EX-10 2 ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 ex10-1.htm

Exhibit 10.1

 

 EXECUTION COPY

 



 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

October 21, 2014

 

Among

 

ETHAN ALLEN GLOBAL, INC.
as Borrower

 

ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.

 

The Other Loan Parties Party Hereto

 

The Lenders Party Hereto

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Syndication Agent

 

and

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Documentation Agent

 


  

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC and CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers

 



 

 CHASE BUSINESS CREDIT

  

 
 

 

  

Table of Contents

     
    Page

Article I Definitions  

1
     

SECTION 1.01.

Defined Terms

1

SECTION 1.02.

Classification of Loans and Borrowings

36

SECTION 1.03.

Terms Generally

36

SECTION 1.04.

Accounting Terms; GAAP

36

SECTION 1.05.

Pro Forma Adjustments for Acquisitions and Dispositions

37

SECTION 1.06.

Status of Obligations

37

SECTION 1.07.

Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement

37

   

Article II The Credits  

  38
   

SECTION 2.01.

Commitments

38

SECTION 2.02.

Loans and Borrowings

38

SECTION 2.03.

Requests for Borrowings

39

SECTION 2.04.

Protective Advances

39

SECTION 2.05.

Swingline Loans and Overadvances

40

SECTION 2.06.

Letters of Credit

41

SECTION 2.07.

Funding of Borrowings

45

SECTION 2.08.

Interest Elections

45

SECTION 2.09.

Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in Revolving Commitments

46

SECTION 2.10.

Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt

48

SECTION 2.11.

Prepayment of Loans

49

SECTION 2.12.

Fees

50

SECTION 2.13.

Interest

51

SECTION 2.14.

Alternate Rate of Interest

52

SECTION 2.15.

Increased Costs

52

SECTION 2.16.

Break Funding Payments

54

SECTION 2.17.

Withholding of Taxes; Gross-Up

54

SECTION 2.18.

Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs

57

SECTION 2.19.

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

60

SECTION 2.20.

Defaulting Lenders

60

SECTION 2.21.

Returned Payments

62

SECTION 2.22.

Banking Services and Swap Agreements

62

   

Article III Representations and Warranties  

63
   

SECTION 3.01.

Organization; Powers

63

SECTION 3.02.

Authorization; Enforceability

63

SECTION 3.03.

Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

63

SECTION 3.04.

Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

63

SECTION 3.05.

Properties

63

SECTION 3.06.

Litigation and Environmental Matters

64

SECTION 3.07.

Compliance with Laws and Agreements

65

SECTION 3.08.

Investment Company Status

65

SECTION 3.09.

Taxes

65

  

 

 

 

SECTION 3.10.

ERISA

65

SECTION 3.11.

Disclosure

65

SECTION 3.12.

Material Agreements

65

SECTION 3.13.

Solvency

65

SECTION 3.14.

Insurance

66

SECTION 3.15.

Capitalization and Subsidiaries

66

SECTION 3.16.

No Burdensome Restrictions

66

SECTION 3.17.

Federal Reserve Regulations

66

SECTION 3.18.

Security Interest in Collateral

66

SECTION 3.19.

Employment Matters

66

SECTION 3.20.

Common Enterprise

67

SECTION 3.21.

Credit Card Processors

67

SECTION 3.22.

Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions

67

   

Article IV Conditions  

  67
   

SECTION 4.01.

Effective Date

67

SECTION 4.02.

Each Credit Event

69

   

Article V Affirmative Covenants  

  70
   

SECTION 5.01.

Financial Statements; Borrowing Base and Other Information

70

SECTION 5.02.

Notices of Material Events

73

SECTION 5.03.

Existence; Conduct of Business

74

SECTION 5.04.

Payment of Obligations

74

SECTION 5.05.

Maintenance of Properties

74

SECTION 5.06.

Books and Records; Inspection Rights

74

SECTION 5.07.

Compliance with Laws

75

SECTION 5.08.

Use of Proceeds

75

SECTION 5.09.

Insurance

75

SECTION 5.10.

Casualty and Condemnation

75

SECTION 5.11.

Appraisals

75

SECTION 5.12.

Field Examinations

76

SECTION 5.13.

Depository Bank

76

SECTION 5.14.

Credit Card Processors

76

SECTION 5.15.

Additional Collateral; Further Assurances

76

   

Article VI Negative Covenants  

  78
   

SECTION 6.01.

Indebtedness

78

SECTION 6.02.

Liens

80

SECTION 6.03.

Fundamental Changes

81

SECTION 6.04.

Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions

82

SECTION 6.05.

Asset Sales

83

SECTION 6.06.

Sale and Leaseback Transactions

84

SECTION 6.07.

Swap Agreements

84

SECTION 6.08.

Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness

84

SECTION 6.09.

Transactions with Affiliates

85

SECTION 6.10.

Restrictive Agreements

86

SECTION 6.11.

Amendment of Material Documents

86

SECTION 6.12.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

86

  

 
ii 

 

 

Article VII Events of Default  

  87
   

Article VIII The Administrative Agent  

  89
   

Article IX Miscellaneous  

  94
   

SECTION 9.01.

Notices

94

SECTION 9.02.

Waivers; Amendments

96

SECTION 9.03.

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

99

SECTION 9.04.

Successors and Assigns

101

SECTION 9.05.

Survival

104

SECTION 9.06.

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution

105

SECTION 9.07.

Severability

105

SECTION 9.08.

Right of Setoff

105

SECTION 9.09.

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

105

SECTION 9.10.

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

106

SECTION 9.11.

Headings

106

SECTION 9.12.

Confidentiality

106

SECTION 9.13.

Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law

106

SECTION 9.14.

USA PATRIOT Act

107

SECTION 9.15.

Disclosure

107

SECTION 9.16.

Appointment for Perfection

107

SECTION 9.17.

Interest Rate Limitation

107

SECTION 9.18.

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

107

   

Article X Loan Guaranty  

  108
   

SECTION 10.01.

Guaranty

108

SECTION 10.02.

Guaranty of Payment

108

SECTION 10.03.

No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty

108

SECTION 10.04.

Defenses Waived

109

SECTION 10.05.

Rights of Subrogation

109

SECTION 10.06.

Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration

109

SECTION 10.07.

Information

110

SECTION 10.08.

Termination

110

SECTION 10.09.

Taxes

110

SECTION 10.10.

Maximum Liability

110

SECTION 10.11.

Contribution

110

SECTION 10.12.

Liability Cumulative

111

SECTION 10.13.

Keepwell

112

  

 
iii 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SCHEDULES:

 

Schedule 2.01 – Commitments

Schedule 3.05 – Properties

Schedule 3.06 – Disclosed Matters

Schedule 3.14 – Insurance

Schedule 3.15 – Capitalization and Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.21 – Credit Card Processors

Schedule 6.01 – Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02 – Existing Liens

Schedule 6.04 – Existing Investments

Schedule 6.10 – Existing Restrictions

 

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A – Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit B – Forms of Opinions of Loan Parties’ Counsels

Exhibit C – Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

Exhibit D – Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit E – Joinder Agreement

Exhibit F – List of Closing Documents

Exhibit G-1 –

U.S. Tax Certificate (For Foreign Lenders that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit G-2 –

U.S. Tax Certificate (For Foreign Participants that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit G-3 –

U.S. Tax Certificate (For Foreign Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Exhibit G-4 –

U.S. Tax Certificate (For Foreign that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

  

 
iv 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 21, 2014 (as it may be amended or modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among ETHAN ALLEN GLOBAL, INC., ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC., the other Loan Parties party hereto, the Lenders party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent and CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Documentation Agent.

 

WHEREAS, Holdings, the Borrower, certain other Loan Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are currently party to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 29, 2009 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, Holdings, the Borrower, certain other Loan Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to enter into this Agreement in order to (i) amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety; (ii) re-evidence the “Obligations” under, and as defined in, the Existing Credit Agreement, which shall be repayable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) set forth the terms and conditions under which the Lenders will, from time to time, make loans and extend other financial accommodations to or for the benefit of the Loan Parties.

 

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the parties hereto that this Agreement not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities of the parties under the Existing Credit Agreement or be deemed to evidence or constitute full repayment of such obligations and liabilities, but that this Agreement amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement and re-evidence the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties outstanding thereunder, which shall be payable in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

WHEREAS, it is also the intent of the Borrower and the “Loan Guarantors” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) to confirm that all obligations under the “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall continue in full force and effect as modified and/or restated by the Loan Documents (as referred to and defined herein) and that, from and after the Effective Date, all references to the “Credit Agreement” contained in any such existing “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree that the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

Article I


Definitions

 

SECTION 1.01.     Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to a Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

 

Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

Account Debtor” means any Person obligated on an Account.

 

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period or for any ABR Borrowing, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

  

 
1

 

 

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affected Foreign Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent greater than 65% of the Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary being pledged to support the Secured Obligations would cause a Deemed Dividend Issue.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

Agent Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).

 

Aggregate Revolving Commitment” means the aggregate of the Revolving Commitments of all of the Revolving Lenders, as increased or reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. As of the Effective Date, the Aggregate Revolving Commitment is $100,000,000.

 

ALTA” means the American Land Title Association.

 

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page of such page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day (without any rounding). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14 hereof, then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clause (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to Holdings or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 

Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, (a) with respect to Revolving Loans, LC Exposure, Swingline Loans or Overadvances, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Revolving Commitment (provided that, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon such Lender’s share of the aggregate Revolving Exposures at that time); provided that in the case of Section 2.20 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, any such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculation, (b) with respect to Protective Advances or with respect to the aggregate Revolving Exposures, a percentage based upon its share of the aggregate Revolving Exposures and the unused Revolving Commitments; provided that in the case of Section 2.20 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, any such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculation, (c) with respect to the Term Loans, a percentage equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loan Commitments of all the Lenders (provided that, if the Term Loan Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon such Lender’s share of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans of all the Term Lenders at that time) and (d) with respect to amounts payable by each Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.03(c), a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Credit Exposure and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of Credit Exposures of all the Lenders.

  

 
2

 

 

Applicable Pledge Percentage” means 100% but 65% in the case of a pledge by Holdings, the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary of its Equity Interests in a Foreign Subsidiary that is an Affected Foreign Subsidiary due to a Deemed Dividend Issue.

 

Applicable Rate” means:

 

(a)     for any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Revolving Loan or ABR Revolving Loan, or with respect to the commitment fees or ticking fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Eurodollar Spread for Revolving Loans”, “ABR Spread for Revolving Loans”, “Commitment Fee Rate” or “Ticking Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the Average Quarterly Availability during the most recently ended fiscal quarter of Holdings:

 

 

Average Quarterly Availability

Eurodollar Spread for Revolving Loans

ABR Spread for Revolving Loans

Commitment Fee Rate

Ticking Fee Rate

Category 1

Greater than 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment

1.50%

0.50%

0.25%

0.25%

Category 2

Less than or equal to 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment but greater than or equal to 30% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment

1.625%

0.625%

0.20%

0.20%

Category 3

Less than 30% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment

1.75%

0.75%

0.15%

0.15%

 

For purposes of the foregoing clause (a), (i) the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Borrowing Base Certificates and related information that are delivered from time to time pursuant to Section 5.01 and (ii) each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in Average Quarterly Availability shall be effective on the first day of the next fiscal quarter, provided that the Average Quarterly Availability shall be deemed to be (x) in Category 2 during the period from the Effective Date to, and including, the last day of the fiscal quarter of Holdings ending on or about December 31, 2014 and (y) in Category 3 (A) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (B) at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Revolving Lenders (in the case of the “Eurodollar Spread for Revolving Loans”, “ABR Spread for Revolving Loans” and “Commitment Fee Rate”) or the Required Term Lenders (in the case of the “Ticking Fee Rate”), if Holdings or the Borrower fails to deliver any Borrowing Base Certificate or related information that is required to be delivered by them pursuant to Section 5.01, during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until each such Borrowing Base Certificate and related information pursuant to Section 5.01 is so delivered; provided further that if any Borrowing Base Certificate is at any time restated or otherwise revised or if the information set forth in any Borrowing Base Certificate otherwise proves to be false or incorrect such that the Applicable Rate would have been higher than was otherwise in effect during any period, without constituting a waiver of any Default or Event of Default arising as a result thereof, the Applicable Rate shall be immediately recalculated at such higher rate for any applicable periods and shall be due and payable on demand; and

  

 
3

 

 

(b)     for any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Term Loan or ABR Term Loan, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Eurodollar Spread for Term Loans” or “ABR Spread for Term Loans”, as the case may be, based upon the Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio applicable on such date:

 

 

Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio

Eurodollar
Spread for
Term Loans

ABR
Spread for
Term Loans

Category A

Less than or
equal to 4.00 to 1.00

1.75%

0.75%

Category B

Greater than 4.00 to 1.00

2.25%

1.25%

 

For purposes of the foregoing clause (b), (i) the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the financial statements that are delivered from time to time pursuant to Section 5.01 and (ii) each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall be effective on the first day of the next fiscal quarter, provided that the Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be (x) in Category A during the period from the Effective Date to, and including, the last day of the fiscal quarter of Holdings ending on or about December 31, 2014 and (y) in Category B (A) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (B) at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Term Lenders, if Holdings or the Borrower fails to deliver any financial statement that is required to be delivered by them pursuant to Section 5.01, during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until each such financial statement pursuant to Section 5.01 is so delivered; provided further that if any financial statement is at any time restated or otherwise revised or if the information set forth in any financial statement otherwise proves to be false or incorrect such that the Applicable Rate would have been higher than was otherwise in effect during any period, without constituting a waiver of any Default or Event of Default arising as a result thereof, the Applicable Rate shall be immediately recalculated at such higher rate for any applicable periods and shall be due and payable on demand.

 

Appraised Real Estate Value” means the aggregate fair market value of the Real Properties (other than any Real Property that constitutes an Excluded Asset) of the Loan Parties as of the Term Loan Funding Date, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

 

Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

 

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

  

 
4

 

 

Availability” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) the lesser of (i) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and (ii) the Borrowing Base minus (b) the Revolving Exposure of all Lenders.

 

Availability Threshold” shall be met at any time that:

 

(a) if the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans is greater than or equal to $25,000,000 at such time, (i) the Revolving Exposure of all Lenders does not exceed 35% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment at such time and (ii) the average daily Availability during the immediately preceding 180 calendar days is greater than 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment; or

 

(b) if the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans is less than $25,000,000 at such time, the average daily Availability during the immediately preceding 180 calendar days is greater than 17% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment.

 

Available Revolving Commitment” means, at any time, with respect to any Lender, the Revolving Commitment of such Lender then in effect minus the Revolving Exposure of such Lender at such time.

 

Average Quarterly Availability” means, for any fiscal quarter of Holdings, an amount equal to the average daily Availability during such fiscal quarter.

 

Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries by any Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) credit cards for commercial customers (including, without limitation, “commercial credit cards” and purchasing cards), (b) stored value cards, (c) merchant processing services and (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

Banking Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

 

Banking Services Reserves” means all Reserves which the Administrative Agent from time to time establishes in its Permitted Discretion for Banking Services then provided or outstanding.

 

Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, when such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business, appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, unless such ownership interest results in or provides such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the U.S. or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permits such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

  

 
5

 

 

Beneficial Owner” means, with respect to any U.S. Federal withholding Tax, the beneficial owner, for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, to whom such Tax relates.

 

Billing Statement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(g).

 

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

 

Borrower” means Ethan Allen Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, (b) a Term Loan of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, (c) a Swingline Loan, (d) a Protective Advance and (e) an Overadvance.

 

Borrowing Base” means, at any time, the sum of (a) 92.5% of the Eligible Credit Card Receivables plus (b) the lesser of (i) 85% of the Eligible Accounts at such time and (ii) $15,000,000, plus (c) the product of 90% multiplied by the Net Orderly Liquidation Value percentage identified in the most recent inventory appraisal ordered by the Administrative Agent multiplied by the Eligible Inventory, valued at the lower of cost and market value (determined on a first-in-first-out basis), at such time, plus (d) the Eligible Trademark Component at such time minus (e) Reserves. The Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion, reduce the advance rates set forth above, adjust Reserves or reduce one or more of the other elements used in computing the Borrowing Base.

 

Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate, signed and certified as accurate and complete by a Financial Officer of the Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit C or another form which is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

 

Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.

 

Burdensome Restrictions” means any consensual encumbrance or restriction of the type described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.10.

 

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for general business in London.

 

Capital Expenditures” means, without duplication, any expenditure or commitment to expend money for any purchase or other acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means 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 the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

  

 
6

 

 

Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Equity Interests representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of Holdings by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of Holdings by any Person or group; (d) the occurrence of a change in control, or other similar provision, as defined in any agreement or instrument evidencing any Material Indebtedness (triggering a default or mandatory prepayment, which default or mandatory prepayment has not been waived in writing); or (e) Holdings shall cease to own, directly or (through another Loan Party) indirectly, 100% of the capital stock of the Borrower.

 

Change in Law” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement (or, with respect to any Lender, such later date on which such Lender becomes a party to 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 or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) compliance by any Lender or any Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof, and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements 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.

 

Charges” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.17.

 

Chase” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association, in its individual capacity, and its successors.

 

Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Term Loans, Swingline Loans, Protective Advances or Overadvances.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

Collateral” means any and all property owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, to secure the Secured Obligations; provided that “Collateral” shall not include any Excluded Assets.

 

Collateral Access Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

  

 
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Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Mortgages, and any other documents granting a Lien upon property as security for payment of the Secured Obligations.

 

Collection Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

Commercial LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Commercial Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements relating to Commercial Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The Commercial LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Commercial LC Exposure at such time.

 

Commercial Letters of Credit” means all Letters of Credit other than standby Letters of Credit.

 

Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and Term Loan Commitment, together with the commitment of such Lender to acquire participations in Letters of Credit, Protective Advances, Overadvances and Swingline Loans hereunder. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.

 

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Communications” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).

 

Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

 

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 Disbursement Account” means any accounts of any Loan Party maintained with the Administrative Agent as a zero balance, cash management account pursuant to and under any agreement between the such Loan Party and the Administrative Agent, as modified and amended from time to time, and through which all disbursements of such Loan Party, any Loan Party and any designated Subsidiary of Holdings are made and settled on a daily basis with no uninvested balance remaining overnight.

 

Credit Card Account Receivables” means any receivables due to any Loan Party on a non-recourse basis (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that normal return policies of any Loan Party shall not be deemed to be with recourse) in connection with purchases from and other goods and services provided by such Loan Party from: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and such other Credit Card Processor acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, in each case which have been earned by performance by such Loan Party but not yet paid to such Loan Party by the Credit Card Processor; provided, that Credit Card Account Receivables shall be calculated net of fees and chargebacks owed to credit card processors and deposits, holdbacks or escrows held by credit card processors.

  

 
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Credit Card Processor” means a Person that provides credit card processing services for any merchant.

 

Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) such Lender’s Revolving Exposure at such time, plus (b) an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage, if any, of the aggregate principal amount of Protective Advances outstanding at such time, plus (c) an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of its Term Loans outstanding at such time.

 

Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender.

 

Customer Deposit Reserve” means, at any time, a reserve equal to 25% of the aggregate amount of deposits paid by customers of any Loan Party for the purchase of goods.

 

Deemed Dividend Issue” means, with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, such Foreign Subsidiary’s accumulated and undistributed earnings and profits being deemed to be repatriated to Holdings, the Borrower or the applicable parent Domestic Subsidiary under Section 956 of the Code and the effect of such repatriation causing materially adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrower or such parent Domestic Subsidiary, in each case as determined by Holdings and the Borrower in their commercially reasonable judgment acting in good faith and in consultation with their legal and tax advisors.

 

Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular Default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement, to the effect that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular Default, if any) to funding a Loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by a Credit Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event.

 

Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits, proceedings and environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.

 

Document” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

  

 
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Documentation Agent” means Capital One, National Association, in its capacity as documentation agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.

 

dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America.

 

EBITDA” means, for any period, Net Income for such period, before giving effect to any extraordinary gains or losses or any gains or losses resulting from sales of assets (other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business), plus, (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in computing such Net Income, the sum of (i) income tax expense (whether paid or deferred), (ii) Interest Expense, (iii) depreciation and amortization and (iv) any non-cash charges (but excluding any non-cash charge in respect of an item that was included in Net Income in a prior period and any non-cash charge that relates to the write-down or write-off of inventory), minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in computing such Net Income, the sum of (i) any cash payments made during such period in respect of non-cash charges described in clause (a)(iv) taken in a prior period and (ii) any non-cash items of income for such period, all calculated for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

ECP” means an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1(a)(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the SEC.

 

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

 

Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

 

Electronic System” means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, Intralinks®, ClearPar® and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank and any of its respective Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.

 

Eligible Accounts” means, at any time, the Accounts of any Loan Party which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion are eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder. Without limiting the Administrative Agent’s discretion provided herein, Eligible Accounts shall not include any Account:

 

(a)     which is not subject to a first priority perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)     which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent and (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent;

 

(c)     which (i) is unpaid more than 90 days after the date of the original invoice therefor or more than 60 days after the original due date, or (ii) has been written off the books of such Loan Party or otherwise designated as uncollectible;

  

 
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(d)     which is owing by an Account Debtor for which more than 50% of the Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates are ineligible hereunder;

 

(e)     which is owing by an Account Debtor to the extent the aggregate amount of Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates to such Loan Party exceeds 10% of the aggregate amount of Eligible Accounts;

 

(f)     with respect to which any covenant, representation, or warranty contained in this Agreement or in the Security Agreement has been breached or is not true in any material respect;

 

(g)     which (i) does not arise from the sale of goods or performance of services in the ordinary course of business, (ii) is not evidenced by an invoice or other documentation the form of which is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and which has been sent to the Account Debtor, (iii) represents a progress billing, (iv) is contingent upon such Loan Party’s completion of any further performance, (v) represents a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval, consignment, cash-on-delivery or any other repurchase or return basis (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, normal wholesale customer return policies in respect of warranty claims) or (vi) relates to payments of interest;

 

(h)     for which the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped to the Account Debtor or for which the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by such Loan Party or if such Account was invoiced more than once;

 

(i)     with respect to which any check or other instrument of payment has been returned uncollected for any reason;

 

(j)     which is owed by an Account Debtor which has (i) applied for, suffered, or consented to the appointment of any receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of its assets, (ii) had possession of all or a material part of its property taken by any receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator, (iii) filed, or had filed against it, any request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as bankrupt, winding-up, or voluntary or involuntary case under any state or federal bankruptcy laws, (iv) admitted in writing its inability, or is generally unable to, pay its debts as they become due, (v) become insolvent, or (vi) ceased operation of its business;

 

(k)     which is owed by any Account Debtor which has sold all or a substantially all of its assets unless the Account has been assumed by a party of at least equal creditworthiness in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion;

 

(l)     which is owed by an Account Debtor which (i) does not maintain its chief executive office in the U.S. or Canada or (ii) is not organized under applicable law of the U.S., any state of the U.S., Canada, or any province of Canada unless, in either case, such Account is backed by (A) a letter of credit acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is in the possession of, has been assigned to and is directly drawable by the Administrative Agent or (B) security equivalent to such a letter of credit and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

 

(m)     which is owed in any currency other than U.S. dollars;

 

(n)     which is owed by (i) any Governmental Authority of any country other than the U.S. unless such Account is backed by a Letter of Credit acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and which is in the possession of the Administrative Agent, or (ii) any Governmental Authority of the U.S., or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof, unless the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 3727 et seq. and 41 U.S.C. § 15 et seq.), and any other steps necessary to perfect the Lien of the Administrative Agent in such Account have been complied with to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction;

  

 
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(o)     which is owed by any Affiliate, employee, officer, director, agent or stockholder of any Loan Party (to the extent such stockholder owns or controls 5% or more of the Equity Interests in a Loan Party);

 

(p)     which, for any Account Debtor, exceeds a credit limit determined by the Administrative Agent, to the extent of such excess;

 

(q)     which is owed by an Account Debtor or any Affiliate of such Account Debtor to which any Loan Party is indebted, but only to the extent of such indebtedness or is subject to any security, deposit, progress payment, retainage or other similar advance made by or for the benefit of an Account Debtor, in each case to the extent thereof;

 

(r)     which is subject to any counterclaim (to the extent asserted), deduction, defense, setoff or dispute, but only to the extent of such counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute;

 

(s)     which is evidenced by any promissory note, chattel paper, or instrument;

 

(t)     which is owed by an Account Debtor located in any jurisdiction which requires filing of a “Notice of Business Activities Report” or other similar report in order to permit the applicable Loan Party to seek judicial enforcement in such jurisdiction of payment of such Account, unless such Loan Party has filed such report or qualified to do business in such jurisdiction;

 

(u)     with respect to which such Loan Party has made any agreement with the Account Debtor for any reduction thereof, other than discounts and adjustments given in the ordinary course of business, or any Account which was partially paid and such Loan Party created a new receivable for the unpaid portion of such Account;

 

(v)     which does not comply in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations, whether Federal, state or local, including without limitation the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, the Federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z of the Board;

 

(w)     which is for goods that have been sold under a purchase order or pursuant to the terms of a contract or other agreement or understanding (written or oral) that indicates or purports that any Person other than such Loan Party has or has had an ownership interest in such goods, or which indicates any party other than such Loan Party as payee or remittance party;

 

(x)     which was created on cash on delivery terms;

 

(y)     which is subject to any limitation on assignments or other security interests (whether arising by operation of law, by agreement or otherwise), unless the Administrative Agent has determined that such limitation is not enforceable;

 

(z)     which is governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(aa)     in respect of which the Account Debtor is a consumer within applicable consumer protection litigation; or

  

 
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(bb)     which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion may not be paid by reason of the Account Debtor’s inability to pay or which the Administrative Agent otherwise determines in its Permitted Discretion is unacceptable.

 

In the event that an Account which was previously an Eligible Account (in an amount of at least $5,000,000) ceases to be an Eligible Account hereunder by virtue of the foregoing clauses (j), (k) or (l), the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof on and at the time of submission to the Administrative Agent of the next Borrowing Base Certificate. In determining the amount of an Eligible Account, the face amount of an Account may, in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, 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, price adjustments, finance charges or other allowances (including any amount that the applicable Loan Party may be obligated to rebate to an Account Debtor 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 applicable Loan Party to reduce the amount of such Account. For the avoidance of doubt, no Credit Card Account Receivable shall constitute an Eligible Account under this Agreement.

 

Eligible Credit Card Account Receivables” means any Credit Card Account Receivable that (i) has been earned and represents the bona fide amounts due to a Loan Party from a Credit Card Processor, and in each case originated in the ordinary course of business of the applicable Loan Party and (ii) is not excluded as an Eligible Credit Card Receivable pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (l) below. Without limiting the foregoing, to qualify as an Eligible Credit Card Account Receivable, a Credit Card Account Receivable shall indicate no Person other than a Loan Party as payee or remittance party. Eligible Credit Card Account Receivable shall not include any Credit Card Account Receivable if:

 

(a)     such Credit Card Account Receivable is not owned by a Loan Party and such Loan Party does not have good or marketable title to such Credit Card Account Receivable;

 

(b)     such Credit Card Account Receivable constitutes neither an “Account” (as defined in the UCC) nor a “Payment Intangible” (as defined in the UCC), or such Credit Card Account Receivable has been outstanding more than five (5) Business Days;

 

(c)     the Credit Card Processor of the applicable credit card with respect to such Credit Card Account Receivable is the subject of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings;

 

(d)     such Credit Card Account Receivable is not a valid, legally enforceable obligation of the applicable credit card issuer with respect thereto;

 

(e)     such Credit Card Account Receivable is not subject to a properly perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, or is subject to any Lien whatsoever other than Permitted Encumbrances contemplated by the processor agreements and for which appropriate reserves (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion) have been established or maintained by the Loan Parties;

 

(f)     such Credit Card Account Receivable does not conform in all material respects to all representations, warranties or other provisions in the Loan Documents or in the credit card agreements relating to such Credit Card Account Receivable;

 

(g)     such Credit Card Account Receivable is subject to risk of set-off, non-collection or not being processed due to unpaid or overdue Credit Card Processor fee balances;

  

 
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(h)     such Credit Card Account Receivable is evidenced by “chattel paper” or an “instrument” of any kind unless such “chattel paper” or “instrument” is in the possession of the Administrative Agent, and to the extent necessary or appropriate, endorsed to the Administrative Agent;

 

(i)     such Credit Card Account Receivable has been disputed, or with respect to which a claim, counterclaim, offset or chargeback has been asserted, by the related Credit Card Processor;

 

(j)     such Credit Card Account Receivable is due from a Credit Card Processor which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion to be unlikely to be collected;

 

(k)     such Credit Card Account Receivable is due from a Credit Card Processor with respect to which a Processor Control Agreement has not been obtained; or

 

(l)     such Credit Card Account Receivable does not meet such other usual and customary eligibility criteria for Credit Card Account Receivables as the Administrative Agent may determine from time to time in its Permitted Discretion.

