaid to a receiver, interim receiver, trustee, monitor, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer, 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 Credit Party severally agrees to pay to the Agent upon demand its Applicable Percentage (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation plus any administrative, processing, or similar fees customarily charged by the Agent in connection with the foregoing. The obligations of the Credit Parties under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the Payment in Full of the Obligations.
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Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, 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 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any rights and obligations pursuant to Section 3.01), and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at their expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.06(d).
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Each of the Credit Parties agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates, Approved Funds, and to its and its Affiliates’ and Approved Funds’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, funding sources, attorneys, advisors, auditors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority), (c) to the extent required by Requirement of Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, provided that the Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement; or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Hedge Agreement relating to any Loan Party and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, (h) 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) or (i) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to any Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Loan Parties and which source is not known by such Agent or Lender to be subject to a confidentiality restriction in respect thereof in favor of any of the Credit Parties or any Affiliate of the Credit Parties.
For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof relating to the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to any Credit Party on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof, provided that, in the case of information received from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Credit Parties acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Loan Parties or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such
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material non-public information in accordance with Requirement of Law, including the Securities Laws.
If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or if any Lender shall have been served with a trustee process or similar attachment relating to property of a Loan Party, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Agent or the Required Lenders, to the fullest extent permitted by Requirement of Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) or other property at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the Obligations now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, regardless of the adequacy of the Collateral, and irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender and its respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or its respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by Requirement of Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Term Loans and other Obligations or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by Requirement of Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Agent and when the Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, pdf or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document
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delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Credit Parties, regardless of any investigation made by any Credit Party or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Credit Party may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default at the time of any Borrowing, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Term Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied. Further, the provisions of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 10.04 and Article IX shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the repayment of the Obligations or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or ceases to make SOFR Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 or if any Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Agent, require such Lender (other than Sun Finco) to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 3.01 and 3.05) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a
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waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
EACH OF THE PARENT, HOLDINGS, THE BORROWER, THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Loan Parties each acknowledge and agree that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Loan Parties, on the one hand, and the Credit Parties, on the other hand, and each of the Loan Parties is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other
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modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, each Credit Party is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) none of the Credit Parties has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Loan Parties with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether any of the Credit Parties has advised or is currently advising any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Credit Parties has any obligation to any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Credit Parties and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and none of the Credit Parties has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Credit Parties have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and each of the Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. Each of the Loan Parties hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against each of the Credit Parties with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.
Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act and the Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act. Each Loan Party is in compliance, in all material respects, with the Patriot Act. No part of the proceeds of the Term Loans will be used by the Loan Parties, directly or indirectly, for any purpose which would contravene or breach the Proceeds of Crime Act or for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
Neither of the advance of the Term Loans nor the use of the proceeds of any thereof will violate the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., as amended) (the “Trading With the Enemy Act”) or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) (the “Foreign Assets Control Regulations”) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto (which for the avoidance of doubt shall include, but shall not be limited to (a) Executive Order 13224 of September 21, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)) (the “Executive Order”) and (b) the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-56)). Furthermore, none of the Borrower or its Affiliates (a) is or will become a “blocked person” as described in the Executive Order, the Trading With the Enemy Act or the Foreign Assets Control Regulations or (b) engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or be otherwise associated, with any such “blocked person” or in any manner violative of any such order.
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Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.
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If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court in any jurisdiction with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, it becomes necessary to convert into a particular currency (the “Judgment Currency”) any amount due under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document in any currency other than the Judgment Currency (the “Currency Due”), then conversion shall be made at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Business Day before the day on which judgment is given. For this purpose “rate of exchange” means the rate at which the Agent is able, on the relevant date, to purchase the Currency Due with the Judgment Currency in accordance with its normal practice for the applicable currency conversion in the wholesale market. In the event that there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the conversion date and the date of actual payment of the amount due, the Loan Parties will pay such additional amount (if any, but in any event not a lesser amount) as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of Currency Due which could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the rate of exchange prevailing on the conversion date. If the amount of the Currency Due which the applicable Agent is so able to purchase is less than the amount of the Currency Due originally due to it, the applicable Loan Party shall indemnify and save the Agent and the Lenders harmless from and against all loss or damage arising as a result of such deficiency. This indemnity shall constitute an obligation separate and independent from the other obligations contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, shall apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by any Agent from time to time and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order for a liquidated sum in respect of an amount due under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or under any judgment or order.
The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event
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an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.
The exhibits, schedules and annexes attached to this Agreement are incorporated herein and shall be considered a part of this Agreement for the purposes stated herein, except that in the event of any conflict between any of the provisions of such exhibits and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.
The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
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“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).
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date first above written.
V OPCO, LLC (F/K/A VINCE, LLC), as Borrower
By: _______________________
Name:
Title:
VINCE INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC, as a Loan Party
By: _______________________
Name:
Title:
VINCE HOLDING CORP., as a Loan Party
By: _______________________
Name:
Title:
REBECCA TAYLOR, INC., as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
PARKER HOLDING, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
REBECCA TAYLOR RETAIL STORE, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
PARKER LIFESTYLE, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
SK FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC, as Agent and a Lender
By: _______________________
Name:
Title:
Exhibit 10.3
P180 VINCE ACQUISITION CO.