 

In determining the amount to be so included in the calculation of the value of an Eligible Credit Card Receivable, the face amount thereof shall be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount, (i) the amount of all customary fees and expenses in connection with any credit card arrangements and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect thereof but not yet applied by the applicable Loan Party to reduce the amount of such Eligible Credit Card Account Receivable.

 

Eligible Inventory” means, at any time, the Inventory of a Loan Party which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion is eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder. Without limiting the Administrative Agent’s discretion permitted herein, Eligible Inventory shall not include any Inventory:

 

(a)     which is not subject to a first priority perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)     which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent and (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent;

 

(c)     which is, in the determination of the Borrower in its ordinary course of business with the approval of the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, unmerchantable, defective, used, unfit for sale, not salable at prices approximating at least the cost of such Inventory in the ordinary course of business or unacceptable due to age, type, category and/or quantity;

 

(d)     with respect to which any covenant, representation, or warranty contained in this Agreement or the Security Agreement has been breached or is not true in any material respect and which does not conform in all material respects to all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority;

 

(e)     in which any Person other than a Loan Party shall (i) have any direct or indirect ownership, interest or title to such Inventory or (ii) be indicated on any purchase order or invoice with respect to such Inventory as having or purporting to have an interest therein;

 

(f)     which constitutes work-in-process, spare or replacement parts, subassemblies, packaging and shipping material, manufacturing supplies, samples, prototypes, displays or display items (except to the extent saleable as finished goods in the ordinary course of business), bill-and-hold goods, goods that are returned or marked for return, repossessed goods, defective or damaged goods, goods held on consignment, or goods which are not of a type held for sale in the ordinary course of business;

  

 
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(g)     which is not located in the U.S. or is in transit with a common carrier from vendors and suppliers located outside of the U.S.; provided that Inventory in transit from vendors and suppliers having a value (based on invoiced amounts) not exceeding $7,000,000 in the aggregate at any time shall not be excluded from “Eligible Inventory” pursuant to this clause (g) so long as (i) such Inventory has been paid for in full by the applicable Loan Party, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that such Inventory is covered by casualty insurance and the Administrative Agent shall have been named as loss payee with respect to such casualty insurance, and (iii) the Administrative Agent shall have received a duly executed Collateral Access Agreement from the applicable Loan Party’s customs broker with respect to such Inventory;

 

(h)     which is located in a warehouse, distribution center, regional distribution center or depot located in any location leased by the applicable Loan Party unless (i) the lessor has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement or (ii) a Reserve for rent, charges, and other amounts due or to become due with respect to such facility has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

 

(i)     which is located in a store or other retail location located in any location leased by the applicable Loan Party in any Landlord Lien State unless (i) the lessor has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement, (ii) a Rent Reserve has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion or (iii) the landlord has waived any applicable lien pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

 

(j)     which is located in any third party warehouse or is in the possession of a bailee (other than a third party processor) and is not evidenced by a Document, unless (i) such warehouseman or bailee has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent may require in its Permitted Discretion or (ii) a Rent Reserve has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

 

(k)     which is being processed offsite at a third party location or outside processor, or is in-transit to or from said third party location or outside processor;

 

(l)     which is a discontinued product or component thereof;

 

(m)     which is the subject of a consignment by the applicable Loan Party as consignor;

 

(n)     which contains or bears any intellectual property rights licensed to the applicable Loan Party unless the Administrative Agent is satisfied in its Permitted Discretion that it may sell or otherwise dispose of such Inventory without (i) the consent of each applicable licensor, (ii) infringing the rights of such licensor, (iii) violating any contract with such licensor, or (iv) incurring any liability with respect to payment of royalties other than royalties incurred pursuant to sale of such Inventory under the current licensing agreement;

 

(o)     which is not reflected in a current perpetual inventory report of the applicable Loan Party;

 

(p)     for which reclamation rights have been asserted by the seller; or

  

 
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(q)     which the Administrative Agent otherwise determines is unacceptable in its Permitted Discretion.

 

In the event that Inventory which was previously Eligible Inventory ceases to be Eligible Inventory hereunder, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof on and at the time of submission to the Administrative Agent of the next Borrowing Base Certificate.

 

Eligible Trademarks” means, at any time, the Trademarks of a Loan Party which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion are eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder. Without limiting the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion as provided herein, Eligible Trademarks shall not include any Trademark:

 

(a)     which is not subject to a first priority perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent; or

 

(b)     which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent and (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent.

 

In the event that a Trademark which was previously an Eligible Trademark ceases to be an Eligible Trademark hereunder, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof on and at the time of submission to the Administrative Agent of the next Borrowing Base Certificate.

 

Eligible Trademark Component” means, at any time, an amount equal to the sum of the following amounts calculated for each Eligible Trademark of the Loan Parties: the applicable Trademark Amortization Factor for such Eligible Trademark multiplied by 50% of the Net Orderly Liquidation Value identified in the most recent trademark appraisal ordered by the Administrative Agent of such Eligible Trademark.

 

Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

 

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental investigation or remediation, injunctive or equitable relief, fines, penalties or indemnities), of Holdings or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) a violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release, presence or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or within any facility, building or fixture or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.

  

 
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ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) the failure to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

 

Excluded Assets” means all Real Property of the Loan Parties, other than the Specified Real Property.

 

Excluded Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary of the Borrower identified on Schedule 3.15 as an “Excluded Subsidiary” and that has not ceased to be an “Excluded Subsidiary” as provided below; provided that such Subsidiary does not own assets or properties that, together with the assets and properties owned by all other Subsidiaries that are treated as “Excluded Subsidiaries”, have a book value, in the aggregate, in excess of $10,000,000, (b) did not, during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on the most recent date for which quarterly or annual financial statements of Holdings are available, have revenues that, together with the revenues of all other Subsidiaries that are treated as “Excluded Subsidiaries”, accounted for more than 5% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such period, and (c) does not have any Indebtedness or any other material liabilities. At any time the Borrower may, and shall if one or more Excluded Subsidiaries fail to satisfy one or more of the conditions described in clauses (a) through (c) above, notify the Administrative Agent that one or more Excluded Subsidiaries shall cease to constitute an “Excluded Subsidiary”, whereupon such Subsidiary or Subsidiaries shall cease to constitute an “Excluded Subsidiary” for all purposes hereof. The Borrower may not designate any Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Subsidiary as an Excluded Subsidiary.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Specified Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Specified Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation. If a Specified Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Specified Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

  

 
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Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes; (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office; (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(f); and (d) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preliminary statements hereto.

 

Existing Letters of Credit” is defined in Section 2.06(a).

 

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

Financial Covenant Exemption Period” means the period (a) commencing on any date following the Term Loan Funding Date on which both of the following events have occurred: (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans is less than $25,000,000 and (ii) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio equals or exceeds 1.25 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available and (b) ending on the first date thereafter, if any, on which the average daily Availability during the immediately preceding 30 calendar days is less than 15% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment.

  

 
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Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower or the assistant treasurer or controller for purposes of giving notices.

 

First Tier Foreign Subsidiary” means each Foreign Subsidiary with respect to which any one or more of the Loan Parties directly owns or Controls more than 50% of such Foreign Subsidiary’s issued and outstanding Equity Interests.

 

Fixed Charges” means, with reference to any period, without duplication, cash Interest Expense, plus cash Rentals, plus prepayments and scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness made during such period, plus expense for taxes paid in cash, plus dividends or distributions paid in cash, plus Capital Lease Obligation payments, plus cash contributions to any Plan, all calculated for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, for any period, the ratio of (a) EBITDA, plus cash Rentals, minus the unfinanced portion of Capital Expenditures to (b) Fixed Charges, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period.

 

Flood Laws” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VIII.

 

Foreign Lender” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Funding Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(h).

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing (x) any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and (y) any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) Indebtedness of the primary obligor or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of any Indebtedness of the primary obligor of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay Indebtedness of the primary obligor or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support Indebtedness; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01.

  

 
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Guarantor Payment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.11(a).

 

Hazardous Materials” means: (a) any substance, material, or waste that is included within the definitions of “hazardous substances,” “hazardous materials,” “hazardous waste,” “toxic substances,” “toxic materials,” “toxic waste,” or words of similar import in any Environmental Law; (b) those substances listed as hazardous substances by the United States Department of Transportation (or any successor agency) (49 C.F.R. 172.101 and amendments thereto) or by the Environmental Protection Agency (or any successor agency) (40 C.F.R. Part 302 and amendments thereto); and (c) any substance, material, or waste that is petroleum, petroleum-related, or a petroleum by-product, asbestos or asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls, flammable, explosive, radioactive, freon gas, radon, or a pesticide, herbicide, or any other agricultural chemical.

 

Holdings” means Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Impacted Interest Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBO Rate”.

 

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid (other than accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (k) obligations under any liquidated earn-out and (l) any other Off-Balance Sheet Liability. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

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 subsection (a), Other Taxes.

 

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).

 

Ineligible Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).

 

Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.12.

 

Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08.

 

Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, total interest expense (including, but without duplication, that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP), calculated on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period in accordance with GAAP.

  

 
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Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the first Business Day of each calendar quarter and the Maturity Date, and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Maturity Date.

 

Interest Period” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six (or, with the consent of each Lender, twelve) months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded upward to four decimal places) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time.

 

Inventory” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

Issuing Bank” means (a) Chase, in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder and (b) any other Revolving Lender from time to time designated by the Borrower as an Issuing Bank, with the consent of such Revolving Lender and the Administrative Agent, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall mean Chase and each such Revolving Lender, individually or collectively as the context shall require, and their respective successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by its Affiliates, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate (it being agreed that such Issuing Bank shall, or shall cause such Affiliate to, comply with the requirements of Section 2.06 with respect to such Letters of Credit). At any time there is more than one Issuing Bank, all singular references to the Issuing Bank shall mean any Issuing Bank, either Issuing Bank, each Issuing Bank, the Issuing Bank that has issued the applicable Letter of Credit, or both (or all) Issuing Banks, as the context may require.

  

 
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Joinder Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11.

 

Landlord Lien State” means any jurisdiction the laws of which provide for the liens in favor of the landlords of such jurisdiction to have priority over the liens of the Administrative Agent on Inventory; provided that if the laws of any such jurisdiction are changed after the Effective Date so as to provide for the liens in favor of the Administrative Agent on Inventory to have priority over the liens in favor of the landlords of such jurisdiction, then such jurisdiction shall no longer be a “Landlord Lien State” as such term is used herein.

 

LC Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(j).

 

LC Disbursement” means a payment made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

 

LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of Commercial LC Exposure and Standby LC Exposure. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.

 

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.09 or an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender.

 

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any applicable Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate administered by the ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for dollars) for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion (the “LIBO Screen Rate”) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that, (x) if any LIBO Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement and (y) if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for a period equal in length to such Interest Period (an “Impacted Interest Period”), then the LIBO Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate at such time, subject to Section 2.14 in the event that the Administrative Agent shall conclude that it shall not be possible to determine such Interpolated Rate (which conclusion shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error); provided, that, if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the above, to the extent that “LIBO Rate” or “Adjusted LIBO Rate” is used in connection with an ABR Borrowing, such rate shall be determined as modified by the definition of Alternate Base Rate.

 

LIBO Screen Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBO Rate”.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

  

 
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Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to Section 2.10(f) of this Agreement, any Letter of Credit applications, the Collateral Documents and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates identified in Section 4.01 executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent, any Lenders or any Secured Parties and including all other pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, notices, letter of credit agreements and all other written matter whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any Loan Party, or any employee of any Loan Party, and delivered to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Secured Party in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to the Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.

 

Loan Guarantor” means each Loan Party.

 

Loan Guaranty” means Article X of this Agreement.

 

Loan Parties” means Holdings, the Borrower, the Borrower’s Material Domestic Subsidiaries and any other Person who becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to a Joinder Agreement and their successors and assigns.

 

Loans” means the loans and advances made by the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement, including Swingline Loans, Overadvances and Protective Advances.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Holdings, or the Borrower, or the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) the Collateral, or the Administrative Agent’s Liens (on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties) on the Collateral or the priority of such Liens, or (d) the rights of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders or the Secured Parties thereunder.

 

Material Domestic Subsidiaries” means each Domestic Subsidiary which, as of the most recent fiscal quarter of Holdings, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended, for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01, contributed greater than ten percent (10%) of Total Assets as of such date; provided that, if at any time the aggregate amount of the Total Assets of all Subsidiaries that are not Material Domestic Subsidiaries exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Assets as of the end of any such fiscal quarter, Holdings (or, in the event Holdings has failed to do so within ten (10) days, the Administrative Agent) shall designate sufficient Subsidiaries as “Material Domestic Subsidiaries” to eliminate such excess, and such designated Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement constitute Material Domestic Subsidiaries.

 

Material Foreign Subsidiaries” means each Foreign Subsidiary which, as of the most recent fiscal quarter of Holdings, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended, for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01, contributed greater than ten percent (10%) of Total Assets as of such date; provided that, if at any time the aggregate amount of the Total Assets of all Subsidiaries that are not Material Foreign Subsidiaries exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total Assets as of the end of any such fiscal quarter, Holdings (or, in the event Holdings has failed to do so within ten (10) days, the Administrative Agent) shall designate sufficient Subsidiaries as “Material Foreign Subsidiaries” to eliminate such excess, and such designated Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement constitute Material Foreign Subsidiaries.

  

 
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Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “obligations” of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

Maturity Date” means the earlier of (a) October 21, 2019 and (b) any date on which the Revolving Commitments are reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.17.

 

Monthly FCCR Testing Period” shall be in effect at any time that (a) the Revolving Exposure of all Lenders is greater than 35% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment or (b) the average daily Availability during the immediately preceding 180 calendar days is less than or equal to 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Mortgage” means any mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement which conveys or evidences a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, on Real Property of a Loan Party, including any amendment, restatement, modification or supplement thereto.

 

Mortgage Instruments” means such title reports, ALTA title insurance policies (with endorsements), evidence of zoning compliance, property insurance, flood certifications and flood insurance (and, if applicable FEMA form acknowledgements of insurance), opinions of counsel, ALTA surveys, appraisals, environmental assessments and reports, mortgage tax affidavits and declarations and other similar information and related certifications as are requested by, and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to, the Administrative Agent from time to time.

 

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

Negative Covenant Permission Trigger” means (a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing prior to making such acquisition (in the case of a Permitted Acquisition), Restricted Payment (in the case of Section 6.08(a)) or payment (in the case of Section 6.08(b)) or would arise after giving effect (including pro forma effect) thereto, (b) Availability equals or exceeds an amount equal to the greater of (i) 20% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment at such time and (ii) $20,000,000, prior thereto as well as after giving effect (including pro forma effect at the time thereof and for the six (6) month period following such acquisition or payment as determined based on the updated Projections most recently delivered to the Lenders, which Projections (x) shall have been delivered no later than the date that is thirty (30) days prior to such acquisition or payment and (y) must be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) thereto and (c) Holdings and the Borrower are in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto (excluding synergies or cost savings in the case of an acquisition), with the covenant contained in Section 6.12 recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter (or fiscal month, if applicable) of Holdings for which financial statements are available.

  

 
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Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary) in which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by Holdings or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary. Any Requirement of Law that a dividend be declared by the board of directors or similar governing body of a Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction described in clause (c) above.

 

Net Orderly Liquidation Value” means, with respect to Inventory or Trademarks of any Person, the orderly liquidation value thereof as determined in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion by an appraiser acceptable to the Administrative Agent, net of all costs of liquidation thereof.

 

Net Proceeds” means, with respect to any event, (a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such event including (i) any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, insurance proceeds and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments, net of (b) the sum of (i) all reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid to third parties (other than Affiliates) in connection with such event, (ii) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of an asset (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction or a casualty or a condemnation or similar proceeding), the amount of all payments required to be made as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than Loans) secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event and (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) and the amount of any reserves established to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case during the year that such event occurred or the next succeeding year and that are directly attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer).

 

Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(d).

 

Non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(c)(i).

 

Obligated Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.02.

 

Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Exposure, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations and indebtedness (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of the Loan Parties to the Lenders or to any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any indemnified party, individually or collectively, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, arising or incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made or reimbursement or other obligations incurred or any of the Letters of Credit or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof.

  

 
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OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Liability” of a Person means (a) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (b) any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any so-called “synthetic lease” transaction entered into by such Person, or (c) any indebtedness, liability or obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheets of such Person (other than operating leases).

 

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 Taxes (other than a connection arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to, or enforced, any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan, Letter of Credit or 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 that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19).

 

Overadvance” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).

 

Parent” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.

 

Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(b).

 

Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition (whether by purchase, lease (other than a customary real estate lease), merger, consolidation or otherwise) or series of related acquisitions by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of (i) all or substantially all the assets of or (ii) all or substantially all the Equity Interests in, a Person or division or line of business of a Person, if, at the time of and immediately after giving effect thereto, (a) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would arise after giving effect (including pro forma effect) thereto, (b) such Person or division or line of business is engaged in the same or a similar line of business as Holdings and its Subsidiaries or business reasonably related thereto, (c) all actions required to be taken with respect to such acquired or newly formed Subsidiary under Section 5.15 shall have been taken, (d) the Negative Covenant Permission Trigger is satisfied and (e) in the case of an acquisition or merger involving Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary, Holdings, the Borrower or such Subsidiary is the surviving entity of such merger and/or consolidation.

  

 
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Permitted Discretion” means a determination made in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable (from the perspective of a secured asset-based lender) business judgment.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(a)     Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

 

(b)     carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

 

(c)     pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

 

(d)     deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)     judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII;

 

(f)     easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of Holdings or any Subsidiary; and

 

(g)     liens arising by virtue of any statutory, common law or contractual provisions relating to bankers’ liens, right of set-off or similar rights and remedies;

 

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.

 

Permitted Investments” means:

 

(a)     direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(b)     investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;

 

(c)     investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

  

 
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(d)     fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above;

 

(e)     money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000; and

 

(f)     other investments made in accordance with Holdings’ investment policy as in effect on the Effective Date and without giving effect to any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto unless the same are approved by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

 

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

Pledge Subsidiary” means (i) each Domestic Subsidiary and (ii) each First Tier Foreign Subsidiary which is a Material Foreign Subsidiary.

 

Prepayment Event” means:

 

(a)     any sale, transfer or other disposition (excluding a sale, transfer or disposition of Real Property pursuant to a transaction permitted by Sections 6.01(n) and 6.06) of any Collateral, other than dispositions described in Section 6.05(a); or

 

(b)     any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of any Loan Party with a fair value immediately prior to such event equal to or greater than $5,000,000; or

 

(c)     the issuance by Holdings or the Borrower of any Equity Interests, or the receipt by Holdings or the Borrower of any capital contribution, other than any issuance by the Borrower of common Equity Interests to, or receipt of any such capital contribution from, Holdings and other than in connection with employee and director compensation, incentive and benefit plans and other than in connection with acquisitions or in payment of or exchange for debt; or

 

(d)     the incurrence by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 or permitted by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 9.02.

 

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by Chase as its prime rate in effect at its principal offices in New York City. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

 

Processor Control Agreement” means, with respect to any Credit Card Processor providing credit card processing services for or on behalf of any Loan Party, an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, executed and delivered by the applicable Loan Party, such Credit Card Processor and the Administrative Agent, pursuant to which such Credit Card Processor shall agree, among other things, to follow instructions originated by the Administrative Agent regarding amounts payable by such Credit Card Processor to such Loan Party pursuant to the applicable credit card processing agreement without the further consent of such Loan Party under circumstances specified therein, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

  

 
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Projections” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01(f).

 

Protective Advance” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04.

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Specified Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Loan Guaranty or grant of the relevant security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Real Property” means real property and all related fixtures, cooling, heating and other building systems located thereon and all improvements thereto (including any parking lot located thereon).

 

Recipient” means, as applicable, (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, or any combination thereof (as the context requires).

 

Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

 

Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, partners, members, trustees, employees, agents, administrators, managers, representatives and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Release” means any releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, migrating, disposing or dumping of any substance into the environment.

 

Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio” means, for any period, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Total Indebtedness as of the last day of such period plus (ii) the product of six (6) multiplied by Rentals to (b) EBITDA plus Rentals, all calculated for Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period.

 

Rentals” means, with reference to any period, the aggregate fixed amounts payable in cash by Holdings and its Subsidiaries under any operating leases, calculated on a consolidated basis for Holdings and its Subsidiaries for such period in accordance with GAAP.

 

Rent Reserve” with respect to any store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot where any Inventory subject to Liens arising by operation of law is located, a reserve equal to two (2) months’ rent at such store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot.

 

Report” means reports prepared by the Administrative Agent or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to the Loan Parties’ assets from information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower, after the Administrative Agent has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement, which Reports may be distributed to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent.

  

 
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Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders (but at least two (2) such Lenders during such time when there is more than one (1) Lender but no more than three (3) Lenders) having Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time, except as provided in Section 2.20(b).

 

Required Revolving Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders (but at least two (2) such Lenders during such time when there is more than one (1) Revolving Lender but no more than three (3) Revolving Lenders) having Revolving Exposures and unused Revolving Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate Revolving Exposures and the aggregate unused Revolving Commitments at such time.

 

Required Term Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders (but at least two (2) such Lenders during such time when there is more than one (1) Term Lender but no more than three (3) Term Lenders) having outstanding Term Loans (or, prior to the termination of the Term Loan Commitments, the unused Term Loan Commitments) representing more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Term Loans (or, prior to the termination of the Term Loan Commitments, the aggregate unused Term Loan Commitments) at such time.

 

Requirement of Law” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation and bylaws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person and (b) any statute, law (including common law), treaty, rule, regulation, code, ordinance, order, decree, writ, judgment, injunction or determination of any arbitrator or court or other Governmental Authority (including Environmental Laws), 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.

 

Reserves” means any and all reserves which the Administrative Agent deems necessary, in its Permitted Discretion, to maintain (including, without limitation, reserves for accrued and unpaid interest on the Secured Obligations, Banking Services Reserves, Rent Reserves, Customer Deposit Reserves, reserves for rent at locations leased by any Loan Party and for consignee’s, warehousemen’s and bailee’s charges, reserves for dilution of Accounts and/or Credit Card Account Receivables, reserves for Inventory shrinkage, reserves for customs charges and shipping charges related to any Inventory in transit, reserves for Swap Obligations, reserves for contingent liabilities of any Loan Party, reserves for uninsured losses of any Loan Party, reserves for uninsured, underinsured, unindemnified or underindemnified liabilities or potential liabilities with respect to any litigation and reserves for taxes, fees, assessments, and other governmental charges) without duplication with respect to the Collateral or any Loan Party.

 

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in Holdings or the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in Holdings or the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit, Overadvances and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate permitted amount of such Lender’s Revolving Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (a) Section 2.09 and (b) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments is $100,000,000.

  

 
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Revolving Credit Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the Maturity Date.

 

Revolving Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure, plus (b) an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans at such time, plus (c) an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Overadvances outstanding at such time.

 

Revolving Lender” means, as of any date of determination, a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Exposure.

 

Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business.

 

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

 

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons.

 

Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the U.S.

 

Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all (i) Banking Services Obligations and (ii) Swap Obligations owing to one or more Lenders or their respective Affiliates; provided, however, that the definition of “Secured Obligations” shall not create any guarantee by any Guarantor of (or grant of security interest by any Guarantor to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor for purposes of determining any obligations of any Guarantor.

 

Secured Parties” means the holders of the Secured Obligations from time to time and shall include (i) each Lender and each Issuing Bank in respect of its Loans and LC Exposure respectively, (ii) the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders in respect of all other present and future obligations and liabilities of Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary of every type and description arising under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iii) each Lender and Affiliate of such Lender in respect of Swap Obligations and Banking Services Obligations owed to such Person by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iv) each indemnified party under Section 9.03 in respect of the obligations and liabilities of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary to such Person hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and (v) their respective successors and (in the case of a Lender, permitted) transferees and assigns.

  

 
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Security Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement (including any and all supplements thereto), dated as of the date hereof, between the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, and any other pledge or security agreement entered into, after the date of this Agreement by any other Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), or any other Person for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Senior Note Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2005, by and among the Borrower, as Issuer, Holdings and certain of its Subsidiaries, as Guarantors, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.

 

Senior Note Obligations” means the Indebtedness and other obligations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries under the Senior Note Indenture, relating to the issuance of 5.375% Senior Notes due 2015, in the aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000, and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.

 

Settlement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(d).

 

Settlement Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(d).

 

Specified Real Property” means, collectively, (a) the Real Property of the Loan Parties that is specifically identified as “Specified Real Property” on Schedule 3.05 hereto and (b) such other Real Property, if any, that is included as “Specified Real Property” by written agreement of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time.

 

Specified Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Standby LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding standby Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements relating to standby Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The Standby LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Standby LC Exposure at such time.

 

Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D of the Board. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D of the Board or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

  

 
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Subordinated Indebtedness” of a Person means any Indebtedness of such Person the payment of which is subordinated to payment of the Secured Obligations to the written satisfaction of the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

 

subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, Controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

 

Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of Holdings, the Borrower or a Loan Party, as applicable.

 

Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, spot, future, credit default or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of Holdings or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

Swap Obligations” of a Person means any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements permitted hereunder with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any such Swap Agreement transaction.

 

Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swingline Loans at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

Swingline Lender” means Chase in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder. Any consent required of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to be required of the Swingline Lender and any consent given by Chase in its capacity as Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank shall be deemed given by Chase in its capacity as Swingline Lender.

 

Swingline Loan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(a).

 

Syndication Agent” means Chase in its capacity as syndication agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.

  

 
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Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

Term Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having a Term Loan Commitment or holding any Term Loans.

 

Term Loan Availability Period” means the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on April 21, 2015.

 

Term Loan Commitment” means (a) as to any Term Lender, the aggregate commitment of such Term Lender to make Term Loans on the Term Loan Funding Date, as such commitment may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04 and (b) as to all Term Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Term Lenders to make Term Loans, which aggregate commitment on the Effective Date shall be the lesser of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 75% of the Appraised Real Estate Value. The initial amount of each Lender’s Term Loan Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the most recent Assignment and Assumption executed by such Term Lender, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of calculating the ticking fee pursuant to Section 2.12(a), the “Term Loan Commitment” of each Lender shall be calculated without giving effect to any potential reduction in its commitment to make Term Loans as a result of the Appraised Real Estate Value. After advancing the Term Loan, each reference to a Term Lender’s Term Loan Commitment shall refer to such Term Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Term Loans.

 

Term Loan Funding Conditions” means the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)     the Administrative Agent’s receipt, with respect to each Real Property (other than any Real Property constituting an Excluded Asset), of each of the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent: (i) a Mortgage on such property; (ii) evidence that a counterpart of the Mortgage on such property has been recorded in the place necessary, in the Administrative Agent’s judgment, to create a valid and enforceable first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the Secured Parties; (iii) ALTA or other mortgagee’s title policy; (iv) an ALTA survey prepared and certified to the Administrative Agent by a surveyor acceptable to the Administrative Agent; (v) an opinion of counsel in the state in which such Real Property is located, in form and substance and from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; (vi) if such Real Property is determined by the Administrative Agent to be in a flood zone, a flood notification form signed by the applicable Loan Party and evidence that flood insurance is in place for the building and contents; (vii) a current appraisal of such Real Property prepared by an appraiser reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, such appraisal to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Term Lenders; (viii) environmental review reports with respect to such Real Property from firm(s) satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and any environmental hazards or liabilities identified in any such environmental review report shall indicate the Loan Parties’ plans with respect thereto); and (ix) such other information, documentation, and certifications as are customary for real estate transactions of this type or as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent;

 

(b)     the Administrative Agent’s completion, and satisfaction in all respects with the results of, any other due diligence process with respect to the Real Property of the Loan Parties (other than any Real Property that constitutes an Excluded Asset), including, without limitation, with respect to physical facilities, environmental audit(s), appraisal(s), insurance matters, title matters and certificate(s) of occupancy; and

  

 
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(c)     the Administrative Agent’s receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that the Senior Note Indenture and all notes issued thereunder have been terminated and cancelled, all Liens and guarantees thereunder have been terminated, and all Senior Note Obligations have been fully repaid.

 

Term Loan Funding Date” means a Business Day during the Term Loan Availability Period on which the Term Loan Funding Conditions (and the other conditions set forth in Section 4.02) have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02). Upon the funding of the Term Loan on a particular date, such date shall be deemed to be the Term Loan Funding Date.

 

Term Loans” means the Term Loans extended by the Term Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b) hereof.

 

Total Assets” means, as of the date of any determination thereof, total assets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis as of such date.

 

Total Indebtedness” means, at any date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of Holdings and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Trademarks” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

Trademark Amortization Factor” means, with respect to any Eligible Trademark on any date of determination, 1 minus a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full fiscal quarters of Holdings elapsed as of such date (including any such fiscal quarter ending on such date) since December 31, 2014 (or, if later, the date of the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the results of the most recently completed appraisal of such Eligible Trademark ordered by the Administrative Agent) and the denominator of which is 40.

 

Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.

 

Unliquidated Obligations” means, at any time, any Secured Obligations (or portion thereof) that are contingent in nature or unliquidated at such time, including any Secured Obligation that is: (i) an obligation to reimburse a bank for drawings not yet made under a letter of credit issued by it; (ii) any other obligation (including any guarantee) that is contingent in nature at such time; or (iii) an obligation to provide collateral to secure any of the foregoing types of obligations.

 

U.S.” means the United States of America.

 

U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

  

 
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U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(B)(3).

 

USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.

 

Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

SECTION 1.02.     Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing”).

 

SECTION 1.03.     Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply) and all judgments, orders and decrees of all Governmental Authorities. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignments set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (f) any reference in any definition to the phrase “at any time” or “for any period” shall refer to the same time or period for all calculations or determinations within such definition, and (g) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

SECTION 1.04.     Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if after the date hereof there occurs any change in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of any provision hereof and the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of such change in GAAP or in the application thereof (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of Holdings, Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein, (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof and (iii) without giving effect to any change to, or modification of, GAAP which would require the capitalization of leases characterized as “operating leases” as of the Effective Date.

  

 
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SECTION 1.05.     Pro Forma Adjustments for Acquisitions and Dispositions. To the extent Holdings or any Subsidiary makes any acquisition permitted pursuant to Section 6.04 or disposition of assets outside the ordinary course of business permitted by Section 6.05 during the period of four fiscal quarters (or twelve consecutive months, if applicable) of Holdings most recently ended, the Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio and Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including pro forma adjustments arising out of events which are directly attributable to the acquisition or the disposition of assets, are factually supportable and are expected to have a continuing impact, in each case as determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as interpreted by the SEC, and as certified by a Financial Officer), as if such acquisition or such disposition (and any related incurrence, repayment or assumption of Indebtedness) had occurred in the first day of such four quarter (or twelve month, as applicable) period.

 

SECTION 1.06.     Status of Obligations. In the event that the Borrower or any other Loan Party shall at any time issue or have outstanding any Subordinated Indebtedness, the Borrower shall take or cause such other Loan Party to take all such actions as shall be necessary to cause the Secured Obligations to constitute senior indebtedness (however denominated) in respect of such Subordinated Indebtedness and to enable the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness. Without limiting the foregoing, the Secured Obligations are hereby designated as “senior indebtedness” and as “designated senior indebtedness” and words of similar import under and in respect of any indenture or other agreement or instrument under which such Subordinated Indebtedness is outstanding and are further given all such other designations as shall be required under the terms of any such Subordinated Indebtedness in order that the Lenders may have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

SECTION 1.07.     Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement. The parties to this Agreement agree that, on the Effective Date, the terms and provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement shall be and hereby are amended, superseded and restated in their entirety by the terms and provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement is not intended to and shall not constitute a novation. All loans made and obligations incurred under the Existing Credit Agreement which are outstanding on the Effective Date shall continue as Loans and Secured Obligations under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the foregoing, upon the effectiveness hereof: (a) all references in the “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) to the “Administrative Agent,” the “Credit Agreement” and the “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to the Administrative Agent, this Agreement and the Loan Documents, (b) Letters of Credit which remain outstanding on the Effective Date shall continue as Letters of Credit under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement, (c) all obligations constituting “Obligations” with any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender which are outstanding on the Effective Date shall continue as Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (d) the liens and security interests in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties securing payment of the Secured Obligations (and all filings with any Governmental Authority in connection therewith) are in all respects continuing and in full force and effect with respect to all Secured Obligations, (e) the Administrative Agent shall, in consultation with the Borrower, make such reallocations, sales, assignments or other relevant actions in respect of each Lender’s credit and loan exposure under the Existing Credit Agreement as are necessary in the judgment of the Administrative Agent in order that each such Lender’s outstanding Revolving Loans hereunder reflect such Lender’s ratable share of the outstanding Revolving Loans on the Effective Date, (f) the Loan Parties hereby agree to compensate each Lender for any and all losses, costs and expenses incurred by such Lender in connection with the sale and assignment of any Eurodollar Loans and such reallocation described above, in each case on the terms and in the manner set forth in Section 2.16 of the Existing Credit Agreement, and (g) each of the Loan Parties reaffirms the terms and conditions of the “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) executed by it, as modified and/or restated by the “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined herein), and acknowledges and agrees that each “Loan Document” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) executed by it, as modified and/or restated by the “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined herein), remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified, reaffirmed and confirmed

  

 
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Article II


The Credits

 

SECTION 2.01.     Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (a) each Revolving Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in dollars from time to time during the Revolving Credit Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (ii) the total Revolving Exposures exceeding the lesser of (x) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment or (y) the Borrowing Base, subject to the Administrative Agent’s authority, in its sole discretion, to make Protective Advances and Overadvances pursuant to the terms of Sections 2.04 and 2.05 and (b) each Term Lender with a Term Loan Commitment agrees to make a Term Loan to the Borrower on the Term Loan Funding Date, in an amount equal to such Term Lender’s Term Loan Commitment by making immediately available funds available to the Administrative Agent’s designated account, not later than the time specified by the Administrative Agent. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

SECTION 2.02.     Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required. Any Protective Advance, any Overadvance and any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sections 2.04 and 2.05.

 

(b)     Subject to Section 2.14, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

  

 
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(c)     At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $2,000,000. ABR Borrowings may be in any amount. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of ten (10) Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

 

(d)     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

 

SECTION 2.03.     Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request either in writing (delivered by hand or facsimile) in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower or by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.01:

 

(i)     the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing and a breakdown of the separate wires comprising such Borrowing;

 

(ii)     the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iii)     whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing and whether such Borrowing is a Revolving Borrowing or a Term Loan Borrowing; and

 

(iv)     in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period.

 

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.04.     Protective Advances. (a) Subject to the limitations set forth below, the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Borrower and the Lenders, from time to time in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion (but shall have absolutely no obligation to), to make Loans to the Borrower, on behalf of all Lenders, which the Administrative Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, deems necessary or desirable (i) to preserve or protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, (ii) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Loans and other Obligations, or (iii) to pay any other amount chargeable to or required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including payments of reimbursable expenses (including costs, fees, and expenses as described in Section 9.03) and other sums payable under the Loan Documents (any of such Loans are herein referred to as “Protective Advances”); provided that, the aggregate amount of Protective Advances outstanding at any time shall not at any time exceed $10,000,000; provided further that, the aggregate amount of outstanding Protective Advances plus the aggregate Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitment. Protective Advances may be made even if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have not been satisfied. The Protective Advances shall be secured by the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent in and to the Collateral and shall constitute Obligations hereunder. All Protective Advances shall be ABR Borrowings. The Administrative Agent’s authorization to make Protective Advances may be revoked at any time by 100% of the Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender or any Lender that is (or whose Affiliate is) the Administrative Agent). Any such revocation must be in writing and shall become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof. At any time that there is sufficient Availability and the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have been satisfied, the Administrative Agent may request the Lenders to make a Revolving Loan to repay a Protective Advance. At any other time the Administrative Agent may require the Revolving Lenders to fund their risk participations described in Section 2.04(b).

  

 
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(b)     Upon the making of a Protective Advance by the Administrative Agent (whether before or after the occurrence of a Default), each Revolving Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the Administrative Agent without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in such Protective Advance in proportion to its Applicable Percentage. From and after the date, if any, on which any Revolving Lender is required to fund its participation in any Protective Advance purchased hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to such Revolving Lender, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of all payments of principal and interest and all proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such Protective Advance.

 

SECTION 2.05.     Swingline Loans and Overadvances. (a) The Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Revolving Lenders agree that in order to facilitate the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, promptly after the Borrower requests an ABR Borrowing, the Swingline Lender may elect to have the terms of this Section 2.05(a) apply to such Borrowing Request by advancing, on behalf of the Lenders and in the amount requested, same day funds to the Borrower on the applicable Borrowing date to the Funding Account (each such Loan made solely by the Swingline Lender pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) is referred to in this Agreement as a “Swingline Loan”), with settlement among them as to the Swingline Loans to take place on a periodic basis as set forth in Section 2.05(d). Each Swingline Loan shall be subject to all the terms and conditions applicable to other ABR Revolving Loans funded by the Revolving Lenders, except that all payments thereon shall be payable to the Swingline Lender solely for its own account. In addition, the Borrower hereby authorizes the Swingline Lender to, and the Swingline Lender shall, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (but without any further written notice required), not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Business Day, make available to the Borrower by means of a credit to the Funding Account, the proceeds of a Swingline Loan to the extent necessary to pay items to be drawn on any Controlled Disbursement Account that day (as determined based on notice from the Administrative Agent). The aggregate amount of Swingline Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed $10,000,000. The Swingline Lender shall not make any Swingline Loan if the requested Swingline Loan exceeds Availability (before giving effect to such Swingline Loan). All Swingline Loans shall be ABR Borrowings.

  

 
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(b)     Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, at the request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may in its sole discretion (but with absolutely no obligation), make Revolving Loans to the Borrower, on behalf of the Lenders, in amounts that exceed Availability (any such excess Revolving Loans are herein referred to collectively as “Overadvances”); provided that, no Overadvance shall result in a Default due to Borrower’s failure to comply with Section 2.01 for so long as such Overadvance remains outstanding in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, but solely with respect to the amount of such Overadvance. In addition, Overadvances may be made even if the condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02(c) has not been satisfied. All Overadvances shall constitute ABR Borrowings. The authority of the Administrative Agent to make Overadvances is limited to an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time, no Overadvance may remain outstanding for more than forty-five (45) days and no Overadvance shall cause any Lender’s Revolving Exposure to exceed its Revolving Commitment; provided that, the Required Revolving Lenders may at any time revoke the Administrative Agent’s authorization to make Overadvances. Any such revocation must be in writing and shall become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof.

 

(c)     Upon the making of a Swingline Loan or an Overadvance (whether before or after the occurrence of a Default and regardless of whether a Settlement has been requested with respect to such Swingline Loan or Overadvance), each Revolving Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the Swingline Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in such Swingline Loan or Overadvance in proportion to its Applicable Percentage of the Revolving Commitment. The Swingline Lender or the Administrative Agent may, at any time, require the Revolving Lenders to fund their participations. From and after the date, if any, on which any Revolving Lender is required to fund its participation in any Swingline Loan or Overadvance purchased hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to such Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of all payments of principal and interest and all proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such Loan.

 

(d)     The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Swingline Lender, shall effect settlement (a “Settlement”) with the Revolving Lenders on at least a weekly basis or on any date that the Administrative Agent elects, by notifying the Revolving Lenders of such requested Settlement by facsimile, telephone, or e-mail no later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of such requested Settlement (the “Settlement Date”). Each Revolving Lender (other than the Swingline Lender, in the case of the Swingline Loans) shall transfer the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding principal amount of the applicable Loan with respect to which Settlement is effected to the Administrative Agent, to such account of the Administrative Agent as the Administrative Agent may designate, not later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Settlement Date. Settlements may occur during the existence of a Default and whether or not the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have then been satisfied. Such amounts transferred to the Administrative Agent shall be applied against the amounts of the Swingline Lender’s Swingline Loans and, together with Swingline Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan, shall constitute Revolving Loans of such Lenders, respectively. If any such amount is not transferred to the Administrative Agent by any Revolving Lender on such Settlement Date, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender together with interest thereon as specified in Section 2.07.

 

SECTION 2.06.     Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Credit Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the relevant Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. The Borrower unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, in connection with any Letter of Credit issued for the support of any Subsidiary’s obligations as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Borrower will be fully responsible for the reimbursement of LC Disbursements in accordance with the terms hereof, the payment of interest thereon and the payment of fees due under Section 2.12(b) to the same extent as if it were the sole account party in respect of such Letter of Credit (the Borrower hereby irrevocably waiving any defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of the obligations of such Subsidiary that is an account party in respect of any such Letter of Credit). The letters of credit issued, or deemed to be issued, under the Existing Credit Agreement (the “Existing Letters of Credit”) shall be deemed to be “Letters of Credit” issued on the Effective Date for all purposes of the Loan Documents.

  

 
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(b)     Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall deliver by hand or facsimile (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the relevant Issuing Bank) to an Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by such Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application and (in the case of a commercial Letter of Credit) a master agreement for the issuance of commercial Letters of Credit, in each case on such Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed $35,000,000, (ii) the Standby LC Exposure shall not exceed $30,000,000 and (iii) the total Revolving Exposures shall not exceed the lesser of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and the Borrowing Base.

 

(c)     Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination or non-renewal by notice from the Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

 

(d)     Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of any Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, each Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from each Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

  

 
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(e)     Reimbursement. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.05 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to such Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the relevant Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

 

(f)     Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein or herein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by an Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Lenders nor any Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the relevant Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, each Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

  

 
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(g)     Disbursement Procedures. Each Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Each Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

 

(h)     Interim Interest. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans and such interest shall be payable on the date when such reimbursement is due; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(d) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of such Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

(i)     Replacement of an Issuing Bank. Any Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit then outstanding and issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

 

(j)     Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Secured Parties (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 103% of the LC Exposure as of such date plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account and the Borrower hereby grants the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and Permitted Discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Secured Obligations. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all such Defaults have been cured or waived.

  

 
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SECTION 2.07.     Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage; provided that, Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to the Funding Account; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of (i) an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the relevant Issuing Bank and (ii) a Protective Advance or an Overadvance shall be retained by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)     Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.08.     Interest Elections. (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, Overadvances or Protective Advances, which may not be converted or continued.

  

 
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(b)     To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.

 

(c)     Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(i)     the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

 

(ii)     the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iii)     whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

 

(iv)     if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

 

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

 

(d)     Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

(e)     If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

SECTION 2.09.     Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in Revolving Commitments. (a) Unless previously terminated, (i) the Term Loan Commitments shall terminate on the earliest of (x) the last day of the Term Loan Availability Period, (y) the Term Loan Funding Date and (z) the Maturity Date and (ii) the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

  

 
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(b)     The Borrower may at any time terminate the Commitments upon (i) the payment in full of all outstanding Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon and on any Letters of Credit, (ii) the cancellation and return of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or alternatively, with respect to each such Letter of Credit, the furnishing to the Administrative Agent of a cash deposit (or at the discretion of the Administrative Agent a back up standby letter of credit satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) equal to 103% of the LC Exposure as of such date), (iii) the payment in full of the accrued and unpaid fees and (iv) the payment in full of all reimbursable expenses and other Obligations together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

 

(c)     The Borrower may from time to time reduce the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.10, the sum of the Revolving Exposures would exceed the lesser of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and the Borrowing Base.

 

(d)     The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments under paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments.

 

(e)     The Borrower shall have the right to increase the Aggregate Revolving Commitment by obtaining additional Revolving Commitments, either from one or more of the Lenders or another lending institution provided that (i) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000, (ii) the aggregate amount of such increases in the Aggregate Revolving Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.09(e) shall not exceed $50,000,000 during the term of this Agreement, (iii) after giving effect thereto, the Aggregate Revolving Commitment shall not exceed $150,000,000, (iv) the Administrative Agent has approved the identity of any such new Lender, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, (v) any such new Lender assumes all of the rights and obligations of a “Lender” hereunder and (vi) the procedure described in Section 2.09(f) have been satisfied. Nothing contained in this Section 2.09 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to increase its Revolving Commitment hereunder at any time.

 

(f)     Any amendment hereto for such an increase or addition shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall only require the written signatures of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lender(s) being added or increasing their Revolving Commitment. As a condition precedent to such an increase, Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (i) a certificate of each Loan Party signed by an authorized officer of such Loan Party (A) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (B) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (1) the representations and warranties contained in Article III and the other Loan Documents are true and correct, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and (2) no Default exists and (ii) legal opinions and documents consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date as to the corporate power and authority of the Loan Parties.

  

 
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(g)     Within a reasonable time after the effective date of any increase, the Administrative Agent shall, and is hereby authorized and directed to, revise Schedule 2.01 to reflect such increase and shall distribute such revised Schedule 2.01 to each of the Lenders and the Borrower, whereupon such revised Schedule 2.01 shall replace the old Schedule 2.01 and become part of this Agreement. On the Business Day following any such increase, all outstanding ABR Loans shall be reallocated among the Lenders (including any newly added Lenders) in accordance with the Lenders’ respective revised Applicable Percentages. Eurodollar Loans shall not be reallocated among the Lenders prior to the expiration of the applicable Interest Period in effect at the time of any such increase.

 

SECTION 2.10.     Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date, (ii) to the Administrative Agent the then unpaid amount of each Protective Advance on the earlier of the Maturity Date and demand by the Administrative Agent and (iii) to the Administrative Agent the then unpaid principal amount of each Overadvance on the earlier of the Maturity Date and demand by the Administrative Agent. The Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans by making principal payments on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter ending after the first full calendar quarter following the Term Loan Funding Date in equal quarterly principal payment amounts equal to the product of 1/60 multiplied by the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans funded on the Term Loan Funding Date (as such principal installment amounts are adjusted from time to time pursuant to Sections 2.11(c) and 2.18(b)). To the extent not previously prepaid or repaid, all unpaid Term Loans shall be paid in full by the Borrower on the Maturity Date.

 

(b)     At all times that full cash dominion is in effect pursuant to Section 7.3 of the Security Agreement, on each Business Day, the Administrative Agent shall apply all funds credited to the Collection Account the previous Business Day (whether or not immediately available) first to prepay any Protective Advances and Overadvances that may be outstanding, pro rata, and second to prepay the Revolving Loans (including Swing Line Loans) and to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure. If no Default is continuing, the amount of such cash collateral securing outstanding LC Exposure shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days.

 

(c)     Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

 

(d)     The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(e)     The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

  

 
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(f)     Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

 

SECTION 2.11.     Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section and, if applicable, payment of any break funding expenses under Section 2.16.

 

(b)     Except for Overadvances permitted under Section 2.05, in the event and on such occasion that the total Revolving Exposure exceeds (the amount of such excess, the “Excess”) the lesser of (A) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment or (B) the Borrowing Base, the Borrower shall prepay the Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and/or Swingline Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such Excess. If such Excess is subsequently reduced and no Default is continuing, any such cash collateral so provided by the Borrower shall be returned to the Borrower (in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) any such reduction in the Excess and (ii) the amount of such cash collateral) within three (3) Business Days after such reduction.

 

(c)     In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of any Loan Party in respect of any Prepayment Event, the Borrower shall, within three (3) Business Days after such Net Proceeds are received by any Loan Party, prepay the Obligations as set forth in Section 2.11(e) below in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds; provided that, in the case of any event described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of the term “Prepayment Event”, if the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer to the effect that the Loan Parties intend to apply the Net Proceeds from such event (or a portion thereof specified in such certificate), within one hundred eighty (180) days after receipt of such Net Proceeds, to acquire (or replace or rebuild) real property, equipment or other tangible assets (excluding inventory) to be used in the business of the Loan Parties, and certifying that no Default has occurred and is continuing, then either (i) so long as full cash dominion is not in effect, no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this paragraph in respect of the Net Proceeds specified in such certificate or (ii) if full cash dominion is in effect, then, if the Net Proceeds specified in such certificate are to be applied to acquire, replace or rebuild such assets by (A) the Borrower, such Net Proceeds shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reduce the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Loans (without a permanent reduction of the Revolving Commitments) and upon such application, the Administrative Agent shall establish a Reserve against the Borrowing Base in an amount equal to the amount of such proceeds so applied and (B) any Loan Party that is not the Borrower, such Net Proceeds shall be deposited in a cash collateral account, and in the case of either (A) or (B), thereafter, such funds shall be made available to the applicable Loan Party as follows:

 

 

(1)     the Borrower shall request a Revolving Borrowing (specifying that the request is to use Net Proceeds pursuant to this Section) or the applicable Loan Party shall request that a release from the cash collateral account be made in the amount needed;

  

 
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(2)     so long as the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 have been met, the Revolving Lenders shall make such Revolving Borrowing or the Administrative Agent shall release funds from the cash collateral account; and

 

(3)     in the case of Net Proceeds applied against the Revolving Borrowing, the Reserve established with respect to such insurance proceeds shall be reduced by the amount of such Revolving Borrowing;

 

provided that, to the extent of any such Net Proceeds therefrom that have not been so applied by the end of such one hundred eighty (180) day period, a prepayment shall be required at such time in an amount equal to such Net Proceeds that have not been so applied; provided, further that the Borrower shall not be permitted to make elections to use Net Proceeds to acquire (or replace or rebuild) real property, equipment or other tangible assets (excluding inventory) with respect to Net Proceeds in any fiscal year in an aggregate amount in excess of $5,000,000.

 

(d)     [Intentionally Omitted].

 

(e)     All such amounts pursuant to Section 2.11(c) shall be applied, first to prepay any Protective Advances and Overadvances that may be outstanding, pro rata, second to prepay the Term Loans (to be applied to installments of the Term Loans in the inverse order of maturity) and third to prepay the Revolving Loans (including Swingline Loans) without a corresponding reduction in the Revolving Commitments and to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure.

 

(f)     The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Revolving Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Each voluntary prepayment of a Term Loan Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Term Loans included in the prepaid Term Loan Borrowing in such order of application as directed by the Borrower. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

SECTION 2.12.     Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates. In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Term Lender a ticking fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the average daily amount of the Term Loan Commitment of such Term Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Term Lender’s Term Loan Commitment terminates. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. Accrued ticking fees shall be payable in arrears on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the date on which the Term Loan Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. All commitment fees and ticking fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

  

 
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(b)     The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue, in the case of standby Letters of Credit at the same Applicable Rate and, in the case of Commercial Letters of Credit at 50% of such Applicable Rate, in each case used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Revolving Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to the relevant Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions (including without limitation standard commissions with respect to Commercial Letters of Credit, payable at the time of invoice of such amounts) with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of each calendar quarter shall be payable on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

(c)     The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)     All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the relevant Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees, ticking fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

 

SECTION 2.13.     Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b)     The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(c)     Each Protective Advance and each Overadvance shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans plus 2%.

  

 
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(d)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision of Section 9.02 requiring the consent of “each Lender directly affected thereby” for reductions in interest rates), declare that (i) all Loans shall bear interest at 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount outstanding hereunder, such amount shall accrue at 2% plus the rate applicable to such fee or other obligation as provided hereunder.

 

(e)     Accrued interest on each Loan (for ABR Loans, accrued through the last day of the prior calendar month) shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Revolving Credit Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

(f)     All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed. The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

SECTION 2.14.     Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

 

(a)     the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining (including, without limitation, by means of an Interpolated Rate) the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

 

(b)     the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by electronic communication as provided in Section 9.01 as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and any such Eurodollar Borrowing shall be repaid on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.15.     Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:

  

 
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(i)     impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or any Issuing Bank;

 

(ii)     impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or

 

(iii)     subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)     If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of, or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)     A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)     Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

  

 
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SECTION 2.16.     Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.09(d) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

SECTION 2.17.     Withholding of Taxes; Gross-Up. (a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

(b)     Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for, Other Taxes.

 

(c)     Evidence of Payment. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)     Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Loan Party by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

  

 
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(e)     Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

 

(f)     Status of Lenders. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

(ii)     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

(A)     any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. Federal backup withholding tax;

 

(B)     any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

  

 
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(1)     in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

(2)     in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(3)     in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

(4)     to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the Beneficial Owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 or Exhibit C-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 C-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

(C)     any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. Federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

(D)     if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

  

 
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Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

(g)     Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This paragraph (g) shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

(h)     Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

(i)     Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

SECTION 2.18.     Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 10 South Dearborn Street, Floor L-2, Chicago, Illinois, except payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

  

 
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(b)     Any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (i) not constituting either (A) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower), (B) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.11) or (C) amounts to be applied from the Collection Account when full cash dominion is in effect pursuant to Section 7.3 of the Security Agreement (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.10(b)) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, such proceeds shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent and any Issuing Bank from the Borrower (other than in connection with Banking Services or Swap Obligations), second, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrower (other than in connection with Banking Services or Swap Obligations), third, to pay interest due in respect of the Overadvances and Protective Advances, fourth, to pay the principal of the Overadvances and Protective Advances, fifth, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans (other than the Overadvances and Protective Advances) ratably, sixth, to prepay principal on the Loans (other than the Overadvances and Protective Advances) and unreimbursed LC Disbursements ratably (with amounts applied to the Term Loans applied to installments of the Term Loans in inverse order of maturity), seventh, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to one hundred three percent (103%) of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and the aggregate amount of any unpaid LC Disbursements, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, eighth, to payment of any amounts owing with respect to Banking Services and Swap Obligations up to and including the amount most recently provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.22, and ninth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from any Loan Party shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower, or unless a Default is in existence, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any Eurodollar Loan of a Class, except (a) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Eurodollar Loan or (b) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans of the same Class and, in any such event, the Borrower shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.16. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations.

 

(c)     At the election of the Administrative Agent, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees, costs and expenses pursuant to Section 9.03), and other sums payable under the Loan Documents, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder whether made following a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes (i) the Administrative Agent to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans (including Swingline Loans and Overadvances, but such a Borrowing may only constitute a Protective Advance if it is to reimburse costs, fees and expenses as described in Section 9.03) and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Sections 2.03, 2.04 or 2.05, as applicable and (ii) the Administrative Agent to charge any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.

  

 
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(d)     If, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other similarly situated Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by all such Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

(e)     Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or each Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

(f)     If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05, 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the relevant Issuing Bank to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under such Sections; in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

(g)     The Administrative Agent may from time to time provide the Borrower with billing statements or invoices with respect to any of the Secured Obligations (the “Billing Statements”). The Administrative Agent is under no duty or obligation to provide Billing Statements, which, if provided, will be solely for the Borrower’s convenience. The Billing Statements may contain estimates of the amounts owed during the relevant billing period, whether of principal, interest, fees or other Secured Obligations. If the Borrower pays the full amount indicated on a Billing Statement on or before the due date indicated on such Billing Statement, the Borrower shall not be in default; provided, that acceptance by the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, of any payment that is less than the payment due at that time shall not constitute a waiver of the Administrative Agent’s or the Lenders’ right to receive payment in full at another time.