January 22, 2025
Vince Holding Corp.
500 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10110
Re: Loan Forgiveness and Expense Reimbursement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain credit agreement, dated as of December 11, 2020, by and among V Opco, LLC (formerly known as Vince, LLC, the “Borrower”), an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Vince Holding Corp. (the “Company”), the guarantors named therein (collectively, the “Guarantors”), SK Financial Services, LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement) and to that certain Stock and Loan Purchase Agreement, entered into as of the date hereof (the “Purchase Agreement”) by and among P180 Vince Acquisition Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Purchaser”), and each of the legal entities set forth on Exhibit A thereto (each, a “Seller” and collectively, the “Sellers”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Purchaser acquired $6,984,705.41 in aggregate principal amount of Term Loans (including amounts constituting interest paid in kind and added to the principal amount of the Term Loans), together and accrued and unpaid interest thereon (the sum of such acquired Term Loans and interest, the “P180 Loans”).
As of the date of this letter, in exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Purchaser hereby permanently forgives, discharges and cancels the entire amount due and owed under the P180 Loans and the Borrower, the Guarantors, and any other Person, each and collectively, have no further obligations or liabilities to Purchaser with respect to such P180 Loans.
In addition, within 30 calendar days of the date hereof, Purchaser will pay (or reimburse the Company) for all actual and documented costs and expenses incurred by the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with (a) the Purchase Agreement, (b) the preparation and negotiation of the asset-based lending facility that was abandoned and (c) the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of amendments, waivers or consents to the Loan Agreement and the ABL Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, in the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) above, (i) costs and expenses of the agents and lenders under the Loan Agreement and ABL Credit Agreement or the agents and lenders under the abandoned
asset-based lending facility required to be paid or reimbursed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any fees paid to any agent or lender thereunder in connection with such amendment, waiver or consent, and (iii) any legal fees and expenses incurred by the Company (or required to be paid by the Company) in connection with any of the foregoing).
This letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. This letter constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this letter and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this letter. This letter may be signed and exchanged in counterparts, all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
[Signature page to follow.]
Very truly yours,
P180 Vince Acquisition Co.
By _/s/_Brendan Hoffman______________
Name: Brendan Hoffman
Title: Chief Executive Officer
P180, Inc.
By: _/s/ Brendan Hoffman______________
Name: Brendan Hoffman
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Acknowledged and Agreed:
Vince Holding Corp.
By _/s/ David Stefko_________________
Name: David Stefko
Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer
V Opco, LLC
By _/s/ David Stefko_________________
Name: David Stefko
Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer
[Signature Page to Debt Forgiveness and Expense Reimbursement Letter]
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P180 Acquires Sun Capital’s Majority Stake in Vince Holding Corp.
Vince Holding Corp. Significantly Reduces Debt
Brendan Hoffman Expected to Become CEO of Vince Holding Corp.
NEW YORK, January 22, 2025– Vince Holding Corp., (NYSE: VNCE) ("VNCE" or the "Company"), a global contemporary retailer, today announced that P180, a new venture focused on accelerating growth and profitability in the luxury apparel sector, acquired a majority stake in VNCE (the "P180 Acquisition") from affiliates of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. (collectively, "Sun Capital").
In conjunction with the P180 Acquisition, Brendan Hoffman is expected to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of VNCE effective on or around February 3, 2025, subject to finalization of his employment terms. With this transition, David Stefko is expected to step down as Interim CEO of VNCE and continue to serve on the VNCE Board of Directors. In addition, Matthew Garff resigned from the VNCE Board of Directors in connection with the P180 Acquisition.
"VNCE is the perfect partner for P180; the brand's dominance in the luxury contemporary market aligns seamlessly with our acquisition strategy. In addition, as VNCE has evolved its operating model, we believe having access to the technology and team of CaaStle, founded by Christine Hunsicker, my co-founder at P180, will further advance the company’s momentum in driving improved profitability while enhancing its omni-channel experience." Mr. Hoffman added, "Personally, I have a strong connection to the Vince brand, having served as VNCE CEO for five years. I am excited to lead the team again as we continue to unlock new growth opportunities, drive innovation, enhance the brand's market position, and focus on monetizing the Company’s inventory to ensure continued long-term success."
"P180's acquisition represents a transformative opportunity for VNCE. With this transaction, we will gain the operational expertise and cutting-edge digital capabilities needed to drive the brand's future success," commented Michael Mardy, Chairman of VNCE. "On behalf of the Board and the organization, I would also like to thank Dave for stepping into the interim CEO role for the past year. Through his leadership, the company has continued to execute and deliver results by operating a healthier full price model. We are glad to have Dave remain on the Board and are excited to welcome Brendan back to lead the organization into its next chapter."