  

 
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(h)     For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Effective Date, the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) this Agreement and the Loans as not qualifying as “grandfathered obligations” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

 

SECTION 2.19.     Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)     If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)     If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under this Agreement and other Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and in circumstances where its consent would be required under Section 9.04, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

SECTION 2.20.     Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

  

 
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(a)     fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);

 

(b)     such Defaulting Lender shall not have the right to vote on any issue on which voting is required (other than to the extent expressly provided in Section 9.02(b)) and the Commitment and Revolving Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders, Required Revolving Lenders or Required Term Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02) or under any other Loan Document; provided, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(c)     if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

 

(i)     all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the Revolving Lenders that are not Defaulting Lenders (such Lenders, the “Non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders”) in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that (x) the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation (and, unless the Borrower shall have otherwise notified the Administrative Agent at such time, the Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time) and (y) the sum of all Non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders’ Revolving Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all Non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders’ Revolving Commitments;

 

(ii)     if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize, for the benefit of the Issuing Bank, the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

 

(iii)     if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;

 

(iv)     if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.12(a) and 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; and

 

(v)     if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Bank or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Bank until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and

  

 
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(d)     so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend, renew, extend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and such Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Revolving Commitments of the Non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.20(c), and participating interests in any such newly made Swingline Loan or newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among Non-Defaulting Revolving Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.20(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

 

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Parent of any Lender shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

 

In the event that each of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and on the date of such readjustment such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

 

SECTION 2.21.     Returned Payments. If after receipt of any payment which is applied to the payment of all or any part of the Obligations (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff), the Administrative Agent or any Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment or proceeds to any Person because such payment or application of proceeds is invalidated, declared fraudulent, set aside, determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, or a diversion of trust funds, or for any other reason (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion), then the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued and this Agreement shall continue in full force as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent or such Lender. The provisions of this Section 2.21 shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in reliance upon such payment or application of proceeds. The provisions of this Section 2.21 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.22.     Banking Services and Swap Agreements. Each Lender or Affiliate thereof providing Banking Services for, or having Swap Agreements with, any Loan Party or any Affiliate of a Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, promptly after entering into such Banking Services or Swap Agreements, written notice setting forth the aggregate amount of all Banking Services Obligations and Swap Obligations of such Loan Party or Affiliate thereof to such Lender or Affiliate (whether matured or unmatured, absolute or contingent). In addition, each such Lender or Affiliate thereof shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, from time to time after a significant change therein or upon a request therefor, a summary of the amounts due or to become due in respect of such Banking Services Obligations and Swap Obligations. The most recent information provided to the Administrative Agent shall be used in determining the amounts to be applied in respect of such Banking Services Obligations and/or Swap Obligations pursuant to Section 2.18(b) and which tier of the waterfall, contained in Section 2.18(b), such Banking Services Obligations and/or Swap Obligations will be placed.

  

 
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Article III


Representations and Warranties

 

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 3.01.     Organization; Powers. Each of the Loan Parties and each of its Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Subsidiaries) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure to so qualify could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.02.     Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within each Loan Party’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions and, if required, actions by equity holders. The Loan Documents to which each Loan Party is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

SECTION 3.03.     Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except for filings necessary to perfect Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate in any material respect any Requirement of Law applicable to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding upon any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, except Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 3.04.     Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) Holdings has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, reported on by KPMG LLP, independent public accountants. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

 

(b)     No event, change or condition has occurred that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, since June 30, 2014.

 

SECTION 3.05.     Properties. (a) As of the date of this Agreement, Schedule 3.05 sets forth the address of each parcel of Real Property that is owned or leased by any Loan Party. Each of such leases and subleases is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect, and no default by any party to any such lease or sublease exists. Each of the Loan Parties and its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its material real and personal property, free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 6.02.

  

 
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(b)     Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property necessary to its business as currently conducted, and the use thereof by the Loan Parties and its Subsidiaries does not infringe in any material respect upon the rights of any other Person, and the Loan Parties’ rights thereto are not subject to any licensing agreement or similar arrangement (other than customary licensing agreements and arrangements in respect of software, technology and advertising).

 

SECTION 3.06.     Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) Except for the Disclosed Matters, there are not any actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority now pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, threatened against or affecting Holdings or the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any business, property or rights of any such Person (i) which involve any Loan Document or the Transactions or (ii) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and which (A) if adversely determined, would individually result in a loss of greater than $500,000 or (B) if adversely determined (excluding any actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority that would individually result in a loss of $500,000 or less), in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)     None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective material properties or assets is in violation of, nor will the continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently conducted violate, any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building, Environmental Law, ordinance, code or approval or any building permits), or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority, except any such violations or defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)     Except for the Disclosed Matters, the soils and groundwater beneath the properties and facilities owned or operated by Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (the “Properties”) do not contain any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which (i) constitute a violation of, or (ii) give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, which violations and liabilities, in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)     Except for the Disclosed Matters, the Properties and all operations of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are in compliance, and in the last three years have been in compliance, with all Environmental Laws and all necessary Environmental Permits have been obtained and are in effect, except to the extent that such non-compliance or failure to obtain any necessary permits, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)     Except for the Disclosed Matters, there have been no Releases or threatened Releases at, from, under or proximate to the Properties or otherwise in connection with the operations of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries, which Releases or threatened Releases, in the aggregate, could reasonably be anticipated to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f)     Except for the Disclosed Matters, none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries has received any written notice of an Environmental Claim in connection with the Properties or the operations of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries or with regard to any person whose liabilities for environmental matters Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries has retained or assumed, in whole or in part, contractually, by operation of law or otherwise, which, in the aggregate, could reasonably be anticipated to result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor do Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries have reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened.

  

 
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(g)     Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.07.     Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

SECTION 3.08.     Investment Company Status. No Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

SECTION 3.09.     Taxes. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed by it and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it as shown thereon, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No material tax liens have been filed and no material claims are being asserted with respect to any such taxes.

 

SECTION 3.10.     ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.11.     Disclosure. As of the date hereof, Holdings and the Borrower have disclosed to the Lenders or in their filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on their website, all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any Subsidiary is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished and considered as a whole) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower and Holdings represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time delivered and, if such projected financial information was delivered prior to the Effective Date, as of the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 3.12.     Material Agreements. No Loan Party is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any agreement to which it is a party which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.13.     Solvency. (a) Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date, (i) the fair value of the assets of each Loan Party, at a fair valuation, will exceed its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of each Loan Party will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) each Loan Party will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) each Loan Party will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted after the Effective Date.

  

 
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(b)     No Loan Party intends to, or will permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and no Loan Party believes that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 3.14.     Insurance. Schedule 3.14 sets forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and the Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date. As of the Effective Date, all premiums in respect of such insurance have been paid. The Borrower and Holdings believe that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is adequate.

 

SECTION 3.15.     Capitalization and Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.15 sets forth (a) a correct and complete list of the name and relationship to the Borrower of each and all of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, (b) a true and complete listing of each class of each of the Borrower’s authorized Equity Interests, of which all of such issued shares are validly issued, outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and owned beneficially and of record by the Persons identified on Schedule 3.15, and (c) the type of entity of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests owned by any Loan Party have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized and issued and is fully paid and non assessable.

 

SECTION 3.16.     No Burdensome Restrictions. No Loan Party is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any corporate restriction that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.17.     Federal Reserve Regulations. None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock. No part of the proceeds of any Loan have been used or will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

 

SECTION 3.18.     Security Interest in Collateral. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid Liens on all the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and upon the filing of required financing statements by the Administrative Agent, such Liens constitute perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral, securing the Secured Obligations, enforceable against the applicable Loan Party and all third parties, and having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral except in the case of (a) Permitted Encumbrances, to the extent any such Permitted Encumbrances would have priority over the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to any applicable law and (b) Liens perfected only by possession (including possession of any certificate of title) to the extent the Administrative Agent has not obtained or does not maintain possession of such Collateral.

 

SECTION 3.19.     Employment Matters. As of the Effective Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Loan Parties and the Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters except where such violation could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All material payments due from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or for which any claim may be made against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Loan Party or such Subsidiary.

  

 
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SECTION 3.20.     Common Enterprise. The successful operation and condition of each of the Loan Parties is dependent on the continued successful performance of the functions of the group of the Loan Parties as a whole and the successful operation of each of the Loan Parties is dependent on the successful performance and operation of each other Loan Party. Each Loan Party expects to derive benefit (and its board of directors or other governing body has determined that it may reasonably be expected to derive benefit), directly and indirectly, from (i) successful operations of each of the other Loan Parties and (ii) the credit extended by the Lenders to the Borrower hereunder, both in their separate capacities and as members of the group of companies. Each Loan Party has determined that execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and any other Loan Documents to be executed by such Loan Party is within its purpose, will be of direct and indirect benefit to such Loan Party, and is in its best interest.

 

SECTION 3.21.     Credit Card Processors. As of the Effective Date, Schedule 3.21 lists all Credit Card Processors that provide any Loan Party with credit card processing services, and such Schedule correctly identifies the name and address of each Credit Card Processor, and the name in which such services are provided. True and complete copies of each agreement listed on Schedule 3.21 have been delivered to the Administrative Agent, together with all amendments, waivers and other modifications thereto. All such agreements are valid, subsisting, in full force and effect, are currently binding upon each Loan Party that is a party thereto and binding upon the other parties thereto in accordance with their terms. The Loan Parties are in compliance in all material respects under such agreements.

 

SECTION 3.22.     Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. Holdings has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, Holdings, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, Holdings, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and to the knowledge of the Borrower its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower, Holdings, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, Holdings, or such Subsidiary, any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower, Holdings, or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facilities established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other Transactions will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

 

Article IV


Conditions

 

SECTION 4.01.     Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

 

(a)     Credit Agreement and Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (B) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and (ii) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents and such other certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including any promissory notes requested by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.10 payable to the order of each such requesting Lender and written opinions of the Loan Parties’ counsels, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders in substantially the applicable form of Exhibit B, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit F.

  

 
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(b)     Financial Statements and Projections. The Lenders shall have received (i) satisfactory audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings and the Borrower for the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years, (ii) satisfactory unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Holdings and the Borrower for each fiscal quarterly period ended after the date of the latest applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph and (iii) the Borrower’s most recent projected income statement, balance sheet and cash flows through 2019 (including, without limitation, a reasonably detailed description of the assumptions used in preparing such projections), all in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(c)     Closing Certificates; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Effective Date and executed by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, which shall (A) certify the resolutions of its Board of Directors, members or other body authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (B) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the Financial Officers and any other officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (C) contain appropriate attachments, including the certificate or articles of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party and a true and correct copy of its by laws or operating, management or partnership agreement, and (ii) a good standing certificate for each Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization.

 

(d)     No Default Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, on the initial Borrowing date (i) stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) stating that the representations and warranties contained in Article III are true and correct as of such date, and (iii) certifying any other factual matters as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(e)     Fees. The Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received all fees required to be paid, and all reasonable expenses for which reasonably detailed invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), on or before the Effective Date.

 

(f)     Lien Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a recent lien search in each of the jurisdictions where the Loan Parties are located, and such search shall reveal no liens on any of the assets of the Loan Parties except for liens permitted by Section 6.02 or discharged on or prior to the Effective Date pursuant to a pay-off letter or other documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(g)     Funding Account. The Administrative Agent shall have received a notice setting forth the deposit account of the Borrower (the “Funding Account”) to which the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Borrower to transfer the proceeds of any Borrowings requested or authorized pursuant to this Agreement.

  

 
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(h)     Solvency. The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate from the chief financial officer of the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(i)     Borrowing Base Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate which calculates the Borrowing Base as of the end of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the Effective Date.

 

(j)     Closing Availability. After giving effect to all Borrowings to be made on the Effective Date and the issuance of any Letters of Credit on the Effective Date and payment of all fees and expenses due hereunder, and with all of the Loan Parties’ indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations current, Availability shall not be less than $40,000,000.

 

(k)     Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the certificates representing the shares of Equity Interests pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof and (ii) each promissory note (if any) pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof.

 

(l)     Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Each document (including any UCC financing statement) required by the Collateral Documents or under law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein and being provided on the Effective Date, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

 

(m)     Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of insurance coverage in form, scope, and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and otherwise in compliance with the terms of Section 5.09 and Section 4.12 of the Security Agreement.

 

(n)     Other Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents and information as the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender or their respective counsel may have reasonably requested.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

 

SECTION 4.02.     Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Banks to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a)     The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable.

 

(b)     At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, (i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (ii) no Protective Advance shall be outstanding.

  

 
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(c)     After giving effect to any Revolving Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, Availability is not less than zero.

 

(d)     Solely with respect to the making of the Term Loans to the Borrower on the Term Loan Funding Date, the Term Loan Funding Conditions shall have been satisfied.

 

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

Notwithstanding the failure to satisfy the conditions precedent set forth in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, continue to make Loans and an Issuing Bank may, but shall have no obligation to, issue, amend, renew or extend or cause to be issued, amended, renewed or extended, any Letter of Credit for the ratable account and risk of Lenders from time to time if the Administrative Agent believes that making such Loans or issuing, amending, renewing or extending or causing the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of, any such Letter of Credit is in the best interests of the Lenders.

 

Article V


Affirmative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated in each case without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each Loan Party executing this Agreement covenants and agrees, jointly and severally with all of the Loan Parties, with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 5.01.     Financial Statements; Borrowing Base and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)     within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of Holdings, its audited consolidated and consolidating balance sheets and related consolidated and consolidating statements of operations and consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, accompanied by any management letter prepared by said accountants;

 

(b)     within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of Holdings, its consolidated and consolidating balance sheets and related consolidated and consolidating statements of operations and consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

  

 
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(c)     if the Availability Threshold is not met on any day during any calendar month, within twenty (20) days after the end of such calendar month, Holdings’ consolidated and consolidating balance sheets and related consolidated and consolidating statements of operations and consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such calendar month and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(d)     concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a), (b) or (c) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit D (i) certifying, in the case of the financial statements delivered under clauses (b) and (c), as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, (ii) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (iii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 6.12, (iv) if Term Loans were outstanding during the period covered by such financial statements, setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of the Rent Adjusted Leverage Ratio and (v) to the extent not discussed in the footnotes to financial statements delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

 

(e)     concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Default (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);

 

(f)     as soon as available, but in any event no later than the end of, and no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the end of, each fiscal year of Holdings, a copy of the plan and forecast (including a projected consolidated balance sheet, income statement and funds flow statement) of Holdings for each quarter of the upcoming fiscal year (the “Projections”) in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(g)     as soon as available but in any event within twenty (20) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year of Holdings (or within twenty (20) days after the end of each calendar month if the Availability Threshold is not met at any time during such calendar month), and at such other times as may be requested by the Administrative Agent upon at least four (4) days’ prior notice to the Borrower, as of the period then ended, a Borrowing Base Certificate and supporting information in connection therewith (including, in respect of any Borrowing Base Certificate delivered for a month which is also the end of any fiscal quarter of Holdings, a calculation of Average Quarterly Availability for such quarter then ended and an indication of what the Applicable Rate is as a result of such Average Quarterly Availability), together with any additional reports with respect to the Borrowing Base as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request; provided that if, at the time the Lenders make any Loan to the Borrower hereunder and the Borrower shall not have delivered a Borrowing Base Certificate within the preceding twenty (20) days, the Borrower shall deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate to the Administrative Agent as soon as available but in any event within ten (10) days of the funding of such Loan, which Borrowing Base Certificate shall set forth the Borrowing Base as of the last day of the calendar month most recently ended;

  

 
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(h)     as soon as available but in any event within twenty (20) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year of Holdings (or within twenty (20) days of the end of each calendar month if the Availability Threshold is not met at any time during such calendar month), and at such other times as may be requested by the Administrative Agent upon at least four (4) days’ prior notice to the Borrower, as of the period then ended, all delivered electronically in a text formatted file acceptable to the Administrative Agent:

 

(i)     a detailed aging of the each Loan Party’s Accounts (but only a detailed schedule in the case of Credit Card Account Receivables) (1) including all invoices aged by invoice date and due date (with an explanation of the terms offered if not then standard) and (2) reconciled to the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered as of such date prepared in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with a summary specifying the name, address, and balance due for each Account Debtor;

 

(ii)     a schedule detailing each Loan Party’s Inventory, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (1) by location (showing Inventory in transit, any Inventory located with a third party under any consignment, bailee arrangement, or warehouse agreement), by class (raw material, work-in-process and finished goods), by product type, and by volume on hand, which Inventory shall be valued at the lower of cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market and adjusted for Reserves as the Administrative Agent has previously indicated to the Borrower are deemed by the Administrative Agent to be appropriate, (2) including a report of any variances or other results of Inventory counts performed by such Loan Party since the last Inventory schedule (including information regarding sales or other reductions, additions, returns, credits issued by such Loan Party and complaints and claims made against such Loan Party which in the aggregate exceed $100,000 in such month), and (3) reconciled to the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered as of such date;

 

(iii)     a worksheet of calculations prepared by each Loan Party to determine Eligible Accounts, Eligible Credit Card Account Receivables and Eligible Inventory, such worksheets detailing the Accounts, Credit Card Account Receivables and Inventory excluded from Eligible Accounts, Eligible Credit Card Account Receivables and Eligible Inventory and the reason for such exclusion;

 

(iv)     a reconciliation of each Loan Party’s Accounts, Credit Card Account Receivables and Inventory between the amounts shown in such Loan Party’s general ledger and financial statements and the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above; and

 

(v)     a reconciliation of the loan balance per each Loan Party’s general ledger to the loan balance under this Agreement;

 

(i)     as soon as available but in any event within twenty (20) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year of Holdings (or within twenty (20) days after the end of each calendar month if the Availability Threshold is not met at any time during such calendar month), and at such other times as may be requested by the Administrative Agent upon at least four (4) days’ prior notice to the Borrower, as of the fiscal quarter (or month, if applicable) then ended, a detailed schedule of each Loan Party’s accounts payable, delivered electronically in a text formatted file acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

  

 
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(j)     promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request:

 

(i)     copies of invoices in connection with the invoices issued by each Loan Party in connection with any Accounts (including, without limitation, Credit Card Account Receivables), credit memos, shipping and delivery documents, and other information related thereto;

 

(ii)     copies of purchase orders, invoices, and shipping and delivery documents in connection with any Inventory or Equipment purchased by any Loan Party; and

 

(iii)     a schedule detailing the balance of all intercompany accounts of the Loan Parties;

 

(k)     to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, copies of all tax returns filed by any Loan Party with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service;

 

(l)     promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by Holdings or the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and

 

(m)     promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 5.01 may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such documents (i) shall have been posted by the Administrative Agent on IntraLinks or similar site to which the Lenders have been granted access or (ii) shall be available on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov, provided that Holdings shall have delivered a notice to the Administrative Agent that such information is so available. Information required to be delivered pursuant to this Section may be delivered by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide copies of the compliance certificates required by clause (d) of this Section 5.01 to the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 5.02.     Notices of Material Events. The Borrower and Holdings will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

 

(a)     the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)     receipt of any notice of any investigation by a Governmental Authority or any litigation or proceeding commenced or threatened against any Loan Party that (i) seeks damages in excess of $10,000,000, (ii) seeks injunctive relief, (iii) is asserted or instituted against any Plan, its fiduciaries or its assets, (iv) alleges criminal misconduct by any Loan Party, (v) alleges the violation of any law regarding, or seeks remedies in connection with, any Environmental Laws, that could reasonably be expected to result in liabilities in excess of $10,000,000 (vi) contests any tax, fee, assessment, or other governmental charge in excess of $10,000,000, or (vii) involves any product recall;

 

(c)     any Lien (other than Permitted Encumbrances) or claim made or asserted against any of the Collateral;

  

 
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(d)     any and all default notices received under or with respect to any leased location or public warehouse where Collateral (with a book value in excess of $10,000,000) is located (which shall be delivered within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof);

 

(e)     the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(f)     any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of Holdings setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 5.03.     Existence; Conduct of Business. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary (other than Excluded Subsidiaries) to, (a) do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, governmental authorizations and intellectual property rights material to the conduct of its business, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted except where failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03 and (b) carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted.

 

SECTION 5.04.     Payment of Obligations. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, pay or discharge all Material Indebtedness and all other material liabilities and obligations, including Taxes, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) such Loan Party or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.05.     Maintenance of Properties. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

 

SECTION 5.06.     Books and Records; Inspection Rights. Without limiting Sections 5.11 or 5.12 hereof, each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain all financial records in accordance with GAAP and permit any representatives designated by any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice (except that no prior notice shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) to visit and inspect the financial records and the properties of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary at reasonable times (during normal business hours) and as often as requested and to make extracts from and copies of such financial records, and permit any representatives designated by any Lender to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the officers thereof and independent accountants therefor; provided that any such visitation and inspection rights shall be exercised in a reasonable manner that does not disrupt the business activities of Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Loan Parties acknowledge that the Administrative Agent, after exercising its rights of inspection, may prepare and distribute to the Lenders certain Reports pertaining to the Loan Parties’ assets for internal use by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

  

 
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SECTION 5.07.     Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Holdings will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, Holdings, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

SECTION 5.08.     Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and to refinance certain existing Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. No part of the proceeds of any Loan and no Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X. The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (A) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (B) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (C) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

 

SECTION 5.09.     Insurance. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain with financially sound and reputable carriers having a financial strength rating of at least A- by A.M. Best Company (a) insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks (including loss or damage by fire and loss in transit; theft, burglary, pilferage, larceny, embezzlement, and other criminal activities; business interruption; and general liability) and such other hazards, as is customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (b) all insurance required pursuant to the Collateral Documents. The Borrower will furnish to the Lenders, upon request of the Administrative Agent, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

 

SECTION 5.10.     Casualty and Condemnation. The Borrower (a) will furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders prompt written notice of any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of the Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding and (b) will ensure that the Net Proceeds of any such event (whether in the form of insurance proceeds, condemnation awards or otherwise) are collected and applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

 

SECTION 5.11.     Appraisals.

 

(a)     At any time that the Administrative Agent requests, the Loan Parties will provide the Administrative Agent with appraisals or updates thereof of their Inventory from an appraiser selected and engaged by the Administrative Agent, and prepared on a basis satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such appraisals and updates to include, without limitation, information required by any applicable law or regulation; provided that (i) no less than one (1) Inventory appraisal per calendar year will be conducted and, if the Administrative Agent elects to conduct a second Inventory appraisal in its sole discretion, no more than two (2) Inventory appraisals per calendar year will be conducted and (ii) there shall be no limitation on the number or frequency of Inventory appraisals if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. For purposes of this Section 5.11(a), it is understood and agreed that a single Inventory appraisal may consist of examinations conducted at multiple relevant sites and involve one or more relevant Loan Parties and their assets. All such appraisals shall be at the sole expense of the Loan Parties.

  

 
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(b)     At any time that the Administrative Agent requests, the Loan Parties will provide the Administrative Agent with appraisals or updates thereof of their Real Property and Trademarks from an appraiser selected and engaged by the Administrative Agent, and prepared on a basis satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such appraisals and updates to include, without limitation, information required by any applicable law or regulation; provided that (i) if the Administrative Agent elects to conduct a Real Property appraisal, no more than one (1) appraisal for each parcel of Real Property during the term of this Agreement may be conducted, (ii) if the Administrative Agent elects to conduct a Trademark appraisal, no more than one (1) Trademark appraisal during the term of this Agreement will be conducted and (iii) there shall be no limitation on the number or frequency of Real Property or Trademark appraisals if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. All such appraisals shall be at the sole expense of the Loan Parties.

 

SECTION 5.12.     Field Examinations. At any time that the Administrative Agent requests, the Loan Parties will permit, upon reasonable notice, the Administrative Agent to conduct a field examination to ensure adequacy of Collateral included in the Borrowing Base and related reporting and control systems; provided that (i) no less than one (1) field examination per year will be conducted and, if the Administrative Agent elects to conduct a second field examination in its sole discretion, no more than two (2) field examinations per year will be conducted and (ii) there shall be no limitation on the number or frequency of field examinations if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. For purposes of this Section 5.12, it is understood and agreed that a single field examination may consist of examinations conducted at multiple relevant sites and involve one or more relevant Loan Parties and their assets. All such field examinations shall be at the sole expense of the Loan Parties.

 

SECTION 5.13.     Depository Bank. The Borrower, Holdings and each Subsidiary will maintain the Administrative Agent as its principal depository bank, including for the maintenance of operating, administrative, cash management, collection activity and other deposit accounts for the conduct of its business.

 

SECTION 5.14.     Credit Card Processors. Each Loan Party will (a) comply in all material respects with all obligations of such Loan Party under each credit card processing agreement to which such Loan Party is a party, (b) maintain each credit card processing agreement set forth on Schedule 3.21 and each credit card processing agreement entered into after the Effective Date in full force and effect (except to the extent such Loan Party elects to terminate the same and so notifies the Administrative Agent) and take or cause to be taken all actions necessary to maintain, preserve and protect the rights and interests of the Administrative Agent in all material respects with respect to all such agreements, and (c) promptly notify the Administrative Agent of the entry by such Loan Party into any credit card processing agreement with any Credit Card Processor after the Effective Date and (subject to Section 5.15(f) with respect to any credit card processing agreement acquired by such Loan Party in connection with the consummation of a Permitted Acquisition) obtain a Processor Control Agreement with respect to each such Credit Card Processor contemporaneously with the entry by such Loan Party into such credit processing agreement.

 

SECTION 5.15.     Additional Collateral; Further Assurances. (a)     Holdings shall cause each of its Material Domestic Subsidiaries formed or acquired after the Effective Date, and each Domestic Subsidiary which is not a Material Domestic Subsidiary on the Effective Date but which qualifies as a Material Domestic Subsidiary after the Effective Date, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to become a Loan Party by executing the Joinder Agreement set forth as Exhibit E hereto (the “Joinder Agreement”) within thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) of such formation, acquisition or qualification, such Joinder Agreement to be accompanied by appropriate corporate resolutions, other corporate organizational and authorization documentation and legal opinions in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Upon execution and delivery thereof, each such Person (i) shall automatically become a Loan Guarantor hereunder and thereupon shall have all of the rights, benefits, duties, and obligations in such capacity under the Loan Documents and (ii) will grant Liens to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property of such Loan Party which constitutes Collateral, including any parcel of Real Property located in the U.S. owned by any Loan Party (other than Excluded Assets).

  

 
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(b)     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Holdings will cause the Applicable Pledge Percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each Pledge Subsidiary directly owned by Holdings or any other Loan Party to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, to secure the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents or such other security documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such pledge agreement in respect of the Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary shall be required hereunder (i) (A) until the date that is sixty (60) days immediately following the Effective Date (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) in the case of Material Foreign Subsidiaries in existence on the Effective Date and (B) within sixty (60) days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) in the case of a Material Foreign Subsidiary formed or acquired, or a Foreign Subsidiary otherwise qualifying as a Material Foreign Subsidiary, after the Effective Date and (ii) to the extent the Administrative Agent or its counsel determines that, in light of the cost and expense associated therewith, such pledge would not provide material credit support for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to legally valid, binding and enforceable pledge agreements.

 

(c)     Without limiting the foregoing, each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent such documents, agreements and instruments (including, without limitation, the making of commercially reasonably efforts in respect of deposit account control agreements and securities account control agreements), and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 4.01 and, in the case of Real Estate, the Term Loan Funding Conditions, as applicable), which may be required by law or which the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

 

(d)     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower will, and will cause each other Loan Party to, deliver Mortgages and Mortgage Instruments with respect to Real Property that constitutes Collateral to the extent, and within such time period as is, reasonably required by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Mortgages or Mortgage Instruments are required to be delivered hereunder until the Term Loan Funding Date.

 

(e)     If any material assets (other than Excluded Assets) are acquired by any Loan Party after the Effective Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement that become subject to the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent upon acquisition thereof), the Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations and will take, and cause the Loan Parties to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this Section, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

  

 
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(f)     Each Loan Party will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a Processor Control Agreement with respect to each Credit Card Processor party to a credit card processing agreement acquired by any Loan Party in connection with the consummation of any Permitted Acquisition, within sixty (60) days after the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition.

 

(g)     If an agreement with respect to a joint venture (that is not a Subsidiary) entered into by a Loan Party otherwise permitted hereunder contains customary restrictions on the granting of Liens on its assets or Equity Interests of such joint venture, no Lien need be provided to the Administrative Agent to the extent that such Lien would not be permitted by the terms of the joint venture agreements (unless any such restriction would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408, 9-409 or other applicable provisions of the UCC of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law).

 

(h)     Within five (5) Business Days following the Effective Date (or such later date as may be agreed to in writing by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender certificates of insurance listing the Administrative Agent as (i) lender loss payee for the property, casualty and business interruption insurance policies of the Loan Parties, together with long-form lender loss payable endorsements or assignments, as appropriate, and (ii) additional insured with respect to the liability insurance of the Loan Parties, together with additional insured endorsements.

  

 

Article VI


Negative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated, in each case without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Loan Parties covenant and agree, jointly and severally, with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 6.01.     Indebtedness. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)     the Secured Obligations;

 

(b)     Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness in accordance with clause (f) hereof;

 

(c)     Indebtedness of Holdings or the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.04 and (ii) Indebtedness of Holdings or the Borrower to any Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

  

 
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(d)     Guarantees by Holdings or the Borrower of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is permitted by this Section 6.01, (ii) Guarantees by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.04 and (iii) Guarantees permitted under this clause (d) shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations of the applicable Subsidiary on the same terms as the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is subordinated to the Secured Obligations;

 

(e)     Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets (whether or not constituting purchase money Indebtedness), including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness in accordance with clause (f) hereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or one hundred eighty (180) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed $35,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(f)     Indebtedness which represents an extension, refinancing, or renewal of any of the Indebtedness described in clauses (b), (e) and (i) hereof; provided that, (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased, (ii) any Liens securing such Indebtedness are not extended to any additional property of any Loan Party, (iii) no Loan Party that is not originally obligated with respect to repayment of such Indebtedness is required to become obligated with respect thereto, (iv) such extension, refinancing or renewal does not result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced or renewed, (v) the material terms (taken as a whole) of any such extension, refinancing, or renewal are not less favorable to the obligor thereunder than the original terms of such Indebtedness and (iv) if the Indebtedness that is refinanced, renewed, or extended was subordinated in right of payment to the Secured Obligations, then the terms and conditions of the refinancing, renewal, or extension Indebtedness must include subordination terms and conditions that are at least as favorable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as those that were applicable to the refinanced, renewed, or extended Indebtedness;

 

(g)     Indebtedness owed to any person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)     Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i)     Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (i) shall not exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(j)     Indebtedness owed in respect of any overdrafts and related liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business from treasury, depository and cash management services or from any automated clearing-house transfers of funds;

  

 
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(k)     obligations under Swap Agreements permitted under this Agreement;

 

(l)     Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries incurred for working capital purposes provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (l) shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(m)     Guarantees of obligations of independent licensed Ethan Allen dealers in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(n)     Indebtedness under sale-leaseback transactions, and other financing arrangements, in respect of Real Property and in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $50,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

 

(o)     other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $100,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

SECTION 6.02.     Liens. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

(a)     Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)     Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(c)     any Lien on any property or asset of Holdings or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of Holdings or Subsidiary (other than additions thereto that become part thereof) and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

 

(d)     Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by Holdings or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within one hundred eighty (180) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 90% of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or Subsidiary;

 

(e)     any Lien existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts, Credit Card Receivables, Inventory, Trademarks, and Real Property constituting Collateral) prior to the acquisition thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts, Credit Card Receivables, Inventory, Trademarks, and Real Property constituting Collateral) of any Person prior to the acquisition of such Person by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of a Loan Party and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Loan Party, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

  

 
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(f)     Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-208 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being collected upon;

 

(g)     Liens on Real Property arising out of sale and leaseback transactions, and other financing arrangements, permitted by Sections 6.01(n) and 6.06;

 

(h)     customary rights and restrictions contained in agreements relating to a sale, transfer or other disposition applicable pending completion thereof and customary post-closing escrow and similar arrangements;

 

(i)     in the case of any Subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary, any put, call, right of first refusal and similar arrangements, and customary transfer restrictions, set forth in its organizational documents or any related joint venture or similar agreement;

 

(j)     leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses of assets, in each case, granted by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to other Persons in the ordinary course of business, that do not materially interfere with the conduct of the business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

(k)     Liens arising by virtue of UCC financing statement filings (or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating leases entered into by Holdings or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)     Liens consisting of interests of lessors under capital leases permitted under Section 6.01;

 

(m)     Liens on assets of Foreign Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(l);

 

(n)     Liens granted by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in favor of the Borrower or another Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary; and

 

(o)     other Liens on Excluded Assets securing Indebtedness or other obligations in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $1,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Liens permitted pursuant to this Section 6.02 may at any time attach to any Loan Party’s (1) Accounts, Credit Card Receivables or Trademarks, other than those permitted under clause (a) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrance and clause (a) above, (2) Inventory, other than those permitted under clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrance and clause (a) above and (3) Real Property constituting Collateral, other than those permitted under clauses (a) and (f) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrance and clause (a) above.

 

SECTION 6.03.     Fundamental Changes. (a) No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Subsidiary of Holdings may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower) may merge into any Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Loan Party, (iii) any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than a Loan Party) may merge into any other Subsidiary (other than a Loan Party), and (iv) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.04.

  

 
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(b)     No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto.

 

(c)     Holdings will not engage in any business or activity other than business conducted as of the Effective Date (and activities incidental thereto) as the parent company of the Borrower and the other Subsidiaries, as a public company under securities laws.

 

SECTION 6.04.     Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a Loan Party and a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any Indebtedness of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit (whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise), except:

 

(a)     Permitted Investments, subject, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, to control agreements in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties or otherwise subject to a perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties;

 

(b)     investments, loans and advances in existence on the date of this Agreement and described in Schedule 6.04;

 

(c)     investments by Holdings in the Borrower and by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in Equity Interests in their respective Subsidiaries; provided that (A) any such Equity Interests held by a Loan Party shall be pledged pursuant to, and to the extent required by, the Security Agreement and the other Collateral Documents (subject to the limitations applicable to common stock of an Affected Foreign Subsidiary referred to in Section 5.15) and (B) the aggregate amount of investments by Loan Parties in Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (together with outstanding intercompany loans permitted under the proviso to Section 6.04(d) and outstanding Guarantees permitted under the proviso to Section 6.04(e)) shall not exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(d)     loans or advances made by a Loan Party to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary to any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary; provided that the amount of such loans and advances made by Loan Parties to Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (together with outstanding investments permitted under clause (B) to the proviso to Section 6.04(c) and outstanding Guarantees permitted under the proviso to Section 6.04(e)) shall not exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(e)     Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties that is Guaranteed by any Loan Party shall (together with outstanding investments permitted under clause (B) to the proviso to Section 6.04(c) and outstanding intercompany loans permitted under the proviso to Section 6.04(d)) shall not exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding;

  

 
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(f)     loans or advances made by a Loan Party to its employees on an arms-length basis in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices for travel and entertainment expenses, relocation costs and similar purposes up to a maximum of $1,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

 

(g)     subject to Sections 4.2(a) and 4.4 of the Security Agreement, notes payable, or stock or other securities issued by account debtors or other obligors to a Loan Party pursuant to negotiated agreements with respect to settlement of such Account Debtor’s Accounts in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices or received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of an account debtor or other obligor;

 

(h)     investments in the form of Swap Agreements permitted by Section 6.07;

 

(i)     investments of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or consolidates or merges with Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (including in connection with a Permitted Acquisition) so long as such investments were not made in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary or of such merger;

 

(j)     investments received in connection with the dispositions of assets permitted by Section 6.05;

 

(k)     accounts receivable arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business and prepayments and other credits granted to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)     loans or advances to, or for the benefit of, independent licensed dealers in products and services of Holdings and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding amount not exceeding $5,000,000 at any time;

 

(m)     investments constituting deposits described in clauses (c) and (d) of the definition of the term “Permitted Encumbrances”; and

 

(n)     Permitted Acquisitions.

 

For purposes of determining the amount of any investment outstanding, such amount shall be deemed to be the amount of such Investment when made, purchased or acquired (without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases (including, without limitation, as a result of write-downs or write-offs) in the value of such Investment).

 

SECTION 6.05.     Asset Sales. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any asset (other than any Excluded Assets), including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will the Borrower permit any Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Subsidiary (other than to the Borrower or another Subsidiary in compliance with Section 6.04), except:

 

(a)     sales, transfers and dispositions of (i) inventory in the ordinary course of business and (ii) used, obsolete, worn out or surplus equipment or property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)     sales, transfers and dispositions to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary; provided that any such sales, transfers or dispositions involving a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be made in compliance with Sections 6.04 and 6.09;

  

 
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(c)     sales, transfers and dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof;

 

(d)     sales, transfers and dispositions of Permitted Investments and other investments permitted by clauses (i) and (k) of Section 6.04;

 

(e)     sale and leaseback transactions, and other financing arrangements, permitted by Sections 6.01(n) and 6.06, and any other sale of Real Property not involving the incurrence of Indebtedness;

 

(f)     dispositions resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary;

 

(g)     leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(h)     sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets (other than Equity Interests in a Subsidiary unless all Equity Interests in such Subsidiary are sold) that are not permitted by any other paragraph of this Section; provided that the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in reliance upon this paragraph (h) shall not exceed $30,000,000;

 

provided that all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted hereby (other than those permitted by paragraphs (b) and (f) above) shall be made for fair value and for at least 75% cash consideration.

 

SECTION 6.06.     Sale and Leaseback Transactions. Except for Real Property financing transactions existing on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.01 or otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(n), no Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred, except for any such sale of any fixed or capital assets by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than the fair value of such fixed or capital asset and, in the case of an acquisition or construction of any fixed or capital asset as provided for in Section 6.01(e), is consummated within one hundred eighty (180) days after such Loan Party or such Subsidiary acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital asset.

 

SECTION 6.07.     Swap Agreements. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 6.08.     Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness. (a) No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except (i) Holdings may declare and pay dividends with respect to its common stock payable solely in additional shares of its common stock, and, with respect to its preferred stock, payable solely in additional shares of such preferred stock or in shares of its common stock, (ii) Holdings may make any dividend or distribution to all holders of its common stock to redeem rights issued pursuant to any stockholder rights plan, “poison pill” or a similar arrangement, provided that the aggregate amount of such dividends and distributions shall not exceed $750,000, (iii) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity Interests, (iv) Holdings may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with (A) equity incentive plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of Holdings and its Subsidiaries so long as the Negative Covenant Permission Trigger is satisfied and (B) the employment agreement, dated as of September 30, 2011 and effective as of October 1, 2011, by and among Holdings, the Borrower and M. Farooq Kathwari, as set forth on Exhibit 10(i) of the Form 8-K publicly filed by Holdings with the SEC on October 6, 2011 (and any employment agreement replacing such employment agreement, so long as the terms thereof are commercially reasonable and not materially less favorable to the Borrower or any of the other Loan Parties) and (v) Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make any Restricted Payment so long as the Negative Covenant Permission Trigger is satisfied.

  

 
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(b)     No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Indebtedness, except:

 

(i)     payment of Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;

 

(ii)     payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when due in respect of any Indebtedness, other than payments in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof;

 

(iii)     refinancings of Indebtedness to the extent permitted by Section 6.01;

 

(iv)     payment of the Senior Note Obligations on the Term Loan Funding Date; and

 

(v)     payment of secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

provided that, Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make any payment described in clause (b) above so long as the Negative Covenant Permission Trigger is satisfied.

 

SECTION 6.09.     Transactions with Affiliates. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions that (i) are in the ordinary course of business and (ii) are at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Loan Party or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Loan Party and any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any investment permitted by Sections 6.04(c) or 6.04(d), (d) any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(c), (e) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.08, (f) loans or advances to employees permitted under Section 6.04, (g) the payment of reasonable fees to directors of Holdings or any Subsidiary who are not employees of Holdings or any Subsidiary, and compensation and benefit arrangements (including reasonable and customary expense advancements) paid to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, directors, officers or employees of Holdings or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and (h) any issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements, equity incentive and employee benefit plans approved by Holdings’ board of directors.

  

 
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SECTION 6.10.     Restrictive Agreements. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by any Loan Document, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.10 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification, in each case expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary or an asset pending such sale; provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or asset that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in licenses or leases restricting the assignment thereof and (vi) the foregoing shall not apply to (1) any restriction in any agreement of any Person in effect at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary so long as such restriction is not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary, (2) customary restrictions and conditions in joint ventures or similar arrangements and (3) customary restrictions on then-market terms (for the applicable Indebtedness) under any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 (so long as, in the case of Indebtedness under clauses (b) or (f) of Section 6.01, the restrictions imposed by any such Indebtedness which constitutes extended, renewed, replaced or refinanced Indebtedness are not more restrictive than the restrictions in the applicable original Indebtedness).

 

SECTION 6.11.     Amendment of Material Documents. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights under (a) agreement relating to any Subordinated Indebtedness or any Material Indebtedness or (b) its certificate of incorporation, by-laws, operating, management or partnership agreement or other organizational documents, to the extent any such amendment, modification or waiver would be materially adverse to the Lenders.

 

SECTION 6.12.     Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Other than during the Financial Covenant Exemption Period, the Borrower will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

 

(a) as of the end of each fiscal quarter, determined for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter to be less than (i) on or prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, 1.00 to 1.00 and (ii) thereafter, 1.10 to 1.00; and

 

(b) solely if the Monthly FCCR Testing Period is in effect as of the last day of any fiscal month, as of the end of such fiscal month, determined for the period of twelve consecutive months ending on the last day of such fiscal month to be less than (i) on or prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, 1.00 to 1.00 and (ii) thereafter, 1.10 to 1.00.

  

 
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Article VII


Events of Default

 

If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

 

(a)     the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

 

(b)     the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) Business Days;

 

(c)     any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

 

(d)     any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(a), 5.03 (with respect to a Loan Party’s existence), 5.08, 5.15 or in Article VI;

 

(e)     any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those which constitute a default under another Section of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of (i) five (5) days after the earlier of any Loan Party’s knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender) if such breach relates to terms or provisions of Section 5.01, 5.02 (other than Section 5.02(a)), 5.03 through 5.07, 5.09, 5.10 or 5.13 of this Agreement or (ii) fifteen (15) days after the earlier of any Loan Party’s knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender) if such breach relates to terms or provisions of any other Section of this Agreement;

 

(f)     any Loan Party or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

 

(g)     any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(h)     an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

  

 
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(i)     any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for such Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

 

(j)     any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

(k)     one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000 shall be rendered against any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to enforce any such judgment or any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party shall fail within thirty (30) days to discharge one or more non-monetary judgments or orders which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which judgments or orders, in any such case, are not stayed on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith by proper proceedings diligently pursued;

 

(l)     an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(m)     a Change in Control shall occur;

 

(n)     the occurrence of any default or “Event of Default” as defined in any Loan Document (other than this Agreement) or the breach of any of the terms or provisions of any Loan Document (other than this Agreement), which default or breach continues beyond any period of grace therein provided;

 

(o)     the Loan Guaranty shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of the Loan Guaranty, or any Loan Guarantor shall fail to comply with any of the terms or provisions of the Loan Guaranty to which it is a party, or any Loan Guarantor shall deny that it has any further liability under the Loan Guaranty to which it is a party, or shall give notice to such effect;

 

(p)     any Collateral Document shall for any reason fail to create a valid and perfected first priority security interest in any material portion of Collateral purported to be covered thereby, except as permitted by the terms of any Collateral Document, or any Collateral Document shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any Collateral Document, or any Loan Party shall fail to comply in any material respect with any of the terms or provisions of any Collateral Document; or

  

 
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(q)     any material provision of any Loan Document for any reason ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (or any Loan Party shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing, or engage in any action or inaction based on any such assertion, that any provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or otherwise is not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms);

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, but ratably as among the Classes of Loans and the Loans of each Class at the time outstanding, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, in each case, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, in each case, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, increase the rate of interest applicable to the Loans and other Obligations as set forth in this Agreement and exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC.

 

Article VIII


The Administrative Agent

 

Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the U.S., each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereby grants to the Administrative Agent any required powers of attorney to execute any Collateral Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s behalf. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank), and the Loan Parties shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” as used herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

  

 
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The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral or the existence of the Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), 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.

 

The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

  

 
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Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by its successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor, unless otherwise agreed by the Borrower and such successor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this paragraph (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duly or obligation to take any further action under any Collateral Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (b) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, provided that (i) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (ii) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall also directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article, Section 2.17(d) and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (a) above.

 

Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities. Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a Lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.

  

 
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Each Lender hereby agrees that (a) it has requested a copy of each Report prepared by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent; (b) the Administrative Agent (i) makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the completeness or accuracy of any Report or any of the information contained therein or any inaccuracy or omission contained in or relating to a Report and (ii) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report; (c) the Reports are not comprehensive audits or examinations, and that any Person performing any field examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Loan Parties and will rely significantly upon the Loan Parties’ books and records, as well as on representations of the Loan Parties’ personnel and that the Administrative Agent undertakes no obligation to update, correct or supplement the Reports; (d) it will keep all Reports confidential and strictly for its internal use, not share the Report with any Loan Party or any other Person except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this Agreement; and (e) without limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, (i) it will hold the Administrative Agent and any such other Person preparing a Report harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report in connection with any extension of credit that the indemnifying Lender has made or may make to the Borrower, or the indemnifying Lender’s participation in, or the indemnifying Lender’s purchase of, a Loan or Loans; and (ii) it will pay and protect, and indemnify, defend, and hold the Administrative Agent and any such other Person preparing a Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and other amounts (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any such other Person as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.

 

None of the Lenders, if any, identified in this Agreement as a Syndication Agent or Documentation Agent shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with respect to the relevant Lenders in their respective capacities as Syndication Agent or Documentation Agent, as applicable, as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in the preceding paragraph.

 

Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights of any Lender, in accordance with Section 9.08, the proceeds of which are applied in accordance with this Agreement, each Lender agrees that it will not take any action, nor institute any actions or proceedings, against the Borrower or with respect to any Loan Document, without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders or, as may be provided in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, with the consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

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 Administrative Agent) authorized to act for, any other Lender. The Administrative Agent shall have the exclusive right on behalf of the Lenders to enforce the payment of the principal of and interest on any Loan after the date such principal or interest has become due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

  

 
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In its capacity, the Administrative Agent is a “representative” of the Secured Parties within the meaning of the term “secured party” as defined in the New York Uniform Commercial Code. Each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent to enter into each of the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and to take all action contemplated by such documents. Each Lender agrees that no Secured Party (other than the Administrative Agent) shall have the right individually to seek to realize upon the security granted by any Collateral Document, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties upon the terms of the Collateral Documents. In the event that any Collateral is hereafter pledged by any Person as collateral security for the Secured Obligations, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, and hereby granted a power of attorney, to execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties any Loan Documents necessary or appropriate to grant and perfect a Lien on such Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties. The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Administrative Agent upon any Collateral (i) as described in Section 9.02(c); (ii) as permitted by, but only in accordance with, the terms of the applicable Loan Document; or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, unless such release is required to be approved by all of the Lenders hereunder. Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant hereto. Upon any sale or transfer of assets constituting Collateral which is permitted pursuant to the terms of any Loan Document, or consented to in writing by the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders, as applicable, and upon at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Lenders to) execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the release of the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties herein or pursuant hereto upon the Collateral that was sold or transferred; provided, however, that (i) the Administrative Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which, in the Administrative Agent’s opinion, would expose the Administrative Agent to liability or create any obligation or entail any consequence other than the release of such Liens without recourse or warranty, and (ii) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Secured Obligations or any Liens upon (or obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of) all interests retained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including (without limitation) the proceeds of the sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.

 

The Borrower, on its behalf and on behalf of its Subsidiaries, and each Lender, on its behalf and on the behalf of its affiliated Secured Parties, hereby irrevocably constitute the Administrative Agent as the holder of an irrevocable power of attorney (fondé de pouvoir within the meaning of Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Québec) in order to hold hypothecs and security granted by the Borrower or any Subsidiary on property pursuant to the laws of the Province of Quebec to secure obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any bond, debenture or similar title of indebtedness issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement, and agree that the Administrative Agent may act as the bondholder and mandatary with respect to any bond, debenture or similar title of indebtedness that may be issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary and pledged in favor of the Secured Parties in connection with this Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 32 of the An Act respecting the special powers of legal persons (Quebec), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent may acquire and be the holder of any bond issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement (i.e., the fondé de pouvoir may acquire and hold the first bond issued under any deed of hypothec by the Borrower or any Subsidiary).

 

The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to execute and deliver any documents necessary or appropriate to create and perfect the rights of pledge for the benefit of the Secured Parties including a right of pledge with respect to the entitlements to profits, the balance left after winding up and the voting rights of the Borrower as ultimate parent of any subsidiary of the Borrower which is organized under the laws of the Netherlands and the Equity Interests of which are pledged in connection herewith (a “Dutch Pledge”). Without prejudice to the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree with the creation of parallel debt obligations of the Borrower or any relevant Subsidiary as will be described in any Dutch Pledge (the “Parallel Debt”), including that any payment received by the Administrative Agent in respect of the Parallel Debt will conditionally upon such payment not subsequently being avoided or reduced by virtue of any provisions or enactments relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, preference, liquidation or similar laws of general application be deemed a satisfaction of a pro rata portion of the corresponding amounts of the Obligations, and any payment to the Secured Parties in satisfaction of the Obligations shall conditionally upon such payment not subsequently being avoided or reduced by virtue of any provisions or enactments relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, preference, liquidation or similar laws of general application be deemed as satisfaction of the corresponding amount of the Parallel Debt. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for purposes of a Dutch Pledge, any resignation by the Administrative Agent is not effective until its rights under the Parallel Debt are assigned to the successor Administrative Agent.

  

 
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The parties hereto acknowledge and agree for the purposes of taking and ensuring the continuing validity of German law governed pledges (Pfandrechte) with the creation of parallel debt obligations of the Borrower as will be further described in a separate German law governed parallel debt undertaking. The Administrative Agent shall (i) hold such parallel debt undertaking as fiduciary agent (Treuhaender) and (ii) administer and hold as fiduciary agent (Treuhaender) any pledge created under a German law governed Collateral Document which is created in favor of any Holder of the Secured Obligations or transferred to any Holder of the Secured Obligations due to its accessory nature (Akzessorietaet), in each case in its own name and for the account of the Holders of the Secured Obligations. Each Lender, on its own behalf and on behalf of its affiliated Secured Parties, hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to enter as its agent in its name and on its behalf into any German law governed Collateral Document, to accept as its agent in its name and on its behalf any pledge under such Collateral Document and to agree to and execute as agent its in its name and on its behalf any amendments, supplements and other alterations to any such Collateral Document and to release any such Collateral Document and any pledge created under any such Collateral Document in accordance with the provisions herein and/or the provisions in any such Collateral Document.

 

Chase has adopted internal policies and procedures that address requirements placed on federally regulated lenders under the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and related legislation (the “Flood Laws”). Chase, as administrative agent or collateral agent on a syndicated facility, will post on the applicable electronic platform (or otherwise distribute to each Lender in the syndicate) documents that it receives in connection with the Flood Laws. However, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. reminds each Lender and Participant in the facility that, pursuant to the Flood Laws, each federally regulated Lender (whether acting as a Lender or Participant in the facility) is responsible for assuring its own compliance with the flood insurance requirements.

 

Article IX


Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 9.01.     Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone or Electronic Systems (and subject in each case to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile, as follows:

 

(i)     if to any Loan Party, to it at 25 Lake Avenue Extension, Danbury, Connecticut 06811, Attention of Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer (Telecopy No. (203) 743-8469; Telephone No. (203) 743-8305), with copies to, in the case of any notice or communication other than routine notices and communications under Article II, the attention of General Counsel at the aforesaid address (Telecopy No. (203) 743-8254);

  

 
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(ii)     if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 277 Park Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10172, Attention of Donna DiForio (Telecopy No. (646) 534-2274);

 

(iii)     if to an Issuing Bank, to it at (A) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 277 Park Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10172, Attention of Donna DiForio (Telecopy No. (646) 534-2274) or (B) in the case of any other Issuing Bank, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire;

 

(iv)     if to the Swingline Lender, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 277 Park Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10172, Attention of Donna DiForio (Telecopy No. (646) 534-2274); and

 

(v)     if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

All such notices and other communications (i) sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received, (ii) sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent, provided that if not given during normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day of the recipient, or (iii) delivered through Electronic Systems to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below shall be effective as provided in such paragraph.

 

(b)     Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by Electronic Systems pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II or to compliance and no Default certificates delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(d) unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (on behalf of the Loan Parties) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by Electronic Systems pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise proscribes, all such notices and other communications (i) sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, e-mail or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day of the recipient.

 

(c)     Any party hereto may change its address, facsimile number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

 

(d)     Electronic Systems.

  

 
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(i)     Each Loan Party agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar Electronic System.

 

(ii)     Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower or the other Loan Parties, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s, any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through an Electronic System. “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Electronic System.

 

SECTION 9.02.     Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

  

 
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(b)     Except as provided in the first sentence of Section 2.09(f) (with respect to any commitment increase), neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender); provided that, the Administrative Agent may make Protective Advances as set forth in Section 2.04, (ii) reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce or forgive any interest or fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby (except that any amendment or modification of the financial covenants in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (ii)), (iii) postpone any scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement (other than any reduction of the amount of, or any extension of the payment date for, the mandatory prepayments required under Section 2.11, in each case, which shall only require the approval of the Required Lenders), or any date for the payment of any interest, fees or other Obligations payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.18(b) or (d) in a manner that would alter the manner in which payments are shared, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (v) increase the advance rates set forth in the definition of Borrowing Base or add new categories of eligible assets, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders”, “Required Revolving Lenders” or “Required Term Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby, (vii) change Section 2.20, without the consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (viii) release any Loan Guarantor from its obligation under its Loan Guaranty (except as otherwise permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents), without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (ix) except as provided in clauses (c) and (d) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral (or any material portion of Collateral constituting patents, trademarks or copyrights), without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (x) waive any condition set forth in clause (a), (b) or (c) of Section 4.02 without the written consent of the Required Revolving Lenders (or, solely in the case of the funding of the Term Loans on the Term Loan Funding Date, the Required Term Lenders) (it being understood and agreed that any amendment or waiver of, or any consent with respect to, any provision of this Agreement (other than any waiver expressly relating to clause (a), (b) or (c) of Section 4.02) or any other Loan Document, including any amendment of any affirmative or negative covenant set forth herein or in any other Loan Document or any waiver of a Default or an Event of Default, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of a condition set forth in clause (a), (b) or (c) of Section 4.02 for purposes of this Section 9.02), (xi) waive any condition set forth in clause (d) of Section 4.02 without the written consent of the Required Term Lenders (it being understood and agreed that any amendment or waiver of, or any consent with respect to, any provision of this Agreement (other than any waiver expressly relating to clause (d) of Section 4.02) or any other Loan Document, including any amendment of any affirmative or negative covenant set forth herein or in any other Loan Document or any waiver of a Default or an Event of Default, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of a condition set forth in clause (d) of Section 4.02 for purposes of this Section 9.02) or (xii) change any provisions of this Agreement in a manner that by its terms adversely affects the rights in respect of payments due to Lenders holding Loans of any Class differently than those holding Loans of any other Class, without the written consent of the Required Revolving Lenders (if the Revolving Lenders are the affected Class of Lenders) and/or Required Term Lenders (if the Term Lenders are the affected Class of Lenders); provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be (it being understood that any change to Section 2.20 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks). The Administrative Agent may also amend Schedule 2.01 to reflect assignments entered into pursuant to Section 9.04 and as set forth in Section 2.09(g). Any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of the Lenders of one or more Classes (but not the Lenders of any other Class), may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the requisite number or percentage in interest of each affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time.

  

 
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(c)     (1) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of all the Commitments, payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations), and the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Loan Party disposing of such property certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), and to the extent that the property being sold or disposed of constitutes 100% of the Equity Interests of a Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent is authorized to release any Loan Guaranty provided by such Subsidiary, (iii) constituting property leased to a Loan Party under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, (iv) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VII and (v) as otherwise contemplated hereunder in connection with cash collateral securing LC Exposure. Except as provided in the preceding sentence and the following clause (2), the Administrative Agent will not release any Liens on Collateral without the prior written authorization of the Required Lenders; provided that, the Administrative Agent may in its discretion, release its Liens on Collateral (other than a material portion of Collateral constituting patents, trademarks and copyrights) valued in the aggregate not in excess of $5,000,000 during any calendar year without the prior written authorization of the Required Lenders (it being understood and agreed that the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on one or more certificates of the Borrower as to the value of any Collateral to be so released, without further inquiry). Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral. Any execution and delivery by the Administrative Agent of documents in connection with any such release shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

 

(2)     Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (1), any Loan Party that is a Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Loan Documents and all security interests in the Collateral of such Loan Party created by the Loan Documents shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement as a result of which such Loan Party ceases to be a Subsidiary. Upon any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition by any Loan Party of any Collateral that is permitted under this Agreement to any Person other than Holdings or a Subsidiary, or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest created under any Loan Document in any Collateral pursuant to Section 9.02, the security interest in such Collateral shall be automatically released. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent, upon receipt of any certificates or other documents reasonably requested by it to confirm compliance with this Agreement, shall promptly execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to take all actions specified in this Section 9.02(c)(2). Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)     If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender directly affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement; provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, and (ii) the Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender.