This acquisition marks the third strategic deal for P180 since its inception in 2024 and follows its recent investment with the prestigious fashion label Altuzarra and digital partnership with the multi-brand premium retailer elysewalker.
VNCE Significantly Reduces Debt
Simultaneously with the P180 Acquisition, an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of VNCE, V Opco, LLC ("V Opco"), amended its existing credit agreement (the "ABL Credit Facility") with Bank of America, N.A. ("BofA"). The amendment consents to, among other things, the change in control in connection with the P180 Acquisition, as well as a partial pay down of the subordinated debt ("Sun Debt Facility") with SK Financial Services, LLC, an affiliate of Sun Capital, through increased borrowings under the ABL Credit Facility. On the same day, V Opco paid $15 million to SK Financial Services, LLC using proceeds from the ABL Credit Facility, which resulted in a pay-down of $20 million under the Sun Debt Facility (the "Sun Debt Paydown").
In addition, P-180 acquired and assumed $7 million of the loans (the "P-180 Assumed Loan") outstanding pursuant to the Sun Debt Facility and immediately thereafter cancelled such $7 million (the "P-180 Debt Forgiveness").
Following the Sun Debt Paydown and P-180 Debt Forgiveness, the outstanding principal amount of subordinated loans is reduced by approximately $27 million with $7.5 million remaining outstanding under the Sun Debt Facility, which will continue to accrue payment-in-kind interest in accordance with, and otherwise be subject to, the terms and conditions therein.
Immediately following the P-180 Acquisition, P180 beneficially owned approximately 65% of all outstanding shares of common stock of VNCE and affiliates of Sun Capital continue to beneficially own approximately 2% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
As part of the terms to the transactions described above, P-180 agreed to reimburse the Company for certain fees and expenses incurred in connection with such transactions, including the Company’s legal fees as well as the consent fee to BofA.
About P180:
P180, a new venture co-founded by Christine Hunsicker (founder and CEO of CaaStle, Inc.) and Brendan Hoffman, is dedicated to driving brand and retailer profitability by providing operational expertise and access to leading industry resources, including CaaStle's innovative monetization platform. P180's core mission is to invest in or acquire brands and retailers that stand to benefit from digital expertise and inventory monetization.
About VNCE:
Vince Holding Corp. is a global retail company that operates the Vince brand women's and men's ready to wear business. Vince, established in 2002, is a leading global luxury apparel and accessories brand best known for creating elevated yet understated pieces for every day effortless style. Vince Holding Corp. operates 47 full-price retail stores, 14 outlet stores, and its e-commerce site, vince.com and through its subscription service Vince Unfold, www.vinceunfold.com, operated by CaaStle, as well as through premium wholesale channels globally. Please visit www.vince.com for more information.
Forward-Looking Statements: This document contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, our planned transformation program and our current expectations about possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company and are indicated by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "seek," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "plan," "target," "project," "forecast," "envision" and other similar phrases. Although we believe the assumptions and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these assumptions and expectations may not prove to be correct and we may not achieve the results or benefits anticipated. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of actual results, and our actual results may differ materially from those suggested in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control, including, without limitation: our ability to successfully manage the transition of VNCE majority ownership to P180 and to execute P180’s strategies for the Company; our ability to execute and realize the enhanced profitability expectations of our planned transformation program; our ability to maintain the license agreement with ABG Vince, a subsidiary of Authentic Brands Group; ABG Vince's expansion of the Vince brand into other categories and territories; ABG Vince's approval rights and other actions; our ability to maintain adequate cash flow from operations or availability under our revolving credit facility to meet our liquidity needs; our ability to realize the benefits of our strategic initiatives; general economic conditions; further impairment of our goodwill; the execution and management of our direct-to-consumer business growth plans; our ability to make lease payments when due; our ability to maintain our larger wholesale partners; our ability to remediate the identified material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting; our ability to comply with domestic and international laws, regulations and orders; our ability to anticipate and/or react to changes in customer demand and attract new customers, including in connection with making inventory commitments; our ability to remain competitive in the areas of merchandise quality, price, breadth of selection and customer service; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; seasonal and quarterly variations in our revenue and income; our ability to mitigate system security risk issues, such as cyber or malware attacks, as well as other major system failures; our ability to optimize our systems, processes and functions; our ability to comply with privacy-related obligations; our ability to ensure the proper operation of the distribution facilities by third-party logistics providers; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials; commodity, raw material and other cost increases; the extent of our foreign sourcing; our reliance on independent manufacturers; other tax matters; and other factors as set forth from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including those described under "Item 1A—Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We intend these forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of this release and do not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available, except as required by law.
This press release is also available on the Vince Holding Corp. website (http://investors.vince.com/).
VNCE Investor Relations Contact:
Caitlin Churchill
ICR, Inc.
[email protected]
P180 Media Contacts:
Jacqueline Renaud
Vice President
Lividini & Co.
[email protected]
Morgan Tanacea
Senior Director
Lividini & Co.
[email protected]