  

 
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(e)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers (x) to add one or more credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Revolving Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders, the Required Revolving Lenders, the Required Term Lenders, and Lenders.

 

(f)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement and any of the other Loan Documents may be amended or amended and restated with the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Lenders, to add a Subsidiary organized under the laws of Canada (and/or any province or territory thereof) as an additional borrower hereunder.

 

(g)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency.

 

SECTION 9.03.     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Loan Parties shall, jointly and severally, pay all (i) reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through an Electronic System) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of the Loan Documents (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit. Expenses being reimbursed by the Loan Parties under this Section include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, reasonable fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with:

 

(i)     appraisals and insurance reviews and environmental reviews;

  

 
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(ii)     field examinations and the preparation of Reports based on the fees charged by a third party retained by the Administrative Agent or the internally allocated fees for each Person employed by the Administrative Agent with respect to each field examination;

 

(iii)     background checks regarding senior management and/or key investors, as deemed necessary or appropriate in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent;

 

(iv)     Taxes, fees and other charges for (A) lien searches and title searches and title insurance and (B) recording the Mortgages, filing financing statements and continuations, and other actions to perfect, protect, and continue the Administrative Agent’s Liens;

 

(v)     sums paid or incurred to take any action required of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents that such Loan Party fails to pay or take; and

 

(vi)     forwarding loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment, and establishing and maintaining the accounts and lock boxes, and costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral.

 

All of the foregoing fees, costs and expenses may be charged to the Borrower as Revolving Loans or to another deposit account, all as described in Section 2.18(c).

 

(b)     The Loan Parties shall, jointly and severally, indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, penalties, incremental taxes, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) the failure of the Borrower to deliver to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence with respect to a payment made by the Borrower for Taxes pursuant to Section 2.17, or (v) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

(c)     To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, and each Revolving Lender severally agrees to pay to any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Borrower’s failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, penalty, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such.

  

 
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(d)     To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), or (ii) on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this paragraph (d) shall relieve any Loan Party of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee against special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.

 

(e)     All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than fifteen (15) days after written demand therefor.

 

SECTION 9.04.     Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the relevant Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the relevant Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)     (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

 

(A)     the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof, and provided further that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

 

(B)     the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;

 

(C)     each Issuing Bank; provided that no consent of any Issuing Bank shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan; and

  

 
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(D)     the Swingline Lender; provided that no consent of the Swingline Lender shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan.

 

(ii)     Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A)     except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 (in the case of Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans) or $1,000,000 (in the case of Term Loan Commitments and Term Loans) unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(B)     each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;

 

(C)     the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders; and

 

(D)     the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the terms “Approved Fund” and “Ineligible Institution” have the following meanings:

 

Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

Ineligible Institution” means a (a) natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender, (c) holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof; provided that, such holding company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Institution if it (x) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Loans or Commitments, (y) is managed by a professional advisor, who is not such natural person or a relative thereof, having significant experience in the business of making or purchasing commercial loans, and (z) has assets greater than $25,000,000 and a significant part of its activities consist of making or purchasing commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business or (d) a Loan Party or a Subsidiary or other Affiliate of a Loan Party.

  

 
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(iii)     Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

(iv)     The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(v)     Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05, 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

(c)     (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) other than an Ineligible Institution in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged; (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations; and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(f) and (g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender and the information and documentation required under Section 2.17(g) will be delivered to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.

  

 
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(ii)     Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.19(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(d)     Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

SECTION 9.05.     Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

  

 
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SECTION 9.06.     Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.

 

(a)     This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

(b)     Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement 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 of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, 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, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

SECTION 9.07.     Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 9.08.     Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any of and all the Secured Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured. The applicable Lender shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such set-off or application, provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such set-off or application under this Section. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

 

SECTION 9.09.     Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) The Loan Documents (other than those containing a contrary express choice of law provision) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (and not the law of conflicts) of the State of New York, but giving effect to federal laws applicable to national banks.

  

 
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(b)     Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. Federal or New York State court sitting in New York, New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(c)     Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d)     Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

SECTION 9.10.     WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, OTHER AGENT (INCLUDING ANY ATTORNEY) OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

SECTION 9.11.     Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.12.     Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by Requirement of Law or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (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 swap or derivative transaction relating to the Loan Parties and their obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) 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 the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, 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 LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 9.12 FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER AND ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWER OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER, THE LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

SECTION 9.13.     Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law. The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and the failure of any Lender to make any Loan or perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. Each Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board) for the repayment of the Borrowings provided for herein. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Borrower in violation of any Requirement of Law.

  

 
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SECTION 9.14.     USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

SECTION 9.15.     Disclosure. Each Loan Party and each Lender hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with any of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates.

 

SECTION 9.16.     Appointment for Perfection. Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession or control. Should any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s instructions.

 

SECTION 9.17.     Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

 

SECTION 9.18.     No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lenders and their Affiliates, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Lenders and their Affiliates is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except, in the case of a Lender, those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against each of the Lenders and their Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

  

 
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Article X


Loan Guaranty

 

SECTION 10.01.     Guaranty. Each Loan Guarantor (other than those that have delivered a separate Guaranty) hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and, as a primary obligor and not merely as surety, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Secured Parties, the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, all court costs and attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees (including allocated costs of in-house counsel and paralegals) and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, the Borrower, any Loan Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, collectively the “Guaranteed Obligations”; provided, however, that the definition of “Guaranteed Obligations” shall not create any guarantee by any Loan Guarantor of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Guarantor to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Guarantor for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Guarantor). Each Loan Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this Loan Guaranty apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender that extended any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

SECTION 10.02.     Guaranty of Payment. This Loan Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each Loan Guarantor waives any right to require the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender to sue the Borrower, any Loan Guarantor, any other guarantor of, or any other Person obligated for, all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations (each, an “Obligated Party”), or otherwise to enforce its payment against any collateral securing all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

SECTION 10.03.     No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty. (a) Except as otherwise provided for herein, the obligations of each Loan Guarantor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower or any other Obligated Party liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any Obligated Party or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any Loan Guarantor may have at any time against any Obligated Party, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.

 

(b)     The obligations of each Loan Guarantor hereunder are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any Obligated Party, of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.

  

 
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(c)     Further, the obligations of any Loan Guarantor hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of the Borrower for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other Obligated Party liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Loan Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Loan Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations).

 

SECTION 10.04.     Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Loan Guarantor hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Borrower or any Loan Guarantor or the unenforceability of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Borrower, any Loan Guarantor or any other Obligated Party, other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Loan Guarantor irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any Obligated Party or any other Person. Each Loan Guarantor confirms that it is not a surety under any state law and shall not raise any such law as a defense to its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Loan Guarantor under this Loan Guaranty except to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully and indefeasibly paid in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Loan Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Loan Guarantor against any Obligated Party or any security.

 

SECTION 10.05.     Rights of Subrogation. No Loan Guarantor will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification that it has against any Obligated Party, or any collateral, until the Loan Parties and the Loan Guarantors have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.

 

SECTION 10.06.     Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a Secured Party in its discretion), each Loan Guarantor’s obligations under this Loan Guaranty with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders are in possession of this Loan Guaranty. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the Loan Guarantors forthwith on demand by the Administrative Agent.

  

 
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SECTION 10.07.     Information. Each Loan Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Loan Guarantor assumes and incurs under this Loan Guaranty, and agrees that none of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Loan Guarantor of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.

 

SECTION 10.08.     Termination. Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank may continue to make loans or extend credit to the Borrower based on this Loan Guaranty until five (5) days after it receives written notice of termination from any Loan Guarantor. Notwithstanding receipt of any such notice, each Loan Guarantor will continue to be liable to the Lenders for any Guaranteed Obligations created, assumed or committed to prior to the fifth day after receipt of the notice, and all subsequent renewals, extensions, modifications and amendments with respect to, or substitutions for, all or any part of such Guaranteed Obligations. Nothing in this Section 10.08 shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of, or eliminate, limit, reduce or otherwise impair any rights or remedies the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have in respect of, any Default or Event of Default that shall exist under Article VII hereof as a result of any such notice of termination.

 

SECTION 10.09.     Taxes. Each payment of the Guaranteed Obligations will be made by each Loan Guarantor without withholding for any Taxes, unless such withholding is required by law. If any Loan Guarantor determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it is so required to withhold Taxes, then such Loan Guarantor may so withhold and shall timely pay the full amount of withheld Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. If such Taxes are Indemnified Taxes, then the amount payable by such Loan Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that, net of such withholding (including such withholding applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section), the Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank (as the case may be) receives the amount it would have received had no such withholding been made.

 

SECTION 10.10.     Maximum Liability. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Loan Guaranty, the amount guaranteed by each Loan Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the extent, if any, required so that its obligations hereunder shall not be subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law. In determining the limitations, if any, on the amount of any Loan Guarantor’s obligations hereunder pursuant to the preceding sentence, it is the intention of the parties hereto that any rights of subrogation, indemnification or contribution which such Loan Guarantor may have under this Loan Guaranty, any other agreement or applicable law shall be taken into account.

 

SECTION 10.11.     Contribution.

 

(a)     To the extent that any Loan Guarantor shall make a payment under this Loan Guaranty (a “Guarantor Payment”) which, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Loan Guarantor, exceeds the amount which otherwise would have been paid by or attributable to such Loan Guarantor if each Loan Guarantor had paid the aggregate Guaranteed Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion as such Loan Guarantor’s “Allocable Amount” (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Loan Guarantors as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guarantor Payment and the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations that have not yet arisen), and all Commitments and Letters of Credit have terminated or expired or, in the case of all Letters of Credit, are fully collateralized on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, and this Agreement, the Swap Obligations and the Banking Services Obligations have terminated, such Loan Guarantor shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Loan Guarantor for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.

  

 
110

 

 

(b)     As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Loan Guarantor shall be equal to the excess of the fair saleable value of the property of such Loan Guarantor over the total liabilities of such Loan Guarantor (including the maximum amount reasonably expected to become due in respect of contingent liabilities, calculated, without duplication, assuming each other Loan Guarantor that is also liable for such contingent liability pays its ratable share thereof), giving effect to all payments made by other Loan Guarantors as of such date in a manner to maximize the amount of such contributions.

 

(c)     This Section 10.11 is intended only to define the relative rights of the Loan Guarantors, and nothing set forth in this Section 10.11 is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Loan Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Loan Guaranty.

 

(d)     The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Loan Guarantor or Loan Guarantors to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.

 

(e)     The rights of the indemnifying Loan Guarantors against other Loan Guarantors under this Section 10.11 shall be exercisable upon the full and indefeasible payment of the Guaranteed Obligations in cash (other than Unliquidated Obligations that have not yet arisen) and the termination or expiry (or, in the case of all Letters of Credit, full cash collateralization), on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, of the Commitments and all Letters of Credit issued hereunder and the termination of this Agreement, the Swap Obligations and the Banking Services Obligations.

 

SECTION 10.12.     Liability Cumulative. The liability of each Loan Party as a Loan Guarantor under this Article X is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.

  

 
111

 

 

SECTION 10.13.     Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan Guarantor to honor all of its obligations under this Loan Guaranty in respect of Specified Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 10.13 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 10.13 or otherwise under this Loan Guaranty voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 10.13 shall remain in full force and effect until a discharge of such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations under this Loan Guaranty in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Loan Documents. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 10.13 constitute, and this Section 10.13 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

  

 
112

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

ETHAN ALLEN GLOBAL, INC., 

 

 

as the Borrower 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. 

 

 

[LIST OF OTHER LOAN PARTIES] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually as a Lender, as the Swingline Lender, as the Issuing Bank and as Administrative Agent  
       
       
  By:    

 

Name: 

 

  Title:  
       
       
  CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,  
  as a Lender  
       
       
  By:    
  Name:  

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Ethan Allen Global Inc.

 

SCHEDULE 2.01

 

COMMITMENTS

 

Lender

Revolving
Commitment

Term Loan Commitment

     

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A

$50,000,000

Lesser of (i) $25,000,000 and (ii) 37.5% of Appraised Real Estate Value

Capital One, National Association

$50,000,000

Lesser of (i) $25,000,000 and (ii) 37.5% of Appraised Real Estate Value

Total

$100,000,000

Lesser of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 75% of Appraised Real Estate Value

 

 

 
 

 

  

EXHIBIT A

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

 

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit, guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

 

1.

Assignor: 

______________________________

 

 

 

2.

Assignee:

______________________________

 

 

[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1]

     

3.

Borrower: 

Ethan Allen Global, Inc.

 

 

 

4.

Administrative Agent:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

 

 

 

5.

Credit Agreement:

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 21, 2014 among Ethan Allen Global, Inc., the other Loan Parties parties thereto, the Lenders parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

 

_____________________________

1 Select as applicable.

 

 
Exhibit A 

 

 

6. Assigned Interest:  

 

Facility Assigned 2

Aggregate Amount of

Commitment/Loans for
all Lenders

Amount of

Commitment/Loans Assigned

Percentage Assigned of

Commitment/Loans3

 

$

$

%

 

$

$

%

 

$

$

%

 

Effective Date: _____________ ___, 20___ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

 

The Assignee agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower, the Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

ASSIGNOR

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

 

By:______________________________
Title:

 

ASSIGNEE

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

 

By:______________________________
Title:

 

 

 

[Consented to and] 4 Accepted:

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender

 

 


2 Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Assignment.

3 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

4 To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and/or the Swingline Lender is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

 

 
 Exhibit A

 

 

By_________________________________
Title:

 

[Consented to:

 

[__________], as
Issuing Bank

 

By_________________________________
Title:]
5

 

[Consented to:]6

 

ETHAN ALLEN GLOBAL, INC.

 

By________________________________
Title:

 

 

 

 

______________________________

5 To be added only if the consent of any Issuing Bank other than JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

6 To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

 
 Exhibit A

 

  

ANNEX 1

 

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

1. Representations and Warranties.

 

1.1 Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

 

1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor 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 decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

Acceptance of the terms of this Assignment and Assumption by the Assignee and the Assignor by Electronic Signature or delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by any Electronic System shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

 

 
 Exhibit A

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

OPINION OF LOAN PARTIES’ COUNSEL

 

[Attached]

 

 

 
 Exhibit B

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE

 

[Attached]

 

 

 
 Exhibit C

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

To:

The Lenders parties to the
Credit Agreement Described Below

 

This Compliance Certificate is furnished pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 21, 2014 (as amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time, the “Agreement”) among Ethan Allen Global, Inc. (the “Borrower”), Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., the other Loan Parties, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders and as an Issuing Bank. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Compliance Certificate have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

 

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT:

 

1.     I am the duly elected                       of the Borrower;

 

2. I have reviewed the terms of the Agreement and I have made, or have caused to be made under my supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and conditions of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements [for quarterly or monthly financial statements add: and such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes];

 

3.      The examinations described in paragraph 2 did not disclose, except as set forth below, and I have no knowledge of (i) the existence of any condition or event which constitutes a Default during or at the end of the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements or as of the date of this Certificate or (ii) any change in GAAP or in the application thereof that has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 of the Agreement;

 

4.     I hereby certify that no Loan Party has changed (i) its name, (ii) its chief executive office, (iii) principal place of business, (iv) the type of entity it is or (v) its state of incorporation or organization without having given the Administrative Agent the notice required by Section 4.15 of the Security Agreement;

 

5. Schedule I attached hereto sets forth financial data and computations evidencing the Borrower’s compliance with certain covenants of the Agreement, all of which data and computations are true, complete and correct; and

 

6.     Schedule II hereto sets forth the computations necessary to determine the Applicable Rate commencing on the Business Day this certificate is delivered.

 

Described below are the exceptions, if any, to paragraph 3 by listing, in detail, the (i) nature of the condition or event, the period during which it has existed and the action which the Borrower has taken, is taking, or proposes to take with respect to each such condition or event or (i) the change in GAAP or the application thereof and the effect of such change on the attached financial statements:

 

 

 
 Exhibit D

 

 

 

The foregoing certifications, together with the computations set forth in Schedule I and Schedule II hereto and the financial statements delivered with this Certificate in support hereof, are made and delivered this      day of               ,        .

 

ETHAN ALLEN GLOBAL, INC.

 

By:                                                                                           
Name:                                                                        
Title:                                                                           

 

 

 
 Exhibit D

 

  

SCHEDULE I

 

Compliance as of _________, ____ with
Provisions of        and          of
the Agreement

 

 

 
 Exhibit D

 

  

SCHEDULE II

 

Borrower’s Applicable Rate Calculation

 

 

 

 
 Exhibit D

 

 

EXHIBIT E

 

JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [__________], 20[__], is entered into between ________________________________, a _________________ (the “New Subsidiary”) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2014, among Ethan Allen Global, Inc. (the “Borrower”), Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., the Loan Parties party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”). All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

 

The New Subsidiary and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.     The New Subsidiary hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Agreement, the New Subsidiary will be deemed to be a Loan Party under the Credit Agreement and a “Loan Guarantor” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and shall have all of the obligations of a Loan Party and a Loan Guarantor thereunder as if it had executed the Credit Agreement. The New Subsidiary hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Credit Agreement, including without limitation (a) all of the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in Article III of the Credit Agreement, *[and]* (b) all of the covenants set forth in Articles V and VI of the Credit Agreement *[and (c) all of the guaranty obligations set forth in Article X of the Credit Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing terms of this paragraph 1, the New Subsidiary, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 10.10 and 10.13 of the Credit Agreement, hereby guarantees, jointly and severally with the other Loan Guarantors, to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as provided in Article X of the Credit Agreement, the prompt payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof and agrees that if any of the Guaranteed Obligations are not paid or performed in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise), the New Subsidiary will, jointly and severally together with the other Loan Guarantors, promptly pay and perform the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.]* *[The New Subsidiary has delivered to the Administrative Agent an executed Loan Guaranty.]*

 

2.     If required, the New Subsidiary is, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, executing and delivering such Collateral Documents (and such other documents and instruments) as requested by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the Credit Agreement.

 

3.     The New Subsidiary hereby waives acceptance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of the guaranty by the New Subsidiary upon the execution of this Agreement by the New Subsidiary.

 

4.     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

 

 
 Exhibit E

 

 

5.     THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its authorized officer, and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, has caused the same to be accepted by its authorized officer, as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NEW SUBSIDIARY]

 

By:                                                                    
Name:                                                               
Title:                                                                 

 

Acknowledged and accepted:

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent

 

By:                                                                    
Name:                                                               
Title:                                                                 

 

 

 
 Exhibit E

 

  

EXHIBIT F

 

LIST OF CLOSING DOCUMENTS’7

 

ETHAN ALLEN GLOBAL, INC.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT FACILITIES

 

October 21, 2014

 

A.     LOAN DOCUMENTS

 

1.

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among Ethan Allen Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), the other Loan Parties party thereto, the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders (the “Lenders”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”), evidencing a revolving credit facility to the Borrower from the Revolving Lenders in an initial aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 and a delayed draw term loan facility to the Borrower from the Term Lenders in an aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000.

 

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 2.01

--

Commitments

Schedule 3.05

--

Properties

Schedule 3.06

--

Disclosed Matters

Schedule 3.14

--

Insurance

Schedule 3.15

--

Capitalization and Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.21

--

Credit Card Processors

Schedule 6.01

--

Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02

--

Existing Liens

Schedule 6.04

--

Existing Investments

Schedule 6.10

--

Existing Restrictions

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

--

Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit B

--

Forms of Opinions of Loan Parties’ Counsels

Exhibit C

--

Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

Exhibit D

--

Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit E

--

Joinder Agreement

Exhibit F

--

List of Closing Documents

Exhibit G

--

U.S. Tax Certificates

 

2.

Promissory notes executed by the Borrower in favor of each of the Lenders, if any, which has requested a note pursuant to Section 2.10(f) of the Credit Agreement.

 

____________________

7 Each capitalized term used herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the above-defined Credit Agreement. Items appearing in bold and italics shall be prepared and/or provided by the Borrower and/or Borrower's counsel.

 

 
 Exhibit F

 

 

3.

Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement executed by the Loan Parties, together with pledged instruments and allonges, stock certificates, stock powers executed in blank, pledge instructions and acknowledgments, as appropriate.

 

Exhibit A

--

Type of Entity; Principal Place of Business or Chief Executive Office; FEIN; State Organization Number; Jurisdiction of Incorporation; Properties Leased by the Grantors; Properties Owned by the Grantors; Public Warehouses or Other Locations

Exhibit B

--

Deposit Accounts; Lock Boxes; Securities Accounts

Exhibit C

--

Letter of Credit Rights; Chattel Paper

Exhibit D

--

Patents; Trademarks; Copyrights

Exhibit E

--

[Intentionally Omitted]

Exhibit G

--

List of Pledged Collateral, Securities and other Investment Property

Exhibit H

--

UCC Financing Statement Filing Locations

Exhibit I

--

Form of Amendment

Exhibit J

--

[Intentionally Omitted]

Exhibit K

--

Commercial Tort Claims

Annex I

--

Form of Joinder Agreement

 

4.

Supplemental Confirmatory Grant of Security Interest in United States Trademarks made by certain of the Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders.

 

Schedule A

--

Registered Trademarks; Trademark and Service Mark Applications; Other Trademarks

 

B.     UCC/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DOCUMENTS

 

5.

UCC, tax lien and name variation search reports naming each Loan Party from the appropriate offices in relevant jurisdictions.

 

6.

Intellectual property search reports under the name of each Loan Party in each of the U.S. Copyright Office and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

 

C.     CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

 

7.

Certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each Loan Party certifying (i) that there have been no changes in the Certificate of Incorporation or other charter document of such Loan Party, as attached thereto and as certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State (or the equivalent thereof) of the jurisdiction of its organization, since the date of the certification thereof by such Secretary of State (or the equivalent thereof), (ii) the By-Laws or other applicable organizational document, as attached thereto, of such Loan Party as in effect on the date of such certification, (iii) resolutions of the Board of Directors or other governing body of such Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of each Loan Document to which it is a party, and (iv) the names and true signatures of the incumbent officers of each Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (in the case of the Borrower) authorized to request a Borrowing or the issuance of a Letter of Credit under the Credit Agreement.

 

 

 
Exhibit F 

 

 

8.

Good Standing Certificate (or analogous documentation if applicable) for each Loan Party from the Secretary of State (or the equivalent thereof) of the jurisdiction of its organization, to the extent generally available in such jurisdiction.

 

D.     OPINIONS

 

9.

Opinion of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties.

 

10.

Opinion of Eric Koster, General Counsel for the Loan Parties.

 

E.     CLOSING CERTIFICATES AND MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.

A certificate signed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, dated as of the Effective Date, stating: (i) that no Default has occurred and is continuing; (ii) that the representations and warranties contained in Article III of the Credit Agreement are true and correct as of such date, (iii) certifying any other factual matters as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and (iv) that, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, are solvent and will be solvent subsequent to incurring the Indebtedness in connection with the Transactions.

 

12.

Funding Account notice.

 

13.

Borrowing Base Certificate.

 

14.

Marketing Consent Letter.

 

15.

“Assignment and Assumption” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) executed by Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, Capital One, National Association, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, reflecting the transfer of all of Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC’s rights and obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement to Capital One, National Association.

 

 

 
 Exhibit F

 

 

EXHIBIT G-1

 

[FORM OF]

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 21, 2014 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Ethan Allen Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the other Loan Parties party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

By:                                                
Name:
Title:

 

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

 

 

 

 
 Exhibit G-1

 

 

EXHIBIT G-2

 

[FORM OF]

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 21, 2014 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Ethan Allen Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the other Loan Parties party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

By:                                                              
Name:
Title:

 

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

 

 

 

 
 Exhibit G-2

 

 

EXHIBIT G-3

 

[FORM OF]

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 21, 2014 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Ethan Allen Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the other Loan Parties party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

By:                                                      
Name:
Title:

 

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

 

 

 

 
 Exhibit G-3

 

  

EXHIBIT G-4

 

[FORM OF]

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 21, 2014 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Ethan Allen Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the other Loan Parties party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

By:                                                
Name:
Title:

 

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

 

 
 Exhibit G-4

 

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

Article XIAMENDED AND RESTATED

 

Article XIIPLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as it may be further amended or modified from time to time, this “Security Agreement”) is entered into as of October 21, 2014 by and between Ethan Allen Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), the Domestic Subsidiaries of Holdings listed on the signature pages hereto or that become party hereto after the date hereof (together with the Borrower and Holdings, the “Grantors”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

 

The Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties and the Lenders previously entered into a Credit Agreement dated as of May 29, 2009 (as amended or modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”).

 

The Grantors previously entered into the Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of May 29, 2009, with the Administrative Agent (as amended or modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Security Agreement”).

 

The parties to the Existing Credit Agreement have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety and, in connection therewith, have entered into that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, Holdings, the other Loan Parties from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and the Administrative Agent, which Credit Agreement provides, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, for extensions of credit and other financial accommodations by the Lenders to the Borrower.

 

Each Grantor is entering into this Security Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to enter into and extend credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement and to secure the Secured Obligations that it has agreed to guarantee pursuant to Article X of the Credit Agreement. Furthermore, each Grantor party to the Existing Security Agreement wishes to affirm its obligations and liens under the terms of the Existing Security Agreement and wishes to amend and restate the terms of the Existing Security Agreement.

 

ACCORDINGLY, the Grantors and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1.     Terms Defined in Credit Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

 

1.2.     Terms Defined in UCC. Terms defined in the UCC which are not otherwise defined in this Security Agreement are used herein as defined in the UCC.

 

1.3.     Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein. As used in this Security Agreement, in addition to the terms defined in the Preliminary Statement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Article” means a numbered article of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

Cash Dominion Period” means any period of time, at the election of the Administrative Agent or at the direction of the Required Secured Parties, (i) when a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) commencing with the date on which the average daily Availability during the immediately preceding thirty (30) calendar days is less than or equal to 17.5% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and continuing until such subsequent date as when the average daily Availability during the immediately preceding thirty (30) calendar days has exceeded 17.5% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment for ninety (90) consecutive days.

 

Chattel Paper” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Closing Date” means the Effective Date as defined in the Credit Agreement.

 

Collateral” shall have the meaning set forth in Article II.

 

Collateral Access Agreement” means any landlord waiver or other agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, between the Administrative Agent and any third party (including any bailee, consignee, customs broker, or other similar Person) in possession of any Collateral or any landlord of any Loan Party for any real property where any Collateral is located, as such landlord waiver or other agreement may be amended, restated, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Collateral Deposit Account” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

 

Collateral Report” means any certificate (including any Borrowing Base Certificate), report or other document delivered by any Grantor to the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to the Collateral pursuant to any Loan Document.

 

Collection Account” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b).

 

Commercial Tort Claims” means the commercial tort claims of each Grantor, including each commercial tort claim specifically described in Exhibit K hereto.

 

Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8 or, if applicable, in Section 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 or 9-107 of Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Copyrights” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to the following: (a) all copyrights, rights and interests in copyrights, works protectable by copyright, copyright registrations, and copyright applications; (b) all renewals of any of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages or payments for past or future infringements for any of the foregoing; (d) the right to sue for past, present, and future infringements of any of the foregoing; and (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.

 

Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

Deposit Account Control Agreement” means an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among any Loan Party, a banking institution holding such Loan Party’s funds, and the Administrative Agent with respect to collection and Control of all deposits and balances held in a deposit account maintained by such Loan Party with such banking institution.

 

 

 

 

 

Deposit Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Equipment” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Event of Default” means an event described in Section 5.1.

 

Excluded Payments” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(d).

 

Exhibit” refers to a specific exhibit to this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

Fixtures” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

General Intangibles” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Goods” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Instruments” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Inventory” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Investment Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Lenders” means the lenders party to the Credit Agreement and their successors and assigns.

 

Letter-of-Credit Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Licenses” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to (a) any and all licensing agreements or similar arrangements in and to its Patents, Copyrights, or Trademarks, (b) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past and future breaches thereof, and (c) all rights to sue for past, present, and future breaches thereof.

 

Lock Boxes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

 

Lock Box Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

 

Material Deposit Accounts” means, collectively, as of any date of determination, Deposit Accounts with average daily balances, individually or collectively, during the immediately preceding thirty (30) calendar days equal to or greater than $750,000.

 

Patents” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to: (a) any and all patents and patent applications; (b) all inventions and improvements described and claimed therein; (c) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions, and continuations-in-part thereof; (d) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (e) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements thereof; and (f) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.

 

Pledged Collateral” means all Instruments, Securities and other Investment Property of the Grantors, whether or not physically delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Security Agreement.

 

 

 
 4

 

 

Receivables” means the Accounts, Credit Card Account Receivables and any other rights or claims to receive money which are General Intangibles or which are otherwise included as Collateral.

 

Required Secured Parties” means (a) prior to the date upon which the Credit Agreement has terminated by its terms and all of the Obligations thereunder have been paid in full, the Required Lenders, and (b) after the Credit Agreement has terminated by its terms and all of the Obligations thereunder have been paid in full (whether or not the Obligations under the Credit Agreement were ever accelerated), the Secured Parties holding in the aggregate at least a majority of the aggregate net early termination payments and all other amounts then due and unpaid from any Grantor to the Secured Parties in respect of the Secured Obligations, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Section” means a numbered section of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

Securities Account” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 of the UCC.

 

Security” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 of the UCC.

 

Stock Rights” means all dividends, instruments or other distributions and any other right or property which the Grantors shall receive or shall become entitled to receive for any reason whatsoever with respect to, in substitution for or in exchange for any Equity Interest constituting Collateral, any right to receive an Equity Interest and any right to receive earnings, in which the Grantors now have or hereafter acquire any right, issued by an issuer of such Equity Interest.

 

Supporting Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Trademarks” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to the following: (a) all trademarks (including service marks), trade names, trade dress, and trade styles and the registrations and applications for registration thereof and the goodwill of the business symbolized by the foregoing; (b) all licenses of the foregoing, whether as licensee or licensor; (c) all renewals of the foregoing; (d) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims, and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (e) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements of the foregoing, including the right to settle suits involving claims and demands for royalties owing; and (f) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time, of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required as a result thereof to be applied in connection with the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Administrative Agent’s or any other Secured Party’s Lien on any Collateral.

 

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

 

ARTICLE II

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

Each Grantor party to the Existing Security Agreement acknowledges and agrees with the Administrative Agent that the Existing Security Agreement is amended, restated, and superseded in its entirety pursuant to the terms hereof. Each Grantor hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to and under all personal property and other assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of such Grantor (all of which will be collectively referred to as the “Collateral”), including:

      

  (i)  all Accounts and Credit Card Account Receivables;

 

 

 
 5

 

 

  (ii)  all Chattel Paper;
  (iii) all Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks;
 

(iv)

all Documents;

 

(v)

all Equipment;

 

(vi)

all Fixtures;

 

(vii)

all General Intangibles;

 

(viii)

all Goods;

 

(ix)

all Instruments;

 

(x)

all Inventory;

 

(xi)

all Investment Property;

 

(xii)

all cash or cash equivalents;

 

(xiii)

all letters of credit, Letter-of-Credit Rights and Supporting Obligations;

  (xiv) all Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts;
  (xv) all Commercial Tort Claims; and
 

(xvi)

all accessions to, substitutions for and replacements, proceeds (including Stock Rights), insurance proceeds and products of the foregoing, together with all books and records, customer lists, credit files, computer files, programs, printouts and other computer materials and records related thereto and any General Intangibles at any time evidencing or relating to any of the foregoing;

 

to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Secured Obligations; provided that, Collateral shall not include the Excluded Assets.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, each of the Grantors party to the Existing Security Agreement hereby regrants, confirms, ratifies and reaffirms the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the Existing Security Agreement and agrees that such security interest (and all filings with any Governmental Authority made in connection therewith) remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified, reaffirmed and confirmed.

 

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each Grantor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties that:

 

3.1.     Title, Authorization, Validity, Enforceability, Perfection and Priority. Such Grantor has good and valid rights in or the power to transfer the Collateral and title to the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted under the Credit Agreement, and has full power and authority to grant to the Administrative Agent the security interest in the Collateral pursuant hereto. The execution and delivery by such Grantor of this Security Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions of such Grantor, and this Security Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Grantor and creates a security interest which is enforceable against such Grantor in all Collateral it now owns or hereafter acquires, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. When financing statements have been filed in the appropriate offices against such Grantor in the locations listed on Exhibit H, the Administrative Agent will have a fully perfected first priority security interest in that Collateral of such Grantor in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, subject only to Liens permitted under the Credit Agreement.

 

 

 
 6

 

 

3.2.     Type and Jurisdiction of Organization, Organizational and Identification Numbers. The type of entity of such Grantor, its state of organization, the organizational number issued to it by its state of organization and its federal employer identification number are set forth on Exhibit A.

 

3.3.     Principal Location. Such Grantor’s mailing address and the location of its place of business (if it has only one) or its chief executive office (if it has more than one place of business), are disclosed in Exhibit A; such Grantor has no other places of business except those set forth in Exhibit A.

 

3.4.     Collateral Locations. All of such Grantor’s locations where Collateral is located are listed on Exhibit A. All of said locations are owned by such Grantor except for locations (i) which are leased by the Grantor as lessee and designated in Part VII(b) of Exhibit A and (ii) at which Inventory is held in a public warehouse or is otherwise held by a bailee or on consignment as designated in Part VII(c) of Exhibit A.

 

3.5.     Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts. All of such Grantor’s Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts are listed on Exhibit B.

 

3.6.     Exact Names. Such Grantor’s name in which it has executed this Security Agreement is the exact name as it appears in such Grantor’s organizational documents, as amended, as filed with such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization. Such Grantor has not, during the past five years, been known by or used any other corporate or fictitious name, or been a party to any merger or consolidation, or been a party to any acquisition except as otherwise set forth on Exhibit A.

 

3.7.     Letter-of-Credit Rights and Chattel Paper. Exhibit C lists (i) all Letter-of-Credit Rights of such Grantor with respect to letters of credit having an aggregate stated amount in excess of $1,000,000 and (ii) all Chattel Paper of such Grantor. All action by such Grantor necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Administrative Agent’s Lien on each item listed on Exhibit C (including the delivery of all originals and the placement of a legend on all Chattel Paper as required hereunder) has been duly taken. The Administrative Agent will have a fully perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral listed on Exhibit C, subject only to Liens permitted under the Credit Agreement.

 

3.8.     Receivables.

 

(a)     The names of the obligors, amounts owing, due dates and other information with respect to the Receivables owned by such Grantor are and will be correctly stated in all material respects in all records of such Grantor relating thereto and in all invoices and Collateral Reports with respect thereto furnished to the Administrative Agent by such Grantor from time to time. As of the time when each Receivable arises, such Grantor shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such Receivable and all records relating thereto, are genuine and in all material respects what they purport to be.

 

(b)     With respect to its Receivables included in the Borrowing Base, except as specifically disclosed on the most recent Collateral Report, (i) to such Grantor’s knowledge, there are no facts, events or occurrences which in any way impair the validity or enforceability thereof or could reasonably be expected to reduce the amount payable thereunder as shown on such Grantor’s books and records and any invoices, statements and Collateral Reports with respect thereto and (ii) such Grantor has not received any notice of proceedings or actions which are threatened or pending against any Account Debtor or any Credit Card Processor which might result in any material adverse change in such Account Debtor’s or Credit Card Processor’s financial condition.

 

(c)     In addition, with respect to all of its Receivables included in the Borrowing Base, (i) the amounts shown on all invoices, statements and Collateral Reports with respect thereto are owing to such Grantor as indicated thereon and are not contingent; (ii) no payments have been or shall be made thereon except payments immediately delivered to a Lock Box or a Collateral Deposit Account to the extent required pursuant to Section 7.1; and (iii) to such Grantor’s knowledge, all Account Debtors and all Credit Card Processors have the capacity to contract.

 

 

 
 7

 

 

3.9.     Inventory. With respect to any of its Inventory scheduled or listed on the most recent Collateral Report and included in the Borrowing Base, (a) such Inventory (other than Inventory in transit) is located at one of such Grantor’s locations set forth on Exhibit A (as supplemented from time to time concurrently with the delivery of Borrowing Base Certificates) and (b) in the case of Inventory manufactured or otherwise produced by such Grantor, such Inventory has been produced in accordance with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, and all rules, regulations and orders thereunder.

 

3.10.     Intellectual Property. Such Grantor does not have any interest in, or title to, any Patent, Trademark or Copyright except as set forth in Exhibit D. This Security Agreement is effective to create a valid and continuing Lien and, upon filing of appropriate financing statements in the offices listed on Exhibit H and this Security Agreement (or other short form security agreement or notice filing) with the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as applicable, fully perfected first priority security interests in favor of the Administrative Agent on such Grantor’s Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights.

 

3.11.     Filing Requirements. None of the Collateral owned by it is of a type for which security interests or liens may be perfected by filing under any federal statute except for (a) vehicles and (b) Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights held by such Grantor. Unless otherwise indicated, all properties on which any Fixtures are located are listed on Part VII of Exhibit A.

 

3.12.     No Financing Statements, Security Agreements. No financing statement or security agreement describing all or any portion of the Collateral which has not lapsed or been terminated (by a filing authorized by the secured party in respect thereof) naming such Grantor as debtor has been filed or is of record in any jurisdiction except (a) for financing statements or security agreements naming the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties as the secured party and (b) as permitted by the Credit Agreement.

 

3.13.     Pledged Collateral.

 

(a)     Exhibit G sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Equity Interests in Domestic Subsidiaries owned by each Grantor. Such Grantor is the direct, sole beneficial owner and sole holder of record of the Equity Interests in such Domestic Subsidiaries, free and clear of any Liens, except for the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties hereunder. Such Grantor further represents and warrants that (i) all Pledged Collateral owned by it constituting an Equity Interest of a Domestic Subsidiary has been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Collateral) duly authorized, validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, (ii) with respect to any certificates delivered to the Administrative Agent representing an Equity Interest of a Domestic Subsidiary, either such certificates are Securities as defined in Article 8 of the UCC as a result of actions by the issuer or otherwise, or, if such certificates are not Securities, such Grantor has so informed the Administrative Agent so that the Administrative Agent may take steps to perfect its security interest therein as a General Intangible, and (iii) all Pledged Collateral which represents Indebtedness owed to such Grantor is not in default thereunder.

 

(b)     In addition, (i) none of the Equity Interests in the Domestic Subsidiaries has been issued or transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject and (ii) there are existing no options, warrants, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to such Pledged Collateral or which obligate the issuer of any Equity Interest included in the Pledged Collateral to issue additional Equity Interests.

 

(c)     Except as set forth in Exhibit G, such Grantor owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Domestic Subsidiaries owned by it.

 

3.14.     Commercial Tort Claims. All of such Grantor’s Commercial Tort Claims are listed on Exhibit K, as supplemented from time to time.

 

 

 
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ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

 

From the date of this Security Agreement, and thereafter until this Security Agreement is terminated, each Grantor agrees that:

 

4.1.     General.

 

(a)     Collateral Records. Such Grantor will maintain complete and accurate books and records in all material respects with respect to the Collateral owned by it.

 

(b)     Authorization to File Financing Statements; Ratification. Such Grantor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to file, and if requested will deliver to the Administrative Agent, all financing statements and other documents and take such other actions as may from time to time be requested by the Administrative Agent in order to maintain a first perfected security interest in and, if applicable, Control of, the Collateral owned by such Grantor. Any financing statement filed by the Administrative Agent may be filed in any filing office in any UCC jurisdiction and may (i) indicate such Grantor’s Collateral (1) as all assets of the Grantor or words of similar effect, regardless of whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the UCC of such jurisdiction, or (2) by any other description which reasonably approximates the description contained in this Security Agreement, and (ii) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (A) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to such Grantor and (B) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or indicating such Grantor’s Collateral as as extracted collateral or timber to be cut, a sufficient description of real property to which the Collateral relates. Such Grantor also agrees to furnish any such information described in the foregoing sentence to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request. Such Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Administrative Agent to have filed in any UCC jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

 

(c)     Locations. Such Grantor will not (i) maintain any Collateral owned by it at any location other than those locations listed on Exhibit A (as supplemented from time to time concurrently with the delivery of Borrowing Base Certificates), (ii) other than with respect to retail locations, change, or add to, such locations without obtaining a Collateral Access Agreement for each such location, to the extent required by the Credit Agreement in order for such Collateral to be included in the Borrowing Base, or (iii) change its principal place of business or chief executive office from the location identified on Exhibit A, other than as permitted by Section 4.15.

 

 

4.2.     Receivables.

 

(a)     Certain Agreements on Receivables. Such Grantor will not make or agree to make any discount, credit, rebate or other reduction in the original amount owing on a Receivable or accept in satisfaction of a Receivable less than the original amount thereof, except that, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, such Grantor may reduce the amount of Accounts arising from the sale of Inventory in accordance with its present policies and in the ordinary course of business.

 

(b)     Collection of Receivables. Except as otherwise provided in this Security Agreement, such Grantor will collect and enforce, at such Grantor’s sole expense, all amounts due or hereafter due to such Grantor under the Receivables owned by it.

 

(c)     Delivery of Invoices. Such Grantor will deliver to the Administrative Agent, immediately upon its request, duplicate invoices in electronic form with respect to each Account owned by it which, after the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may require that it bear such language of assignment as the Administrative Agent shall specify.

 

 

 

 

 

(d)     Disclosure of Counterclaims on Receivables. If (i) any discount, credit or agreement to make a rebate or to otherwise reduce the amount owing on any Receivable owned by such Grantor exists or (ii) if, to the knowledge of such Grantor, any dispute, setoff, claim, counterclaim or defense exists or has been asserted or threatened with respect to any such Receivable, such Grantor will promptly disclose such fact to the Administrative Agent in writing if the aggregate amount of any such dispute, setoff, claim, counterclaim or defense at such time exceeds $2,000,000. Such Grantor shall send the Administrative Agent a copy of each credit memorandum in excess of $2,000,000 as soon as issued, and such Grantor shall promptly report each credit memorandum and each of the facts required to be disclosed to the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Section 4.2(d) on the Borrowing Base Certificates submitted by it.

 

(e)     Electronic Chattel Paper. Such Grantor shall take all steps necessary to grant the Administrative Agent Control of all electronic chattel paper in accordance with the UCC and all “transferable records” as defined in each of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

 

4.3.     Inventory and Equipment.

 

(a)     Returned Inventory. If an Account Debtor returns any Inventory to such Grantor when no Event of Default exists, then such Grantor shall promptly determine the reason for such return and shall issue a credit memorandum to the Account Debtor in the appropriate amount. Such Grantor shall immediately report to the Administrative Agent any return involving an amount in excess of $2,000,000. Each such report shall indicate the reasons for the returns and the locations and condition of the returned Inventory. In the event any Account Debtor returns Inventory to such Grantor when an Event of Default exists, such Grantor, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, shall: (i) hold the returned Inventory in trust for the Administrative Agent; (ii) segregate all returned Inventory from all of its other property; (iii) dispose of the returned Inventory solely according to the Administrative Agent’s written instructions; and (iv) not issue any credits or allowances with respect thereto without the Administrative Agent’s prior written consent. All returned Inventory shall be subject to the Administrative Agent’s Liens thereon. Whenever any Inventory is returned, the related Account shall be deemed ineligible to the extent of the amount owing by the Account Debtor with respect to such returned Inventory and such returned Inventory shall not be Eligible Inventory.

 

(b)     Equipment. Such Grantor shall promptly inform the Administrative Agent of any deletions from its Equipment which individually exceed $7,500,000. Such Grantor will not, without the Administrative Agent’s prior written consent, alter or remove any identifying symbol or number on any of such Grantor’s Equipment constituting Collateral.

 

 

4.4.     Delivery of Instruments, Securities, Chattel Paper and Documents. Such Grantor will (a) deliver to the Administrative Agent immediately upon execution of this Security Agreement the originals of all Chattel Paper, Securities and Instruments constituting Collateral owned by it (if any then exist), to the extent not already in the physical possession of the Administrative Agent; provided that, the foregoing shall not require delivery of any Instrument received by such Grantor pursuant to an acquisition of a dealer so long as such Grantor does not deliver such Instrument to any other holder of any Grantor’s Indebtedness, (b) hold in trust for the Administrative Agent upon receipt and immediately thereafter deliver to the Administrative Agent any such Chattel Paper, Securities and Instruments constituting Collateral, (c) upon the Administrative Agent’s request, deliver to the Administrative Agent (and thereafter hold in trust for the Administrative Agent upon receipt and immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent) any Document evidencing or constituting Collateral and (d) upon the Administrative Agent’s request, deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed amendment to this Security Agreement, in the form of Exhibit I hereto (the “Amendment”), pursuant to which such Grantor will pledge such additional Collateral. Such Grantor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to attach each Amendment to this Security Agreement and agrees that all additional Collateral owned by it set forth in such Amendments shall be considered to be part of the Collateral.

 

 

 
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4.5.     Uncertificated Pledged Collateral. Such Grantor will permit the Administrative Agent from time to time to cause the appropriate issuers (and, if held with a securities intermediary, such securities intermediary) of uncertificated securities or other types of Pledged Collateral owned by it not represented by certificates to mark their books and records with the numbers and face amounts of all such uncertificated securities or other types of Pledged Collateral not represented by certificates and all rollovers and replacements therefor to reflect the Lien of the Administrative Agent granted pursuant to this Security Agreement. With respect to any Pledged Collateral owned by it, such Grantor will take any actions necessary to cause (a) the issuers of uncertificated securities which are Pledged Collateral and (b) any securities intermediary which is the holder of any such Pledged Collateral, to cause the Administrative Agent to have and retain Control over such Pledged Collateral. Without limiting the foregoing, such Grantor will, with respect to any such Pledged Collateral held with a securities intermediary, cause such securities intermediary to enter into a control agreement with the Administrative Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, giving the Administrative Agent Control.

 

4.6.     Pledged Collateral.

 

(a)     Issuance of Additional Securities. Such Grantor will not permit or suffer the issuer of an Equity Interest constituting Pledged Collateral owned by it to issue additional Equity Interests, any right to receive the same or any right to receive earnings, except to such Grantor.

 

(b)     Registration of Pledged Collateral. Such Grantor will permit, after the occurrence of an Event of Default, any registerable Pledged Collateral owned by it to be registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee at any time at the option of the Required Secured Parties.

 

(c)     Exercise of Rights in Pledged Collateral.

 

(i)     Without in any way limiting the foregoing and subject to clause (ii) below, such Grantor shall have the right to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral owned by it for all purposes not inconsistent with this Security Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided however, that no vote or other right shall be exercised or action taken which would have the effect of impairing the rights of the Administrative Agent in respect of such Pledged Collateral.

 

(ii)     Such Grantor will permit the Administrative Agent or its nominee at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default, without notice, to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral owned by it, including, without limitation, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges, or options pertaining to any Equity Interest or Investment Property constituting such Pledged Collateral as if it were the absolute owner thereof.

 

(iii)     Such Grantor shall be entitled to collect and receive for its own use all cash dividends and interest paid in respect of the Pledged Collateral owned by it to the extent not in violation of the Credit Agreement other than any of the following distributions and payments after the occurrence of an Event of Default (collectively referred to as the “Excluded Payments”): (A) dividends and interest paid or payable other than in cash in respect of such Pledged Collateral, and instruments and other property received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Collateral; (B) dividends and other distributions paid or payable in cash in respect of such Pledged Collateral in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid-in capital of an issuer; and (C) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed, in respect of principal of, or in redemption of, or in exchange for, such Pledged Collateral; provided however, that until actually paid, all rights to such distributions shall remain subject to the Lien created by this Security Agreement; and

 

 

 
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(iv)     All Excluded Payments and all other distributions in respect of any of the Pledged Collateral owned by such Grantor, whenever paid or made after the occurrence of an Event of Default, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent to hold as Pledged Collateral and shall, if received by such Grantor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, be segregated from the other property or funds of such Grantor, and be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent as Pledged Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).

Article XIII

(d)     Interests in Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships. Each Grantor agrees that no ownership interests in a limited liability company or a limited partnership which are included within the Collateral owned by such Grantor shall at any time constitute a Security under Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction.

 

4.7.     Intellectual Property.

 

(a)     Such Grantor will use its best efforts to secure all consents and approvals necessary or appropriate for the assignment to or benefit of the Administrative Agent of any License held by such Grantor and to enforce the security interests granted hereunder.

 

(b)     Such Grantor shall notify the Administrative Agent immediately if it knows that any application or registration relating to any Patent, Trademark or Copyright (now or hereafter existing) which is material to the business of such Grantor has become abandoned or dedicated, or of any adverse determination or development (including the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court) regarding such Grantor’s ownership of any Patent, Trademark or Copyright, its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain the same.

 

(c)     In no event shall such Grantor, either directly or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, file an application for the registration of any Patent, Trademark or Copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency without giving the Administrative Agent prior written notice thereof, and, upon request of the Administrative Agent, such Grantor shall execute and deliver any and all security agreements, confirmatory grants, and/or notice filings as the Administrative Agent may request to evidence a first priority security interest of the Administrative Agent on such Patent, Trademark or Copyright, and the General Intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby.

 

(d)     Such Grantor shall take all actions necessary or requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain and pursue each application, to obtain the relevant registration and to maintain the registration of each of its Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (now or hereafter existing but excluding Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights no longer used in such Grantor’s business), including the filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of noncontestability and opposition and interference and cancellation proceedings.

 

(e)     Such Grantor shall, unless it shall reasonably determine that such Patent, Trademark or Copyright is not material to the conduct of the business or operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution, and shall take such other actions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request to protect such Patent, Trademark or Copyright. In the event that such Grantor institutes suit because any of its Patents, Trademarks or Copyrights constituting Collateral is infringed upon, or misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Grantor shall comply with Section 4.8.

 

4.8     Commercial Tort Claims. Such Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after the same is acquired by it, notify the Administrative Agent of any commercial tort claim (as defined in the UCC) acquired by it and, unless the Administrative Agent otherwise consents, such Grantor shall enter into an amendment to this Security Agreement, in the form of Exhibit I hereto, granting to Administrative Agent a first priority security interest in such commercial tort claim.

 

 

 
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4.9.     Letter-of-Credit Rights. If such Grantor is or becomes the beneficiary of a letter of credit with a face amount in excess of $2,000,000, it shall promptly, and in any event within two Business Days after becoming a beneficiary, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and cause the issuer and/or confirmation bank to (i) consent to the assignment of any Letter-of-Credit Rights to the Administrative Agent and (ii) agree to direct all payments thereunder to a Deposit Account at the Administrative Agent or subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement for application to the Secured Obligations, in accordance with Section 2.18 of the Credit Agreement, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

4.10.     Intentionally Omitted.

 

4.11.     Intentionally Omitted.

 

     4.12.     Insurance. (a)     In the event any Collateral (other than Collateral that does not constitute Real Property and has a book value of less than $2,000,000) is located in any area that has been designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a “Special Flood Hazard Area”, such Grantor shall purchase and maintain flood insurance on such Collateral (including any personal property which is located on any real property leased by such Loan Party within a “Special Flood Hazard Area”). The amount of flood insurance required by this Section shall at a minimum comply with applicable law, including the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended.

 

(b)     Within five (5) Business Days following the Closing Date (or such later date as may be agreed in writing by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), all insurance policies covering Collateral shall name the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties) as an additional insured or as lender loss payee, as applicable, and shall contain lender loss payable clauses or mortgagee clauses, through endorsements in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which provide that: (i) all proceeds thereunder with respect to any Collateral shall be payable to the Administrative Agent except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement; (ii) no such insurance shall be affected by any act or neglect of the insured or owner of the property described in such policy; and (iii) such policy and lender loss payable or mortgagee clauses may be canceled, amended, or terminated only upon at least thirty days prior written notice given to the Administrative Agent.

 

 

(c)     All premiums on any such insurance shall be paid when due by such Grantor, and copies of the policies delivered to the Administrative Agent. If such Grantor fails to obtain any insurance as required by this Section, the Administrative Agent may obtain such insurance at the Borrower’s expense. By purchasing such insurance, the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have waived any Default arising from the Grantor’s failure to maintain such insurance or pay any premiums therefor.

 

4.13.      Intentionally Omitted.

 

 

 
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4.14.      Deposit Account Control Agreements. Within thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed to in writing by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) following the Closing Date, such Grantor will provide to the Administrative Agent a Deposit Account Control Agreement with respect to each Material Deposit Account of such Grantor, duly executed on behalf of the applicable banking institution at which such Material Deposit Account is maintained.

 

 

4.15. Change of Name or Location. Such Grantor shall not (a) change its name as it appears in official filings in the state of its incorporation or organization, (b) change its chief executive office, principal place of business, mailing address, corporate offices, or the location of its records concerning the Collateral as set forth in the Security Agreement, (c) change the type of entity that it is, (d) change its organization identification number, if any, issued by its state of incorporation or other organization, or (e) change its state of incorporation or organization, in each case, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received at least thirty days prior written notice, and taken any reasonable action requested by the Administrative Agent in connection; provided that, any new location shall be in the continental U.S.

 

4.16 Intentionally Omitted.

 

4.17 Updating of Exhibits to the Security Agreement. The Borrower will provide to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with the delivery of the certificate of a Financial Officer of Holdings as required by Section 5.01(d) of the Credit Agreement, updated versions of the Exhibits to this Security Agreement (provided that if there have been no changes to any such Exhibits since the previous updating thereof required hereby, the Borrower shall indicate that there has been “no change” to the applicable Exhibit(s)).

 

ARTICLE V

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

5.1. Events of Default. The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder:

 

(a)     Any representation or warranty made by or on behalf of any Grantor under or in connection with this Security Agreement shall be materially false as of the date on which made.

 

(b)     The breach by any Grantor of any of the terms or provisions of Article IV or Article VII.

 

(c)     The breach by any Grantor (other than a breach which constitutes an Event of Default under any other Section of this Article V) of any of the terms or provisions of this Security Agreement which is not remedied within ten (10) days after the earlier of knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)     The occurrence of any “Event of Default” under, and as defined in, the Credit Agreement.

 

(e)     Any Equity Interest which is included within the Collateral shall at any time constitute a Security or the issuer of any such Equity Interest shall take any action to have such interests treated as a Security unless (i) all certificates or other documents constituting such Security have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and such Security is properly defined as such under Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction, whether as a result of actions by the issuer thereof or otherwise, or (ii) the Administrative Agent has entered into a control agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with the issuer of such Security or with a securities intermediary relating to such Security and such Security is defined as such under Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction, whether as a result of actions by the issuer thereof or otherwise.

 

 

 
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5.2.

Remedies.

 

(a)     Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Secured Parties shall, exercise any or all of the following rights and remedies:

 

(i)     those rights and remedies provided in this Security Agreement, the Credit Agreement, or any other Loan Document; provided that, this Section 5.2(a) shall not be understood to limit any rights or remedies available to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties prior to an Event of Default;

 

(ii)     those rights and remedies available to a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) or under any other applicable law (including, without limitation, any law governing the exercise of a bank’s right of setoff or bankers’ lien) when a debtor is in default under a security agreement;

 

(iii)     give notice of sole control or any other instruction under any Deposit Account Control Agreement or other control agreement with any securities intermediary and take any action therein with respect to such Collateral;

 

(iv)     without notice (except as specifically provided in Section 8.1 or elsewhere herein), demand or advertisement of any kind to any Grantor or any other Person, enter the premises of any Grantor where any Collateral is located (through self-help and without judicial process) to collect, receive, assemble, process, appropriate, sell, lease, assign, grant an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of, deliver, or realize upon, the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales (which sales may be adjourned or continued from time to time with or without notice and may take place at any Grantor’s premises or elsewhere), for cash, on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk, and upon such other terms as the Administrative Agent may deem commercially reasonable; and

 

(v)     concurrently with written notice to the applicable Grantor, transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral, exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations, exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto, collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon and otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Collateral as though the Administrative Agent was the outright owner thereof.

 

(b)     The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, may comply with any applicable state or federal law requirements in connection with a disposition of the Collateral and compliance will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.

 

(c)     The Administrative Agent shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right of equity redemption, which equity redemption the Grantor hereby expressly releases.

 

(d)     Until the Administrative Agent is able to effect a sale, lease, or other disposition of Collateral, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to hold or use Collateral, or any part thereof, to the extent that it deems appropriate for the purpose of preserving Collateral or its value or for any other purpose deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may, if it so elects, seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take possession of Collateral and to enforce any of the Administrative Agent’s remedies (for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and other Secured Parties), with respect to such appointment without prior notice or hearing as to such appointment.

 

 

 
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(e)     If, after the Credit Agreement has terminated by its terms and all of the Obligations have been paid in full, there remain Swap Obligations outstanding, the Required Secured Parties may exercise the remedies provided in this Section 5.2 upon the occurrence of any event which would allow or require the termination or acceleration of any Swap Obligations pursuant to the terms of the applicable Swap Agreements.

 

(f)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall be required to (i) make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any of its rights or remedies against, any Grantor, any other obligor, guarantor, pledgor or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Secured Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any of its rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guarantee thereof, (ii) marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Secured Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such guarantee in any particular order, or (iii) effect a public sale of any Collateral.

 

(g)     Each Grantor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof in accordance with clause (a) above. Each Grantor also acknowledges that any private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. The Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit any Grantor or the issuer of the Pledged Collateral to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under applicable state securities laws, even if the applicable Grantor and the issuer would agree to do so.

 

5.3. Grantor’s Obligations Upon Default. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent after the occurrence of a Default, each Grantor will:

 

(a)     assemble and make available to the Administrative Agent the Collateral and all books and records relating thereto at any place or places specified by the Administrative Agent, whether at a Grantor’s premises or elsewhere;

 

(b)     permit the Administrative Agent, by the Administrative Agent’s representatives and agents, to enter, occupy and use any premises where all or any part of the Collateral, or the books and records relating thereto, or both, are located, to take possession of all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, to remove all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, and to conduct sales of the Collateral, without any obligation to pay the Grantor for such use and occupancy; and

 

(c)     take, or cause an issuer of Pledged Collateral to take, any and all actions necessary to register or qualify the Pledged Collateral to enable the Administrative Agent to consummate a public sale or other disposition of the Pledged Collateral.

 

5.4. Grant of Intellectual property License. For the purpose of enabling the Administrative Agent to exercise the rights and remedies under this Article V at such time as the Administrative Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby (a) grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, an irrevocable, nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to any Grantor) to use, license or sublicense any intellectual property rights now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof and (b) irrevocably agrees that the Administrative Agent may sell any of such Grantor’s Inventory directly to any person, including without limitation persons who have previously purchased the Grantor’s Inventory from such Grantor and in connection with any such sale or other enforcement of the Administrative Agent’s rights under this Security Agreement, may sell Inventory which bears any Trademark owned by or licensed to such Grantor and any Inventory that is covered by any Copyright owned by or licensed to such Grantor and the Administrative Agent may finish any work in process and affix any Trademark owned by or licensed to such Grantor and sell such Inventory as provided herein.

 

 

 
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ARTICLE VI

ACCOUNT VERIFICATION; ATTORNEY IN FACT; PROXY

 

6.1.     Account Verification. The Administrative Agent may at any time after an Event of Default, in the Administrative Agent’s own name, in the name of a nominee of the Administrative Agent, or in the name of any Grantor communicate (by mail, telephone, facsimile or otherwise) with the Account Debtors or Credit Card Processors of any such Grantor, parties to contracts with any such Grantor and obligors in respect of Instruments of any such Grantor to verify with such Persons, to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction, the existence, amount, terms of, and any other matter relating to, Accounts, Credit Card Account Receivables, Instruments, Chattel Paper, payment intangibles and/or other Receivables.

 

6.2.     Authorization for Secured Party to Take Certain Action.

 

(a)     Each Grantor irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent at any time and from time to time in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney in fact (i) to execute on behalf of such Grantor as debtor and to file financing statements necessary or desirable in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, (ii) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to endorse and collect any cash proceeds of the Collateral, (iii) to file a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Security Agreement or any financing statement with respect to the Collateral as a financing statement and to file any other financing statement or amendment of a financing statement (which does not add new collateral or add a debtor) in such offices as the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion deems necessary or desirable to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, (iv) subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement and if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to enforce payment of the Receivables in the name of the Administrative Agent or such Grantor, (v) to apply the proceeds of any Collateral received by the Administrative Agent to the Secured Obligations as provided in Article VII and (vi) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees or Liens on the Collateral (except for such Liens as are specifically permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document), and each Grantor agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent on demand for any reasonable payment made or any reasonable expense incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection therewith, provided that this authorization shall not relieve any Grantor of any of its obligations under this Security Agreement or under the Credit Agreement.

 

(b)     All acts of said attorney or designee are hereby ratified and approved. The powers conferred on the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and other Secured Parties, under this Section 6.2 are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise any such powers.

 

6.3.     Proxy. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent as its proxy and attorney-in-fact (as set forth in Section 6.2 above) with respect to its Pledged Collateral, including the right to vote such Pledged Collateral, with full power of substitution to do so. In addition to the right to vote any such Pledged Collateral, the appointment of the Administrative Agent as proxy and attorney-in-fact shall include the right to exercise all other rights, powers, privileges and remedies to which a holder of such Pledged Collateral would be entitled (including giving or withholding written consents of shareholders, calling special meetings of shareholders and voting at such meetings). Such proxy shall be effective, automatically and without the necessity of any action (including any transfer of any such Pledged Collateral on the record books of the issuer thereof) by any person (including the issuer of such Pledged Collateral or any officer or agent thereof), upon the occurrence of a Default.

 

 

 
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6.4.     Nature of Appointment; Limitation of Duty. The appointment of the Administrative Agent as proxy and attorney-in-fact in this Article VI is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until the date on which this Security Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 8.14. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, neither the administrative agent, nor any other secured party, nor any of their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives shall have any duty to exercise any right or power granted hereunder or otherwise or to preserve the same and shall not be liable for any failure to do so or for any delay in doing so, except in respect of damages attributable solely to their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that, in no event shall they be liable for any punitive, exemplary, indirect or consequential damages.

 

ARTICLE VII

COLLECTION AND APPLICATION OF COLLATERAL PROCEEDS; DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS

 

 

7.1.     Collection of Receivables.

 

(a)      Within thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed to in writing by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) following the Closing Date, each Grantor shall (a) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent Deposit Account Control Agreements for each Deposit Account maintained by such Grantor into which all cash, checks or other similar payments relating to or constituting payments made in respect of Receivables will be deposited (a “Collateral Deposit Account”), which Collateral Deposit Accounts are identified as such on Exhibit B, and (b) establish lock box service (the “Lock Boxes”) with the bank(s) set forth in Exhibit B, which lock boxes shall be subject to irrevocable lockbox agreements in the form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Administrative Agent and shall be accompanied by an acknowledgment by the bank where the Lock Box is located of the Lien of the Administrative Agent granted hereunder and of irrevocable instructions to wire all amounts collected therein to the Collection Account (a “Lock Box Agreement”). After the Closing Date, each Grantor will comply with the terms of Section 7.2.

 

(b)     Upon the establishment of the Lock Boxes pursuant to Section 7.1(a), each Grantor shall direct all of its Account Debtors to forward payments on Receivables directly to Lock Boxes subject to Lock Box Agreements. The Administrative Agent shall have sole access to the Lock Boxes at all times and each Grantor shall take all actions necessary to grant the Administrative Agent such sole access. At no time shall any Grantor remove any item from a Lock Box or from a Collateral Deposit Account without the Administrative Agent’s prior written consent. Upon the establishment of the Lock Boxes pursuant to Section 7.1(a), if any Grantor should refuse or neglect to notify any Account Debtor to forward payments on Receivables directly to a Lock Box subject to a Lock Box Agreement after notice from the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall, notwithstanding the language set forth in Section 6.2(b), be entitled to make such notification directly to Account Debtor. If, notwithstanding the foregoing instructions, any Grantor receives any proceeds of any Receivables, such Grantor shall receive such payments as the Administrative Agent’s trustee, and, upon the establishment of the Lock Boxes pursuant to Section 7.1(a), shall immediately deposit all cash, checks or other similar payments related to or constituting payments made in respect of Receivables received by it to a Collateral Deposit Account. All funds deposited into any Lock Box subject to a Lock Box Agreement or a Collateral Deposit Account will be swept on a daily basis into a collection account maintained by the Borrower with, and subject to the Control of, the Administrative Agent (the “Collection Account”). The Administrative Agent shall hold and apply funds received into the Collection Account as provided by the terms of Section 7.3.

 

7.2.     Covenant Regarding New Deposit Accounts; Lock Boxes. Before opening or replacing any Collateral Deposit Account or any Material Deposit Account or establishing a new Lock Box, each Grantor shall cause each bank or financial institution in which it seeks to open (i) a Collateral Deposit Account or Material Deposit Account, to enter into a Deposit Account Control Agreement with the Administrative Agent in order to give the Administrative Agent Control of such Collateral Deposit Account or Material Deposit Account, as applicable, and, in the case of Collateral Deposit Accounts, provide for a daily sweep into the Collection Account, or (ii) a Lock Box, to enter into a Lock Box Agreement with the Administrative Agent in order to give the Administrative Agent Control of the Lock Box and provide for a daily sweep into the Collection Account. In the case of Deposit Accounts or Lock Boxes maintained with Secured Parties, the terms of such letter shall be subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement regarding setoffs.

 

 

 
18 

 

 

7.3.     Application of Proceeds; Deficiency. Collections which are received into the Collection Account shall be deposited into the Borrower’s Funding Account; provided that, during each Cash Dominion Period, all amounts deposited in the Collection Account shall be deemed received by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.18 of the Credit Agreement and shall, after having been credited to the Collection Account, be applied (and allocated) by Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.10(b) of the Credit Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall require all other cash proceeds of the Collateral, which are not required to be applied to the Obligations pursuant to Section 2.11 of the Credit Agreement, to be deposited in a special non-interest bearing cash collateral account with the Administrative Agent and held there as security for the Secured Obligations. No Grantor shall have any control whatsoever over said cash collateral account. Any such proceeds of the Collateral shall be applied in the order set forth in Section 2.18 of the Credit Agreement unless a court of competent jurisdiction shall otherwise direct. The balance, if any, after all of the Secured Obligations have been satisfied, shall be deposited by the Administrative Agent into such Grantor’s general operating account with the Administrative Agent. The Grantors shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay all Secured Obligations, including any attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to collect such deficiency.

 

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

8.1.     Waivers. Each Grantor hereby waives notice of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other disposition of all or any part of the Collateral may be made. To the extent such notice may not be waived under applicable law, any notice made shall be deemed reasonable if sent to the Grantors, addressed as set forth in Article IX, at least ten days prior to (i) the date of any such public sale or (ii) the time after which any such private sale or other disposition may be made. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages, and demands against the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral, except such as arise solely out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such other Secured Party as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent it may lawfully do so, each Grantor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, any valuation, stay, appraisal, extension, moratorium, redemption or similar laws and any and all rights or defenses it may have as a surety now or hereafter existing which, but for this provision, might be applicable to the sale of any Collateral made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, or privately under the power of sale conferred by this Security Agreement, or otherwise. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Security Agreement or any Collateral.

 

8.2.     Limitation on Administrative Agent’s and other Secured Parties’ Duty with Respect to the Collateral. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to clean-up or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. The Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party shall use reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession or under its control. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any other duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of the Administrative Agent or such other Secured Party, or any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on the Administrative Agent to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that it is commercially reasonable for the Administrative Agent (i) to fail to incur expenses deemed significant by the Administrative Agent to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to transform raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (ii) to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain governmental or third party consents for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (iii) to fail to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors or other Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (iv) to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (v) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (vi) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as such Grantor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of such Collateral, (vii) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (viii) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capacity of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (ix) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (x) to disclaim disposition warranties, such as title, possession or quiet enjoyment, (xi) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Administrative Agent against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Administrative Agent a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (xii) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist the Administrative Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. Each Grantor acknowledges that the purpose of this Section 8.2 is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the Administrative Agent would be commercially reasonable in the Administrative Agent’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section 8.2. Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 8.2 shall be construed to grant any rights to any Grantor or to impose any duties on the Administrative Agent that would not have been granted or imposed by this Security Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section 8.2.

 

 

 
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8.3.     Compromises and Collection of Collateral. The Grantors and the Administrative Agent recognize that setoffs, counterclaims, defenses and other claims may be asserted by obligors with respect to certain of the Receivables, that certain of the Receivables may be or become uncollectible in whole or in part and that the expense and probability of success in litigating a disputed Receivable may exceed the amount that reasonably may be expected to be recovered with respect to a Receivable. In view of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the Administrative Agent may at any time and from time to time, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, compromise with the obligor on any Receivable, accept in full payment of any Receivable such amount as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion shall determine or abandon any Receivable, and any such action by the Administrative Agent shall be commercially reasonable so long as the Administrative Agent acts in good faith based on information known to it at the time it takes any such action.

 

8.4.     Secured Party Performance of Debtor Obligations. Without having any obligation to do so, the Administrative Agent may perform or pay any obligation which any Grantor has agreed to perform or pay in this Security Agreement and the Grantors shall reimburse the Administrative Agent for any amounts paid by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 8.4. The Grantors’ obligation to reimburse the Administrative Agent pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be a Secured Obligation payable on demand.

 

8.5.     Intentionally Omitted.

 

8.6.     Intentionally Omitted.

 

8.7.     No Waiver; Amendments; Cumulative Remedies. No delay or omission of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise any right or remedy granted under this Security Agreement shall impair such right or remedy or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy shall not preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. No waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of this Security Agreement whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Administrative Agent and each Grantor and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth; provided that, the addition of any Subsidiary as a Grantor hereunder pursuant to Section 8.21 shall not require receipt of any consent from or execution of any documentation by any other Grantor party hereto. All rights and remedies contained in this Security Agreement or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties until the Secured Obligations have been paid in full.

 

 

 
 20

 

 

8.8.     Limitation by Law; Severability of Provisions. All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Security Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law, and all the provisions of this Security Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they shall not render this Security Agreement invalid, unenforceable or not entitled to be recorded or registered, in whole or in part. Any provision in this Security Agreement that is held to be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid without affecting the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the operation, enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of this Security Agreement are declared to be severable.

 

8.9.     Reinstatement. This Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against any Grantor for liquidation or reorganization, should any Grantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of any creditor or creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of any Grantor’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff), is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a Secured Party in its discretion), all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff), is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

8.10.     Benefit of Agreement. The terms and provisions of this Security Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Grantors, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns (including all persons who become bound as a debtor to this Security Agreement), except that no Grantor shall have the right to assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Security Agreement or any interest herein, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. No sales of participations, assignments, transfers, or other dispositions of any agreement governing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner impair the Lien granted to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, hereunder.

 

8.11.     Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of the Grantors contained in this Security Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Security Agreement.

 

8.12.     Taxes and Expenses. Any taxes (including income taxes) payable or ruled payable by Federal or State authority in respect of this Security Agreement shall be paid by the Grantors, together with interest and penalties, if any. The Grantors shall reimburse the Administrative Agent for any and all out-of-pocket expenses and internal charges (including reasonable attorneys’, auditors’ and accountants’ fees and reasonable time charges of attorneys, paralegals, auditors and accountants who may be employees of the Administrative Agent) paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, collection and enforcement of this Security Agreement and in the audit, analysis, administration, collection, preservation or sale of the Collateral (including the expenses and charges associated with any periodic or special audit of the Collateral). Any and all costs and expenses incurred by the Grantors in the performance of actions required pursuant to the terms hereof shall be borne solely by the Grantors.

 

8.13.     Headings. The title of and section headings in this Security Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the terms and provisions of this Security Agreement.

 

 

 
 21

 

 

8.14.     Termination. This Security Agreement shall continue in effect (notwithstanding the fact that from time to time there may be no Secured Obligations outstanding) until (i) the Credit Agreement has terminated pursuant to its express terms and (ii) all of the Secured Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full (or with respect to any outstanding Letters of Credit, a cash deposit or, at the discretion of the Administrative Agent, a back-up standby Letter of Credit satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank has been delivered to the Administrative Agent as required by the Credit Agreement) and no commitments of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties which would give rise to any Secured Obligations are outstanding.

 

8.15.     Entire Agreement. This Security Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Grantors and the Administrative Agent relating to the Collateral and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Grantors and the Administrative Agent relating to the Collateral.

 

8.16.     CHOICE OF LAW. THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.

 

8.17.     CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OTHER SECURED PARTY TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY GRANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

 

8.18.     WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GRANTOR, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH OTHER SECURED PARTY HEREBY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).

 

8.19.     Indemnity. Each Grantor hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and their respective successors, assigns, agents and employees (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”), from and against any and all liabilities, damages, penalties, suits, costs, and expenses of any kind and nature (including, without limitation, all expenses of litigation or preparation therefor whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto) imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee, in any way relating to or arising out of this Security Agreement, or the manufacture, purchase, acceptance, rejection, ownership, delivery, lease, possession, use, operation, condition, sale, return or other disposition of any Collateral (including, without limitation, latent and other defects, whether or not discoverable by any Indemnitee or any Grantor, and any claim for Patent, Trademark or Copyright infringement); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

 

8.20.     Counterparts. This Security Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Security Agreement by signing any such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Security Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Security Agreement.

 

 

 
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8.21.     Joinder of Additional Guarantors. The Grantors shall cause each Subsidiary of the Borrower which, from time to time, after the date hereof shall be required to pledge any assets to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Annex I attached hereto, and upon such execution and delivery, such Subsidiary shall constitute a “Grantor” for all purposes hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of such Joinder Agreement shall not require the consent of any Grantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Security Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IX

NOTICES

 

9.1.     Sending Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Security Agreement shall be sent in accordance with Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

9.2.     Change in Address for Notices. Each of the Grantors, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties may change the address for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other parties.

 

ARTICLE X

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT     

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. has been appointed Administrative Agent for the Secured Parties hereunder pursuant to Article VIII of the Credit Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties to this Security Agreement that any authority conferred upon the Administrative Agent hereunder is subject to the terms of the delegation of authority made by the Secured Parties to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and that the Administrative Agent has agreed to act (and any successor Administrative Agent shall act) as such hereunder only on the express conditions contained in such Article VIII. Any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Article VIII of the Credit Agreement shall be entitled to all the rights, interests and benefits of the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 
23 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantors and the Administrative Agent have executed this Security Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

GRANTORS:

 

 

ETHAN ALLEN GLOBAL, INC.,

 

 

By:________________________________
Name:

Title:

 

 

ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

ETHAN ALLEN OPERATIONS, INC.

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

ETHAN ALLEN REALTY, LLC

 

By: Ethan Allen Operations, Inc., its sole member

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

ETHAN ALLEN RETAIL, INC.

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

 
Signature Page to
Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement
 

 

 

LAKE AVENUE ASSOCIATES, INC.

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

MANOR HOUSE, INC.

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

 
 Signature Page to
Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

 
 Signature Page to
Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement

 

 

EXHIBIT A

(See Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.9, 3.11 and 9.1 of Security Agreement)

 

 

NOTICE ADDRESS FOR ALL GRANTORS

 

 

                                                                  

 

 

c/o                                                             

 

 

                                                                   

 

 

Attention:                                                 

 

 

Facsimile:                                                  

 

 

INFORMATION AND COLLATERAL LOCATIONS OF {Insert name of applicable Grantor}

 

 

I.       Name of Grantor: _____________________________________

 

II.      State of Incorporation or Organization: _______________________________

 

III.     Type of Entity: _______________________________________

 

IV.     Organizational Number assigned by State of Incorporation or Organization: _________________

 

V.       Federal Identification Number: ________________________________

 

VI.

Place of Business (if it has only one) or Chief Executive Office (if more than one place of business) and Mailing Address:

 

 

                                                              

                                                              

                                                              

                                                               

 

Attention:                                            

 

VII.     Locations of Collateral:

 

(a)     Properties Owned by the Grantor:

 

 

 

 

 

(b)     Properties Leased by the Grantor (Include Landlord’s Name):

 

 

 

 

 

(c)     Public Warehouses or other Locations pursuant to Bailment or Consignment Arrangements   (include name of Warehouse Operator or other Bailee or Consignee):

 

 
 

 

 

INFORMATION AND COLLATERAL LOCATIONS OF {Insert name of applicable Grantor}

 

 

I.       Name of Grantor: _____________________________________

 

II.      State of Incorporation or Organization: _______________________________

 

III.     Type of Entity: _______________________________________

 

IV.     Organizational Number assigned by State of Incorporation or Organization: _________________

 

V.       Federal Identification Number: ________________________________

 

VI.

Place of Business (if it has only one) or Chief Executive Office (if more than one place of business) and Mailing Address:

 

 

                                                              

                                                              

                                                              

                                                               

 

Attention:                                              

 

 

VII.     Locations of Collateral:

 

(a)     Properties Owned by the Grantor: 

 

 

 

 

(b)     Properties Leased by the Grantor (Include Landlord’s Name): 

 

 

 

 

(c)     Public Warehouses or other Locations pursuant to Bailment or Consignment Arrangements (include name of Warehouse Operator or other Bailee or Consignee):

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NOTE: ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PAGE FOR EACH GRANTOR]

 

 
 

 

  

EXHIBIT B

(See Section 3.5 of Security Agreement)

 

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS

 

Name of Grantor

Name of Institution

Account Number

Check here if

Deposit Account is

a Collateral

Deposit Account

Description of

Deposit Account 

if not a Collateral

Deposit Account

         
         
         
         
         

 

 

 

LOCK BOXES

 

Name of Grantor

Name of Institution

Lock Box Number

     
     
     
     
     

 

 

SECURITIES ACCOUNTS

 

 

Name of Grantor

Name of Institution

Account Number

Check here if

Securities Account

is a Collateral

Deposit Account

Description of

Securities Account

if not a Collateral

Deposit Account

         
         
         
         
         

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

(See Section 3.7 of Security Agreement)

 

LETTER OF CREDIT RIGHTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHATTEL PAPER

 

 

 
 

 

  

EXHIBIT D

(See Section 3.10 and 3.11 of Security Agreement)

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

 

PATENTS

 

 

Name of Grantor

Patent Description

Patent Number

Issue Date

       
       

 

 

PATENT APPLICATIONS

 

Name of Grantor

Patent Application

Application Filing Date

Application Serial Number

       
       
       

 

 

TRADEMARKS

 

Name of Grantor

Trademark

Registration Date

Registration Number

       
       
       

 

 

TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS

 

Name of Grantor

Trademark Application

Application Filing Date

Application Serial Number

       
       
       

 

 

COPYRIGHTS

 

Name of Grantor

Copyright

Registration Date

Registration Number

       
       
       

 

 

COPYRIGHT APPLICATIONS

 

Name of Grantor

Copyright Application

Application Filing Date

Application Serial Number

       
       
       

 

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSES

 

Name of Grantor

Name of Agreement

Date of Agreement

Parties to Agreement

       
       
       

 

 

 
 

 

  

EXHIBIT E

 

 

INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

 

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT F

 

 

INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

 

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT G

(See Section 3.13 of Security Agreement and Definition of “Pledged Collateral”)

 

LIST OF PLEDGED COLLATERAL, SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENT PROPERTY

 

 

STOCKS

 

Name of

Grantor

 

Issuer

 

Certificate Number(s)

 

Number of Shares

 

Class of Stock

Percentage of

Outstanding

Shares

           
           
           
           

 

 

BONDS

 

Name of

Grantor

Issuer

Number

Face Amount

Coupon Rate

Maturity

           
           
           
           

 

 

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES

 

Name of

Grantor

Issuer

Number

Type

Face Amount

Coupon Rate

Maturity

             
             
             
             

 

 

OTHER SECURITIES OR OTHER INVESTMENT PROPERTY

(CERTIFICATED AND UNCERTIFICATED)

 

Name of Grantor

Issuer

Description of Collateral

Percentage Ownership

Interest

       
       
       
       

 

 

[Add description of custody accounts or arrangements with securities intermediary, if applicable]

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT H

(See Section 3.1 of Security Agreement)

 

OFFICES IN WHICH FINANCING STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN FILED

 

Grantor

Filing Office

Ethan Allen Global, Inc.

Secretary of State of the State of Delaware

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.

Secretary of State of the State of Delaware

Ethan Allen Operations, Inc.

Secretary of State of the State of Delaware

Ethan Allen Realty, LLC

Secretary of State of the State of Delaware

Ethan Allen Retail, Inc.

Secretary of State of the State of Delaware

Lake Avenue Associates, Inc.

Secretary of State of the State of Connecticut

Manor House, Inc.

Secretary of State of the State of Delaware

 

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT I

(See Section 4.4 and 4.8 of Security Agreement)

 

AMENDMENT

 

 

 

This Amendment, dated ________________, ___ is delivered pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Security Agreement referred to below. All defined terms herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto or incorporated by reference in the Security Agreement. The undersigned hereby certifies that the representations and warranties in Article III of the Security Agreement are and continue to be true and correct. The undersigned further agrees that this Amendment may be attached to that certain Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2014 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Security Agreement”), between the undersigned, as the Grantors, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, and that the Collateral listed on Schedule I to this Amendment shall be and become a part of the Collateral referred to in said Security Agreement and shall secure all Secured Obligations referred to in the Security Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

SCHEDULE I TO AMENDMENT

 

STOCKS

 

Name of

Grantor

Issuer

Certificate

Number(s)

Number of

Shares

Class of Stock

Percentage of

Outstanding

Shares

           
           
           
           

 

BONDS

 

Name of

Grantor

Issuer

Number

Face Amount

Coupon Rate

Maturity

           
           
           
           

 

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES

 

Name of

Grantor

Issuer

Number

Type

Face Amount

Coupon Rate

Maturity

             
             
             
             

 

OTHER SECURITIES OR OTHER INVESTMENT PROPERTY

(CERTIFICATED AND UNCERTIFICATED)

 

Name of

Grantor

Issuer

Description of Collateral

Percentage Ownership

Interest

       
       
       
       

 

[Add description of custody accounts or arrangements with securities intermediary, if applicable]

 

COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS

 

Name of Grantor

Description of Claim

Parties

Case Number; Name of

Court where Case was

Filed

       
       

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT J

 

 

INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

 

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT K

(See “Commercial Tort Claims” Definition)

 

COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS

  

 
 

 

  

ANNEX I

 

[Form of]

 

JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

[Name of New Grantor]

[Address of New Grantor]

 

[Date]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement (as further amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Security Agreement), dated as of October 21, 2014, made by ETHAN ALLEN GLOBAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), the other Grantors party thereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity and together with any successors in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

 

This Joinder Agreement supplements the Security Agreement and is delivered by the undersigned, [__________] (the “New Grantor”), pursuant to Section 8.21 of the Security Agreement. The New Grantor hereby agrees to be bound as a Grantor to the Security Agreement by all of the terms, covenants and conditions set forth in the Security Agreement to the same extent that it would have been bound if it had been a signatory to the Security Agreement on the date of the Security Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the New Grantor hereby grants and pledges to the Administrative Agent, as collateral security for the full, prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Secured Obligations, a Lien on and security interest in, all of its right, title and interest in, to and under the Collateral and expressly assumes all obligations and liabilities of a Grantor thereunder. The New Grantor hereby makes each of the representations and warranties and agrees to each of the covenants applicable to the Grantors contained in the Security Agreement.

 

Annexed hereto are supplements to each of the schedules to the Security Agreement and the Credit Agreement, as applicable, with respect to the New Grantor. Such supplements shall be deemed to be part of the Security Agreement or the Credit Agreement, as applicable.

 

This Joinder Agreement and any amendments, waivers, consents or supplements hereto may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

  

 
 Exhibit G-4

 

 

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Grantor has caused this Joinder Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the date first above written.

 

 

[NEW GRANTOR] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

Title 

 

 

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

 as Administrative Agent

 

By:                  
Name:
Title:

 

[Schedules to be attached]